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Metal Fabricator |
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Description Metal fabricators lay out, prepare and put together structural steel, steel vessels and other metal shapes and components according to a set of blueprints and drawings. They assemble and fit metal products such as framework or shells for machinery and sections and plates to make buildings, bridges, tanks, boilers, and pressure vessels. A metal fabricator interprets drawings and is involved in the development, layout, marking, cutting, burning, sawing, shearing, punching, rolling, bending, drilling, shaping, forming, straightening, fitting and assembling, reaming, bolting, riveting, welding, testing, inspecting, preparing priming, painting, rigging and handling of structural and mechanical fabrications constructed from plates and structural shapes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Without metal fabricators, we would have no structural framework for machines or structures in our homes, factories, and on load bearing devices, such as bridges. They contribute to the building and construction stages of any project that uses metal. Therefore, industries such as agriculture, construction, transportation, petrochemical and chemical plants and hospitals require the expertise of a metal fabricator. They are familiar with the properties of metal and can not only build, but also operate metalworking machines. They work is extremely intricate and on occasion, they may get to design small jobs themselves. They must choose materials for a project based on what will suit it best. Metal fabricators use many types of metal including black and galvanized steel, copper, brass, nickel, stainless steel, aluminum and tin plate. Once the material has been decided, they take the metal to bend and shape to the proper size and then fasten it together, like a sheet metal worker would do. They may then use welding equipment to join the metal sheets together. If they are not expert welders, they will pass the next stage of the job onto a welder, who is more experienced and knowledgeable about the alloys of each metal. Finally, metal fabricators must devise a plan to take care of their waste and scraps in an environmentally friendly manner. Since throwing scraps into the garbage is hazardous, they must make lists of their wastes and dispose of them properly. |
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Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2002, http://www.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_nat.htm |
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