Factory construction using steel structures is widely used in construction today. In structural steel fabrication, we need a practical understanding of steel materials and the steel structure fabrication process (welding, cutting, shaping, weld inspection and quality control). This knowledge is essential if fabricated steel structures are economical, practical and suitable for their purpose and function.
The best way to ensure a good result during fabrication is the choice of qualified and experienced stainless steel manufacturers. A look at the workshop and examples of the fabricator’s previous work done with stainless steel will give the architect or contractor an accurate idea of the level of quality that the builders can work. And in terms of stainless steel, it is not harder to cut, form and join than other metal materials and small differences are key to success for fabricated steel structures.
Architects designate its excellent corrosion resistance stainless steel as well for its image quality. Good fabrication is essential to maintaining both these features. It is important for fabricated steel structures to obtain a construction drawing approval because for the fabricator it is very important to start fabrication after receiving the approved construction drawing. As you may not know, work performed without approved construction drawings may have to be changed based on final, approved construction drawings. Making done without approved drawings must be covered by the next work.
Another important factor for successful fabrication is the effective communication between the Investor, the contractors and the steel structure fabricator. Between parties, there is a need to commit and implement timely supervision to ensure that the steel structure products supplied are of the desired quality.
Steel structure fabrication process
1. Steel cutting
Steel structures have 2 main forms: shaped steel and combination steel. Shaped steels are H, U, C,… shaped steel components that are molded from billets and have certain sizes. Like H300, H350, H400, I250, I300, I350,…
Steel structure manufacturing refers to composite steel structures. Abdominal plates, wings of the components are cut from steel plates with basic thicknesses of 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm,… by a specialized cutting machine.
2. Assembling
Components are positioned and reassembled in the most accurate way.
3. Welding
Performing welding to bond the structures. The automatic welding machine will do this task. The requirement when welding is to use the correct technique of visual inspection of the weld surface, checking the quality of the ultrasonic welding line or magnetic test, macro test.
The use of welding machines will ensure high accuracy and high quality for structures. Welding line with automatic welding machine
4. Bending
During welding, the structure is prone to warping due to high temperatures. If the straightening is not done, the installation will be very difficult because the accuracy of the part is not available. Therefore, it is necessary to perform calibration, straightening and checking carefully before moving to the next step. The straightening machine plays an important role in this process.
5. Assembling the gusset plate, reinforcing rib
After welding and shaping, there is the installation of the gusset plate, reinforcement rib. The reinforced ribs, the gusset plate are hand-welded by the most skilled welders to ensure accuracy.
6. Cleaning the surface and blasting
The structure surface is cleaned to prepare for painting. This work includes surface rusting and blasting machine treatment.
7. Painting
The paint used is anti-rust paint. It does provide the strength of the structure against environmental impacts. The structures are painted with 1 layer of anti-rust paint and 2 layers of paint with color depending on the requirements of the investor.
8. Transporting to the site
Then the components are gathered at the yard and checked and stamped according to the member number according to the design drawing. The components will be checked for quantity and size. Finally, it is transported and handed over to the construction site.