Welding and metal fabrication from independent machine shops
Joining and fabricating metal into finished assemblies: TIG and MIG welding of frames, brackets, enclosures, and pressure parts, often the last step after laser, waterjet, or press brake work. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops set up to weld your material.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential
Welding shops on OpenSpindle
Real shops that weld and fabricate custom metal assemblies. See their equipment and certifications and talk to the person making your part.
★ Top rated
"Precision Waterjet & CNC Plasma Cutting for Any Material, Any Design."
"Multi material experiential and retail fabrication in Brooklyn"
"Custom metal fabrication and precision machining in Baton Rouge"
"Hard Metal CNC Machining & Complex Parts Experts"
"Multi-Material Contract Manufacturing in Milwaukee"
"Full-Service Metal Fabrication & Waterjet Cutting Near Austin"
How it works
How OpenSpindle Works
Upload your files
Share your CAD files or drawings (STEP, DXF, DWG, PDF) and note material, tolerances, and quantity. It takes a couple of minutes.
Get matched quotes
We route your part to shops with the machines and materials to make it, and they send competitive quotes.
Compare and choose
Weigh quotes, methods, and lead times side by side, then pick the shop that fits your budget and timeline.
Metals our welding shops join
Weldability depends on the alloy. Common weldable metals are below; if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote.
Specs
Tolerances you can expect
| Feature | With a drawing | No drawing supplied |
|---|---|---|
| Overall assembly dimension | ±0.030 in | ISO 13920 Class B |
| Fit-up / root gap | ±1/16 in | Per weld procedure |
| Angular (welded joint) | ±1° | ISO 13920 Class B |
| Flatness / distortion | ~1/16 in per ft | As-welded |
| Machined feature (post-weld) | ±0.005 in | Machined after welding |
Weldment tolerances are looser than machined parts because heat distorts the assembly. Overall dimensions hold to a weld standard such as ISO 13920 or AWS D1.1; critical bores, faces, and hole patterns are machined after welding, so call those out and the shop fixtures and machines them last.
Secondary operations
Inserts, hardware and finishing
Threads and inserts
Tapped and threaded holes, press nuts and studs, and machined mating faces are added after welding so heat does not pull them out of position. Weld prep (bevels, chamfers) comes off the cut edge before assembly.
Finishing
Applied after welding. As-welded ships fastest; grinding, passivation, and powder coat are common on fabricated assemblies. Cosmetic welds add finishing time.
| Finish | Materials | Adds | Can be applied with |
|---|---|---|---|
| As-welded | All | +0 days | Anything |
| Ground / blended welds | All | +1-2 days | Paint, powder coat |
| Passivation | Stainless only | +2 days | Bead blast |
| Powder coat / paint | Steel, aluminum | +3-5 days | After grinding |
Weld spatter and heat tint under a coating show through. Say whether welds are structural or cosmetic so the shop grinds and preps to the right level.
Get a better quote
Getting a quote that comes back fast
| Instead of | Send this |
|---|---|
| "Weld this frame up" | "A36 steel weldment, 6 tubes per drawing, all-around fillet welds, qty 10" |
| "Stainless, welded" | "316L, TIG welded, sanitary appearance, no heat tint on show faces" |
| "Needs to be strong" | "AWS D1.1 visual inspection, full-penetration welds at the two load joints" |
Say which welds are structural, the material and thickness, and the inspection level (visual vs NDT). That is what sets the procedure, the welder qualification, and the price.
Applications
Industries we serve
Welding shops on OpenSpindle build frames, enclosures, pressure parts, and structural assemblies, including shops with AWS D1.1 certified welders and aerospace-qualified procedures.
More on OpenSpindle
Other capabilities
Need a different process? Browse shops for these too.
Designing for this process
What actually changes your quote
Not a definition of welding. The design choices that move your price and lead time.
Match the weld to the load
Full-penetration welds are slow and often need NDT. Reserve them for the joints that actually carry load and let the rest be fillet welds. Over-specifying welds adds cost everywhere.
Leave access for the torch
A welder has to reach the joint. Tight internal corners and boxed-in seams force awkward positions or extra fit-up. Open the design so the torch and filler wire can get in.
Machine critical features last
Heat moves everything. Weld first, then machine the bores, faces, and hole patterns that have to be precise. Designing for post-weld machining is cheaper than chasing distortion.
Pick a weldable alloy early
If a part will be welded, avoid 7075 and 2024 aluminum and free-machining grades that crack. Choosing 6061 or 5052, or 304L / 316L stainless, up front avoids a redesign.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
TIG (GTAW) is slower but precise and clean, best for thin material, aluminum, stainless, and titanium, and where appearance matters. MIG (GMAW) lays metal down faster with higher deposition, better for thicker steel and production volume. Note your material, thickness, and whether welds are cosmetic and the shop picks the process.
Get welding and fabrication quotes
Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent welding and fabrication shops.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential