What is custom metal fabrication?
Custom metal fabrication is the process of cutting, bending, and assembling metal materials to create parts, components, or structures based on specific designs. Unlike off-the-shelf products, custom fabrication produces parts made to your exact specifications. The process typically involves CNC laser cutting or plasma cutting to create flat shapes, press brake forming to add bends, welding to join components, and finishing such as powder coating or plating. Custom fabrication is used when standard parts won't work for your application.
How much does custom metal fabrication cost in Louisiana?
Custom metal fabrication costs in Louisiana vary based on material, complexity, and quantity. As a general guide: shop labor runs $50-150 per hour depending on the operation. Simple laser-cut parts might cost $25-100 each in small quantities. Formed and welded assemblies typically range from $200-2,000+ depending on size and complexity. Material costs are additional — steel plate runs roughly $0.50-1.00 per pound, aluminum $2-4 per pound, stainless $3-5 per pound. The best way to get accurate pricing is to request a quote with your specific drawings or CAD files.
What materials can you fabricate?
We fabricate most common metals including: carbon steel (A36, A572, 1018, 4140), stainless steel (304, 316, 410, 17-4), aluminum (6061, 5052, 5086, 2024), and specialty materials like copper, brass, and bronze. For thickness, our laser cuts up to 1" carbon steel, 1/2" aluminum, and 3/8" stainless. Our press brakes handle up to 1/2" steel plate. If you have a specialty material requirement, contact us — we can often source exotic alloys and work with customer-supplied material.
What is the typical turnaround time?
Standard lead times for custom fabrication are 2-3 weeks for most jobs. Simple laser-cut flat parts can often ship in 5-7 business days. Complex weldments and assemblies requiring multiple operations typically take 3-4 weeks. For rush jobs, we offer expedited service with lead times as short as 24-72 hours depending on the scope — rush fees apply. Lead times also depend on material availability; common materials are stocked, but specialty alloys may add procurement time.
Do you offer prototype services?
Yes, prototype fabrication is one of our specialties. We understand that prototypes often need to be turned quickly and may require design iteration. We offer rapid prototyping with lead times of 3-5 days for most parts. Our engineering team can provide design-for-manufacturing (DFM) feedback to help optimize your part for production. Once your prototype is approved, we make transitioning to production quantities seamless — your fixturing, programs, and quality documentation are already in place.
What file formats do you accept?
We accept most common CAD and drawing formats: DXF and DWG files for 2D laser cutting, STEP, IGES, and SolidWorks files for 3D parts, and PDF drawings with dimensions. If you only have a sketch or physical sample, we can reverse-engineer and create CAD files for you. For best results on laser cutting, provide DXF files with clean geometry. For formed parts, include a 3D model or detailed drawing showing bend locations, angles, and dimensions.
Do you offer finishing services?
Yes, we provide several finishing options in-house and through trusted partners: powder coating (any RAL or custom color), wet painting and primers, hot-dip galvanizing for corrosion protection, zinc plating, anodizing for aluminum parts, passivation for stainless steel, and mechanical finishing including grinding, deburring, and polishing. We can ship your parts ready to install with all finishing complete.
What quality certifications do you have?
Our Louisiana fabrication facility maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management. Our welders are certified to AWS D1.1 (structural steel), AWS D1.2 (aluminum), and ASME Section IX for pressure-related work. We perform first article inspection on all new parts and can provide full dimensional reports, material certifications (MTRs), and certificates of conformance as required. For aerospace and defense work, we comply with AS9100 quality requirements.
