What Is Metalworking?

Metalworking Basics

Take a quick look at the things around you. You will notice that everything is made from a wide range of materials, such as wood, textiles, glass, plastic and metal. Of these, metal has played a major role for centuries in a broad spectrum of fields owing to its two greatest properties―strength and ductibility. Let’s explore how metal is processed into so many unique and functional shapes.

The Forming Stage

In order to work with metal, the raw material―iron, copper, aluminum or an alloyed metal―must be primed into a homogeneous, ductile material. Raw metal materials are processed in various methods, such as sintering―forming a solid metal from powder using heat; casting―pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing to cool; and rolling―stretching metal between two rollers to form a thin sheet. The resulting metal products enable industrial craftsmen to produce coils, plates, pipes, wires and other metal supplies.

The Cutting Stage

Once the metal is in a pliable form, it is subjected to an assortment of processes involving cutting, bending, squeezing, drilling and polishing. These processes are accomplished through the following methods:
　1. Shearing
　2. Cutting
　3. Cutting & grinding
　4. Bending
　5. Deep drawing
　6. Bulging These processes are further broken down according to the end-use of the metal product. As an example, the cutting process is performed in any one of the following ways:

I. Machining A. Tool cutting 　1. Bit/cutter cutting 　2. Circular saw cutting 　3. Fretsaw cutting 　4. Abrasive cutting B. Press shearing 　1. Fine blanking 　2. Shaving 　3. Opposed die shearing C. Machine shearing 　1. Guillotine shearing 　2. Roll slitting D. Other methods 　1. Water-jetting 　2. Electric discharging II. Welding cutting 　1. Gas cutting 　2. Plasma cutting 　3. Arc cutting 　4. Wire cutting

Machining combines the cutting and grinding processes. Cutting consists of the following methods.

Lathe turning	Drill pressing	Milling
End milling	Boring	Tooth cutting

Grinding consists of the following methods.

Cylindrical grinding	Internal grinding	Surface grinding

Ota City: Metalworking Mecca

As you can see, metalworking encumbers a huge range of methods and technology, each involving costly machinery. It would be unprofitable for one company to offer all types of metal work requiring not only a great investment in equipment, but also the hiring of highly skilled and knowledgeable specialists. However, gathering businesses within the industry that specialize in different processes in one locale is both effective and efficient. Not only is such a concentration of metalwork industries convenient for companies contracting the metalwork, but also complementary to the factories providing the various processes.

Hence, Ota City provides a win-win situation for everyone involved―a high concentration of specialized metalwork industries in one area get the job done right and get it done fast!

Mutual Competition and Cooperation

The high concentration of a single industry in a small area provides another special advantage―the spirit of competition. This healthy sense of mutual rivalry encourages a steady stream of technical enhancements and advancements. Japan is blessed with many such regions that have developed concentrations of a single industry, such as cutlery, metal utensils, textiles and ceramics. The company that offers the most superior technology and technique naturally attracts the most business; each plant is therefore encouraged to continually polish their own skills and specialties. This competition has the wonderful effect of continually increasing the technological level of the entire region.

A close physical and technological proximity between similar businesses also means mutual help. When one plant receives a large order with a tight delivery time, it can easily outsource to a nearby plant or share the various steps in the manufacturing process according to the special skills of each plant.

Quoted document:
http://www.shuwasystem.co.jp/products/7980html/2086.html