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contents
February 2012 | Vol. 42 No. 2
www.thefabricator.com
departments
10 From the Editor-in-Chief Signs that the world will notice
If a stranger were to drive up to your metal fabricating company, would he know what
your business is? Maybe that sign in front should give people a better idea of just what
is going on in the shop. It can show off your company’s capabilities and helps to
promote the industry.
11 Readers’ Forum
12 Calendar of Events
14 Industry News
38 Applications High-definition plasma provides speed, precision to custom fab
shop | Fabricating machines provide required accuracy for bridge sections | Steel
fabrication company gets lean with mobile crane
40 Product Highlights Press brake combines precision with ease of use |
Modular waterjet machine expands to 48 ft. | Hand-held annular drilling system cuts
all metals
42 Technology Spotlight The heavy challenge of rolling heavy cones
Thanks to how they manipulate rolls and grip material, variable-axis plate rollers form
extremely thick-walled cones.
44 Precision Matters 3-D CAD: Project documentation Columnist
Gerald Davis explores exploded views as he prepares the 3-D model to be much more
than just a graphical representation of the part to be fabricated.
80 Product News Technology innovations in the fabricating industry
88 Classified Ads
89 Advertisers’ Index
90 The Back Page “A creation of me”
Dick Roberts, a 70-ish artist, discovers “magic” when he uses a CNC plasma table to
cut out some of his designs.
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coming in March 2012
Learn how process digitization affects bend measurement and how the press brake
operator goes about his day-to-day job.
Find out ways that modern punch tooling can duplicate secondary fabricating
processes, which ultimately can lead to less material handling and the elimination of those
downstream fabricating activities.
Discover how welders at Valmont Industries successfully beat the 100-degree
heat of a Tulsa, Okla., summer day.
thefabricator.com February Web exclusives
Welding. Review gas metal arc welding basics with “GMAW guns, consumables, and
more: 7 common questions answered.”
Management. Are U.S. labor unions still relevant? Read what metal stampers have to
say on this subject.
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Be sure to receive fabricating news and updates via Twitter from Editor-in-Chief
Dan Davis ( www.twitter.com/fabricating) and Web Content Manager Vicki Bell
( www.twitter.com/fabcomlady).
While you’re online, don’t forget to check out thefabricator.com and become a
fan of The FABRICATOR on Facebook.
If you want to expand your professional network or learn about the latest
educational opportunities, check out the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association
group link on LinkedIn.com.
