Most people don't think a lot about how a piece of structural steel came to be when they buy it from the supplier. However, these pieces oftentimes go through a long list of processes before they ever make it to the salesfloor. Many tools play a role in the creation of most steel pieces you will find, and you may be surprised by just how many are involved. Take a brief look at some of the most common tools and equipment pieces used during industrial steel fabrication processes.

Magnetic Metal Drills

Magnetic drills are precisely as they sound; they are magnetized to hold a piece of steel in place while the drilling action takes place. You will find a lot of magnetic drills in a metal fabrication operation and you will see drills of varying sizes as well. If a piece of structural steel has to have pre-drilled holes for construction, you can almost guarantee a magnetic drill will be used to make those marks. 

Cold Saw

As you can probably imagine, sawing a piece of steel is quite the process. Friction between the saw blade and the piece of steel being cut generated incredible levels of heat. In order to combat problems with the generated heat changing the shape of the steel being fabricated or manipulated, cold saws are often used. These saws can make use of either water or liquid nitrogen to induce coolness to the blade area to keep the steel at a stable temperature while it is being cut. 

Shot Blasting Machine 

Sometimes, steel is not as hard as it should be when it comes directly from the manufacturer. Therefore, tools and equipment have to be used to manipulate the piece of steel to make it stronger or to encourage a tougher tensile strength. A shot blaster is one piece of equipment used in metal fabrication for this purpose. Almost like a sandblaster, shot blasters shoot out these carbon granules at a high rate of speed at a piece of steel. The process can be used for polishing the exterior of a steel piece as well. 

Plate Processing Machine 

If a piece of structural steel contains a plate or series of plates, you can rest assured a plate processor was used in its creation. These machines perform several different things to a plate of steel. They can cut holes or notches, create curves or bends in the plate, or make specific marks on the surface.