Principles of Fabrication

Fabrication is the process of turning a design into a physical object.

That can mean cutting timber with a saw, drilling holes through aluminium, machining steel on a lathe, welding separate parts together, routing a panel with a CNC machine, cutting sheet with a laser or waterjet, or applying a finish after the part has been made.

The machines and materials vary, but many of the underlying principles are shared.

A successful fabrication job depends on more than drawing the correct shape. The material must be held securely. The cutting process removes real material. Tools have physical width. Machines have limits. Heat, vibration and cutting forces affect the work. Surface treatments can change dimensions. Most importantly, machinery must be operated by people who understand its hazards.

This module introduces those principles. It is intended to build fabrication literacy, not replace machine-specific training.