2021/04/13 10:41:30
How Furniture Manufacturers Produce Metal Furniture
Metal furniture dates back to the eras of Pharaohs. It is preferred due to its high durability and how it can easily be molded into different forms. Nonetheless, while making metal furniture is a straightforward process, it requires skill. Additionally, innovativeness and the ability to create stylish metal furniture designs are priceless
If you are looking to become a metal furniture manufacturer, it is advisable that you stay in touch with the goings-on in the industry. New styles or fabrication techniques, could help you distinguish your brand from your competitors. One of the best avenues to explore these trade secrets is furniture exhibitions. The China International Furniture Fair, for example, hosts thousands of metal furniture manufacturers and production equipment suppliers. Interacting with them could be a great learning experience as would be the training seminars.
As you pack your bags, here is a quick guide on modern metal furniture fabrication.
Production Processes
The production of metal furniture is done in stages. They can be categorized as follows.
Material Purchase and Management
The type of metal chosen depends on what the manufacturer hopes to offer in a piece as different metals offer various features. Some of the common metals used for furniture include:
- Aluminum alloys- they are usually made up of aluminum blended with a different metal to achieve improved strength. This type of metal is preferred for making lightweight furniture like outdoor or office furniture. It is resilient against rust and other effects of weather such as warping.
- Wrought iron- this type of metal is best known for its durability that can span decades if well cared for. Speaking of care, iron is typically prone to rust, and thus this type of metal furniture needs to be treated and all parts covered in paint. It is ideal for outdoor furniture and pieces that do not require much movement because it is heavy.
- Stainless steel- this is a go-to solution for manufacturing furniture for areas that need to be kept sterile like kitchens and hospitals. It is relatively lightweight, rust-proof, and easy to clean.
Metal is often purchased in sheets. Pure metals do not often require much pre-processing after purchase. They may be cut or smelted in instances like that of aluminum where alloying is required.
CNC Processing
A Computer Numerical Control(CNC) machine comprises a computer system joined to a power tool. It is used to cut metal into shapes and dimensions that will be used to make furniture. The operational process of a CNC machine in metal furniture manufacturing unfolds as follows.
- A furniture designer creates a Computer-Aided Design sketch of how the metal for the furniture piece should be cut.
- They upload it to the CNC machine's reader.
- The computer system of the CNC machine reads the CAD design and controls the power tool to cut the sheets of metal in the shapes or sizes required to match the design.
A CNC machine offers high accuracy and high tolerances because its tools are all controlled by a computer system. However, laser cutting can also be used to achieve the same benefits, especially where quick smooth cuts are required.
Bending is done to give parts of metal furniture specific shapes. It is possible to do it by hand when using soft metals but tougher materials would require machinery. Bending metal is sometimes also referred to as forming. The only notable difference is that forming often involves a large sheet or piece of metal being manipulated into a certain shape. This is done using force from hydraulic machines or rollers or CNC machines.
The last step in this process is welding. It is used to secure the joints of sheets or parts that have been bent or formed. The type of welding that is chosen depends on the design and the required finish.
Finishing
Finishing is the perfection stage of metal furniture production. It is done when the basic design or frame of the metal furniture piece is fully formed. It entails smoothing over any rough spots and aligning any parts that look askew. When the structure is perfected, other types of finishes may be applied. Some popular options include:
- Anodizing - an electrolytic process where metal furniture is coated with a clear film that can prevent corossion and UV damage. It is often used for aluminum furniture.
- Water-based painting- this is a solvent-free paint that coats the metal and can help prevent rust. It usually requires to be redone from time to time to maintain the protective seal.
- Powder coating- in this method, metal furniture parts are sprayed with plastic powder particles charged with static energy. They are placed in a kiln and heated to make the coating smooth and fully fused to the part.
Quality Testing
Quality tests are performed to confirm there are no structural or design flaws that have gone unnoticed. They are also essential for the safety of the consumers that will buy the furniture. It is worth mentioning that each metal furniture manufacturer may perform different tests depending on the design of their furniture.
- Stress testing- machines are used to exert weight and pressure on the metal furniture to see whether it can hold up to its stipulated weight limits.
- Finish evaluation- this can be done using a special scanner to see if all parts of the metal have been covered by the finish. Smoothness can be evaluated by touch if necessary.
- Corrosion testing- this is done as a controlled simulation to see how the metal furniture would react to corrosive substances.
It is recommended that metal furniture units that do not pass either of the standard tests are modified accordingly. However, if the problems are structural and affect performance would be ideal to remake the piece.
Conclusion
Compared to other furniture materials, manufacturing metal furniture can be time-consuming and costly. It is, nevertheless, quite rewarding in terms of sale value and the value it delivers to customers. Therefore, all things considered, it is a worthwhile venture.
If you would like to learn more about how to make metal furniture, the expert training seminars at the China International Furniture Conference come highly recommended. In March the conference is held in Guangzhou and in September, it moves to Shanghai. If you are keen on exploring more variety, Guangzhou is near the Foshan furniture market. It is one of the largest in the world and you can find everything from metalwork furniture artisans to material suppliers. You can find all the details regarding the fair on this page.
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