There are an endless number of factors to consider when selecting the right material for a particular fabrication project. Fortunately, the project and constraints of the project tend to lend designers and fabricators towards the best answer. Depending on unique goals, requirements, and intended uses of a specific piece of equipment, one particular material might be a better option than another. Some of the most important things to consider in selecting material are budget, capacity, environment, and the construction process of the equipment.

In order to select the right material for a project, you have to ask the right questions. If the item is going to be used in salt water, the appropriate material will be much different than something being used in the desert. Will this equipment come in contact with food? The capacity requirements will eliminate certain materials, simply because certain materials cannot withhold a required weight. Steel can support a greater weight than aluminum, but in a situation where the weight of the equipment needs to be limited, aluminum might be the better option. Does the item need to be replicated hundreds or thousands of times? Casting, machining, and welding are all possible options. Cost is important in every project, so the materials must fall within the available budget and be readily available.

The majority of our work involves stainless steel. Stainless steel is strong, doesn’t rust easily, is appropriate for holding most foods and liquids, and is less expensive than many alternatives. While stainless steel is a great fit for many of the equipment pieces built in our shop, that doesn’t mean steel is the best fit for every project or the only material we use to build equipment.

Metals (iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium), composites, liquids, gases, polymers (rubber, plastics), and even ceramics (glass, semi-conductors, structural ceramics, refractory composites) all find their way into the production of equipment. Equipment being made with metals tend to be more basic, while those using some of these alternatives generally have more specialized applications. Plastics are inexpensive in large volume, extremely costly in small batches, and often used in smaller applications. Our facility is humongous and has the capacity to build massive pieces of equipment, which is ideal for large steel projects, as opposed to a small plastic project.

Strength is the most important factor that engineers consider when picking a material. Ductility, hardness, creep, density, and temperature behavior are a few of the basic mechanical properties to consider. Fatigue strength, fracture toughness, thermal conductivity, magnetic properties, corrosion factors, as well as how easily the material can be formed, machined, and fabricated factor into the decision to pick one specific material over another. Metals like steel outshine most materials in the area of both strength and formability, which has likely lent to its popularity over the years.

Fortunately, the parameters of each project generally help guide in the appropriate selection of materials. Smart Machine Technologies can help design a unique solution or build something to existing specifications. Large fabrication shops like ours aren’t really geared towards small projects, but feel free to run the project by us if you aren’t sure if we’d be a good fit. Our specialty is large steel fabrication projects like tanks, conveyor belts, skids, or other equipment; however, we’re happy to consult with your company about projects of all shapes, sizes, and materials. Contact us to learn more about selecting the best material or metal for your large industrial equipment project.