Methods Used in Shaping Metals

The four basic methods such as casting, deformation, machining, and various forms of fabrication (i.e. the joining together of smaller pieces or particles of material to form a larger object) are used for converting a raw material into the required manufactured shape whilst also achieving the desired material structure. Welding, adhesive bonding, mechanical fasteners or even powder metallurgy come under this latter heading.

Casting exploits the fluidity of a liquid as it takes shape and solidifies in a mould. Deformation exploits the remarkable property of materials to flow plastically in the solid state without deterioration of their properties. These type of processes result in a minimum of material waste.

Machining processes provide excellent precision, but the process generates a large amount of waste material. Fabrication techniques enable complex shapes to be constructed from simpler particles or units.