T/J Fabricators specializes in custom sheet metal fabrication and has developed a well-earned reputation for delivering services and products of the highest quality. Our skillset is varied, and we provide laser cutting, forming, welding, punching, CNC machining, and engineering services. We have customers in the computer, electronics, food service, gaming, medical, and telecommunications industries. Every step of the production process includes an inspection procedure to ensure each part is safe, and we offer certificates of compliance when requested.
Stainless steel has become a popular material thanks to its strength, resistance to corrosion, and long life cycle. There are over 150 grades of stainless steel, some of which are used in applications such as medical devices, transportation of chemicals and food products, and kitchen accessories.
Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Fabrication Methods
We can fabricate stainless steel metal in three main ways—laser cutting, metal forming, and welding. Our laser cutting services manufacture top-of-the-line parts with short lead times. Our state-of-the-art machines move the laser instead of the part, which results in quicker cuts, superior edge quality, and a production flow that produces more parts than machines at higher watts.
We can also fabricate metal using our press brake forming equipment. Our 100,000 sq. ft. facility features a modernized production system that keeps costs low and optimizes manufacturing efficiency. Our team can work with dozens of raw materials and has the capacity to perform specialty, small, large, low, and high production volumes.
We offer extensive welding services ready to meet the demands of any industry. We use four advanced types of welding systems including spot, thermal heliarc plasma, TIG, and MIG. We also offer robotic welding cells that ensure an added level of precision and repeatability. Our sheet metal fabrication capabilities also include forming, cutting, punching, welding, CNC machining, finishing, polishing, and hardware insertion.
Stainless Steel Alloys for Sheet Metal
The two most common types of stainless steel are the 304 and 316 alloys.
The 304 stainless steel alloy contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This makeup makes it easy to fabricate and clean. 304 stainless steel is commonly used for electrical enclosures, auto molding and trim, kitchen appliances, hardware, piping, and more. While 304 does have some resistance to corrosion and rust, it is not always the right material for the job.
The 316 stainless steel alloy, which contains 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum, offers even greater resistance to corrosion, rust, and stains than 304 stainless steel. It is also heat-resistant, giving it a wider set of potential applications than 304. It is often used to make food preparation equipment, laboratory benches and equipment, heat exchangers, woven screens, threaded fasteners, and springs. The increased number of uses doesn’t make the 316 any less easy to fabricate, clean, weld, and finish.
Between these two steel options, you should find the right material for your project or product.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Sheet Metal
- Corrosion Resistance: All stainless steel products have a high corrosion resistance, allowing them to be used in all types of environments. Even at more extreme temperatures and pressures, it remains resistant to fire and heat. Low alloyed grades resist corrosion in atmospheric conditions and highly alloyed grades can resist corrosion in most acids, alkaline solutions, and chloride-heavy environments.
- Temperature Resistance: Fire and heat resistance allows most grades of stainless steel to resist scaling and maintain high strength at the highest temperatures.
- Easy Sanitization: Stainless steel is also easy to clean, which makes it the first choice for settings where cleanliness is paramount, such as hospitals, kitchens and abattoirs. Stainless steel is a very hygienic surface, and any foods that come into contact with it do not attract dirt or germs. T/J Fabricators helps our customers maintain a healthy work environment by fabricating medical sheet metal and making hand sanitizing stations.
Since 1967, we’ve been a top provider of fabrication services that require custom tooling for unique projects. We specialize in short to medium run precision sheet metal fabrication, and we have a track record of delivering quality parts consistently and on time. To learn more about our metal fabrication capabilities, contact us or request a quote today.