Fabrication refers to the secondary manufacturing operations performed on an extruded profile to turn it into a finished part. This includes:
- Cutting: To specific lengths, often with mitered or angled cuts.
- Machining: Drilling holes, tapping threads, milling slots or pockets, CNC routing.
- Bending/Forming: Some profiles can be bent (though extrusion is generally for linear shapes).
- Welding: Joining profiles together (MIG, TIG, friction stir welding).
- Assembly: Attaching brackets, hardware, inserts, or other components.
Many extrusion suppliers offer fabrication services, providing a “ready-to-install” component rather than just raw lengths of metal.