Advantages And Disadvantages Of Plastic Vs Metal Fabrication
Fabrication is the process of cutting, shaping, welding, or in other ways making a form into a final product. Making a certain product depends on a huge range of factors like the purpose of the product, appearance, and accessible cost. Here in this article, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of plastic fabrication and metal fabrication.
Fabrication Process – Types
A definite process of manufacturing both the plastics and the metals while fabrication. This field lets a significant number of custom-made and choosing options in element design. Some more fabrication processes are:
- Cutting – To make a workpiece the right size and form, various equipment or machines remove extra material from it. Two examples of cutting tools are band saws and cutting torches.
- Forming – In this procedure, goods are bent or pressed at a certain angle using deforming tools like hydraulic brakes.
- Machining – Lathing, milling, drilling, and honing are examples of machining operations that employ automated or manually operated equipment to form materials.
- Welding – Welding is the process of joining two or more workpieces by applying heat or pressure to form a single product.
Plastic Fabrication – Advantages
Acrylic, Plexiglas, nylon, etc. have distinctive properties that strongly influence the results of plastic manufacturing, but the process itself has some advantages, such as:
- Finishing is decreased – Plastics, unlike the majority of metals, may be colored before manufacture, negating the necessity for several post-treatment procedures like painting.
- Quick production – Fast cycle times and turnover rates are frequently required for plastic manufacture.
- Weight is lighter – Generally, metals of equivalent size weigh less than plastics.
Plastic Fabrication – Disadvantages
Plastic may be used to fabricate a variety of items, but it also has several drawbacks when used in manufacturing. The following are some drawbacks of plastic fabrication:
- Limited wear resistance – The resistance of plastic to high heat, acids, and other corrosive substances is limited.
- Weaknesses in structure – The majority of plastics are inappropriate for applications requiring significant structural strength, such as the majority of construction materials and heavy machinery components.
Metal Fabrication – Advantages
Steel, magnesium, iron, aluminum, copper, and nickel are some of the more often created metals; each has a variety of grades. Generally speaking, metal manufacturing offers the following benefits over plastic fabrication:
- Resistance from heat – In general, metals have a greater melting point and are less likely to deteriorate in hot environments.
- Durability is improved – Than the plastic copies, the metal grades influence to be durable, stronger, and harder.
- Affordable – Generally the metals are cost-effective, mainly in high-capacity or low-detail production runs.
Metal Fabrication – Disadvantages
Metal has many advantages, but it is not always the best material for a given application. The following are a few drawbacks of metal fabrication:
- Dependent operations – Metal fabrication is more likely to call for time- and money-consuming post-fabrication procedures including painting, deburring, and finishing.
- Design limitations – Some metals' viscosity and molten flow characteristics make them unsuitable for creating intricate geometries or forms.
- Costly startup charge – Compared to equivalent plastic fabrication tooling, metal tooling prices are often higher.
