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Many current and potential customers come to us with questions regarding how we create our metal art products at Innovative Fabricators. The simplest way to describe the process is in four steps: drawing, programming, manufacturing, and finishing. The following paragraphs will briefly describe to you the processes involved with each step.

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Drawing

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Nearly every product developed by our company starts out as a pencil drawing. All of the retail products and many of our custom work projects were designed by our artists, making them original works of art. Each design is free hand drawn on paper, and done in a line art format. Our artists use books and photos of real life images, as well as natural creative talent, to create the drawings.

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Some of our custom work projects require the use of computer design programs, such as Photoshop and Illustrator. With these, we’re able to create mock ups and graphic representations of the product to be manufactured. Many times this allows us to generate new designs using our existing library of artwork, and also helps integrate text and fonts into our work.

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Programming

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After the line art drawing has been created, its brought into a computer drafting program. At Innovative Fabricators we use AutoCAD. Here the design is converted into a file that will enable the design to be laser cut. Occasionally customers are able to provide us with their own design file. DWG and DXF files are supported in AutoCAD, and can be used to create the program needed for laser cutting. If a client has their own design they want to submit they can certainly do so. JPEG, PDF, and other image types work for starters, but eventually will be converted into a DWG file prior to cutting.

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Manufacturing

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Once the design has been recreated in AutoCAD, it is then sent to the laser via computer network and is cut. The lasers are computerized and can read the file that was created in AutoCAD. The machines then cut exactly what is shown in the AutoCAD drawings. Up to this point it has been all drawing and programming.  Now is when imagination starts to become reality.

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After cutting, all required bending and welding steps are performed. Many of our smaller retail products are made out of lighter gauge steel and can be bent and formed using special hand tools. Products cut from heavier material may require the use of a press brake machine to perform the bends. If required, the welding process is performed after bending.

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Finishing

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After all manufacturing steps have been completed the products are finished with powder coat or paint. The majority of our products are powder coated, which tends to provide added longevity over some liquid paint processes. However, we do offer two part epoxy paint as a finish. This is generally baked on after spraying to accelerate the cure time. The paint option also provides our customers with a wider range of color options, but is best suited for large pieces or projects.

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[Innovative Fabricators, Inc. is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of metal art products. We are a group of metal fabrication artists with a focus on creating large and small scale custom metal art for home and commercial markets. Our products originate from an advanced laser cutting system and feature a wide variety of style and function. The company is family owned and operated out of Watertown, South Dakota. Visit www.innovativefab.com]

Innovative Fabricators has recently begun major development stages for new BBQ trophies.  They’re to be awarded at the Smokin’ Aces BBQ Championship in Tunica, MS. Innovative Fab is working in coordination with Champion Awards of Memphis, TN, to develop the awards. The trophies will be large and floor standing, with varying heights. Stay tuned for photos coming at the end of August.

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[Innovative Fabricators, Inc. is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of metal art products. We are a group of metal fabrication artists with a focus on creating large and small scale metal art for home and commercial markets. Our products originate from an advanced laser cutting system and feature a wide variety of style and function. The company is family owned and operated out of Watertown, South Dakota. Visit www.innovativefab.com]

Due to a recent ruling by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, UND products bearing the Fighting Sioux logo will no longer be available for purchase after June 30th, 2011. After this date, all licensed vendors will be required to discontinue all sales of Fighting Sioux merchandise. Consequently, after 6/30/2011 the Collegiate Series brand sold by Innovative Fabricators will no longer feature products bearing the Fighting Sioux logo.

Custom medals were developed for Fury Fights, an ultimate fighting company. Each medal was laser cut from 16 gauge stainless steel, then hand polished and buffed. The design encompasses the Fury Fights logo and is surrounded by an octagonal perimeter.

Click here to view the medals.

Innovative Fabricators, Inc.,Watertown — Innovative Fabricators, Inc. has launched a new brand of products marketed towards collegiate fans. The brand,Collegiate Series,features officially licensed gifts, décor, and furniture. The University of South Dakota, North Dakota State University, and University of North Dakota are the first three schools showcased. Additional schools are currently being pursued and will be added soon.