Metal fabricators are hands-on technicians that cut, shape, position and align the components that go into large and small-scale products. In industry terms, they cut and burn, form, machine, weld, and assemble intricate pieces of metal into functioning systems. They work on everything from planes to construction sites, manufacturing companies, toy companies, IT companies, and more. Akin to assemblers, they work on putting together one set of components or work onto the finished product by hand or using computers and robots for a more precise finish. Their jobs can range from fairly simple to complex, and require that fabricators are proficient in reading schematics, quality control and technical/mechanical know-how.
Structural metal fabricators, welder fabricators, fitters, and fiberglass laminators are all examples of popular types of fabricators.
Fabricators typically work in factories and wear mandatory PPE to protect them from sparks, loud noises, debris, and other hazardous situations. Most receive on-the-job training straight out of high school to learn the techniques that they'll need to be a part of an assembly team, though there are vocational schools and community colleges that offer certificates or diplomas in metal fabrication. In the later, aspiring fabricators are taught arc welding, blueprint reading, safety regulations, mathematics, and how to work with different metals. As welding is one of the more specialised parts of a fabricators jobs, many companies require some sort of advanced training in order to become a metal fabricator.
Fabricators rely on technical drawings, blueprints or other specifications to construct metal products, as well as a number of products ranging from sheet metal parts to metal molds. While some work on fabricating small parts that go into computers or phones, others work to create unique pieces for large structures like bridges or machines on plants. Fabricators must be fluent in aligning, fitting, welding, measuring, laying out and inspecting parts, marking cutting lines, studying specifications, gathering materials and operating machinery. This tool-intensive job also requires fabricators to learn how to use a variety of tools like blowtorches, shears, gauges, nail sets, power saws and workshop presses. Since most modern fabrication is computer-aided, fabricators must also learn how to use programs like CAD, enterprise resource planning software, spreadsheet software and word processing software. Fabricators must also be incredibly dexterous, physically fit, and hygienic. Factories floors are often subject to stringent quality checks, and fabricators must ensure that their work areas are clean and industry standards are being followed at all times.
In a typical scenario, fabricators work as teams based out of fabrication or machine shops. According to Wikipedia, fabrication shops typically bid on a job, usually based on engineering drawings. If awarded the contract, they then go on to build the final product. Large fab shops employ a multitude of value-added processes, including welding, cutting, forming and machining. They're usually employed by contractors, OEMs and VARs to create loose parts, structural frames for buildings and heavy equipment, and stairs and hand railings. The job usually starts with drawings with precise dimensions and specifications replicated onto a computer software.
As with other manufacturing processes, both human labor and automation are commonly used. A fabricated product may be called a fabrication, and shops specializing in this type of work are called fab shops. The end products of other common types of metalworking, such as machining, metal stamping, forging, and casting, may be similar in shape and function, but those processes are not classified as fabrication.