Shears: These metal cutting machines cut sheets of thin material using a long steel blade.  Several different types of actuation mechanisms are found on a shear; Stomp shears (foot shear actuated), also known as kick shears, mechanical shears, hydraulic shears and air shears.  Older shear models are mechanically operated, but in recent years, hydraulic shears have become standard due to their reliability and the small size footprint needed for construction.  The used fabrication shear market has increased because of the extremely long duty life of the older machines.  New machine features are available today, such as CNC back gauges and shadow lines.  Shears are rated by material length and thickness or “capacity” such as ¼”, 3/8” or 10 gauge ECT in mild steel, for example.

Press Brakes: Fabrication machines used to bend sheets of material.  They can be either mechanical press brakes or hydraulic press brakes actuation.  Typically rated by tonnage and bed size, metal fabricating press brakes are very common metalworking machines in fabrication shops.

Ironworkers: Multi-purpose fabrication machines used to punch holes, shear, cope, and notch material.  Ironworkers can perform various fabrication functions.  They are typically rated by tonnage and each machine function’s individual material capacity or specifications.  Ironworkers can be either mechanical or hydraulic in operation, with hydraulic ironworkers being more common today.

Rolls & Roll Formers: Used to bend long sheet metal into cylindrical shapes or “round tube” forms.  Sometimes referred to as initial pinch rolls or pyramid roll formers due to their 3-roll design, they can be hand operated, electric or hydraulically powered.  Angle bending rolls are smaller and shorter horizontal benders that use three short roll dies to bend circular shapes in angle iron and other narrow pieces of material at various radiuses.

Welders: Various types of welding equipment is available on the market today, such as Mig welders, Tig welders, wire feed welders, plasma welders and stick welders.  Amperage and types of material they can weld rate these machines.

Air compressors: There are several types of compressors available on the market today, depending on the amount air volume needed, such as piston type compressors and screw type air compressors for high volume applications.  Generally, an air dryer is used to remove moisture from the air system, placed after the air compressor unit.

Sheet metal equipment: A variety of other equipment is used in the area of metal shaping such as, English Wheels, shrinker/stretchers, power hammers, turret punches (Rotex punches), hand brakes and corner notchers.