Tools Everyone in the Steel Industry Should Understand
Working the in the steel industry requires some technical knowledge of the processes and tools that you have to use every day. This allows you do your job more efficiently and precisely. If you buy large quantities of steel, you probably know most of these already. However, if you’re new to this field or you’re unaware the recent additions, here are some of the tools that are used in the steel industry.
Tools You Should Know if you Buy Large Quantities of Steel
Cutting machine
Like many of the tools that will be mentioned on this list, there are different variations of cutting machines that can be used for steel. What you use will depend on the end result you want to achieve, how often you will use it and other mitigating factors. Most companies now use high speed, laser cutting machines because they get the job done quickly and accurately.
Laser cutting uses a machine that uses a high power laser and directs it follow a pattern using a motion control system. That beam melts, vaporizes or burns the material into the shape that was programmed into the controls. This can be used for creating multiple steel products, like decorative lamps and parts of other machines.
Crushing machine
Industrial cutting machines are so diverse that a lot of them are a mix between two different designs — like grinding mill with a traditional metal crushing machine, creating a hammer crusher. Some are designed to be low and cost efficient — like the hydrocyclone, perfect for companies which do a lot of metal crushing.
The goal of this machine is to break or compress metals, such as steel, into smaller chunks or a denser mass. Depending on the type of crusher you use, it can crush different sizes of raw materials. The end product is delivered to a screening machine that sorts the material to be further processed. After that, the metal usually goes through a milling stage.
Milling cutters
Milling is similar to other cutting machines, except it removes materials from the surface of the metal you’re working one. Instead of the blades moving forward, this rotary cutter spins on its axis perpendicularly. That allows the cutter to shave off chips from the workpiece each time it passes through it.
Automation has made designing using milling cutters a lot easier because now, all you have to do is input the result you want on your computer, and wait as the machine does its job. That’s why this tool has gained popularity outside its industrial use. Hobbyists and designers are also now proficient in using this tool.
What’s your favorite tool? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources:
http://www.asenggent.com/