Because of their ease of use, extreme versatility and relatively low cost Ironworkers are one of the most basic necessities for any fabrication shop. Popular Folding Machine Manufacturer’s: Cidan, Fasti, RAS, Roper Whitney Used IronworkersĪn Ironworker is best described as a universal metal working machine capable of punching, notching, shearing and forming a variety of materials from plate to rod stock to angle and channel materials. Typically flanges are less than 1.5” in height. Unlike a press brake, the folder supports all the material on the table of the machine and only the “flange” or material being bent is showing from the forming fingers. The typical application for a folder is limited to 10 gage ( 0.135” ) material or thinner and with folds (or bends) in only one direction much like one might envision a pan. Although all of the forming that these machines perform can be performed in a press brake, a folder makes the process much simpler for specific applications like panels, pans, trim molding etc. Sometimes referred to as a “pan brake” or “finger brake”, folders can be manually controlled or computer controlled.

Popular Burning/Plasma Manufacturer’s: MG Messer, Esab, Advanced Cutting Systems, Koike Aronson, Multicam, Hypertherm, Plasma Cam, North American Cutting Systems, Torchmate Used Folding Machinesįolders are machines used for the forming of sheet metal. Machines can be configured with one or more of either Oxy/Fuel or Plasma and can even include a combination of both methods for the most flexibility in shape cutting. The machines’ motion system is controlled via a computer controller or CNC however older machines utilized optical tracer eye and some even used physical template tracer methods. This machining method is a thermal method and thus the material being cut must be acceptable to high temperatures. Either an Oxy-Fuel mix or the newer Plasma technology is employed to burn/melt materials up to and even over 6” thick.

Thermal or “burning” machines are probably one of the oldest forms of metal shape cutting short of the physical hammering/sawing/hacking methods.

Plasma Cutters are used for the sh ape cutting of steels. Used Fabrication Machines for Sale Used Plasma Cutters

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