---
title: "Welding & Metal Fabrication Services | TIG, MIG, Assemblies | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for welded assemblies and metal fabrication from independent shops. TIG and MIG welding in steel, stainless, aluminum, and titanium, with certified procedures. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/capabilities/welding
---

# 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.

## 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.

[Browse all welding shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Welding)

## 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.

- [Carbon steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md) -- A36 · 1018 · HSLA
- [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md) -- 304L · 316L preferred
- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md) -- 5052 · 6061 (not 7075 / 2024)
- [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md) -- Grade 2 · Grade 5, inert shielding

## Tolerances

| Feature | With drawing | No callout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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.

## Threads, Inserts & Finishing

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.

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 | Stacks 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.

## What Makes a Good RFQ

| Instead of | Send |
| --- | --- |
| "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.

## Industries Served

- Aerospace
- Defense
- Automotive
- Heavy equipment
- Food & beverage
- Energy & process
- Robotics
- Industrial / OEM

Welding shops on OpenSpindle build frames, enclosures, pressure parts, and structural assemblies, including shops with AWS D1.1 certified welders and aerospace-qualified procedures.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between TIG and MIG welding?

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.

### What tolerances can a weldment hold?

Overall assembly dimensions typically hold a weld standard like ISO 13920 or AWS D1.1, looser than machined parts because welding heat distorts the assembly. Critical bores, faces, and hole patterns are machined after welding to ±0.005 in or tighter. Call out which features are critical.

### Which metals are weldable?

Carbon steel, 304L and 316L stainless, and 5052 and 6061 aluminum weld readily. High-strength aluminums like 7075 and 2024 are not readily weldable and are usually bolted or riveted. Titanium welds but needs full inert gas shielding to avoid contamination.

### Do you have certified welders?

Many shops on OpenSpindle carry AWS D1.1 certified welders and qualified weld procedures, and some hold aerospace and pressure-vessel qualifications. If your part needs a specific code or NDT inspection, state it and qualified shops respond.

### How do you control distortion on thin sheet?

Thin material warps from weld heat. Shops manage it with fixturing, tack sequences, stitch or skip welds, and heat sinks. Where flatness is critical, note it and expect the shop to plan the weld sequence around it.

### Can you cut and weld in one place?

Yes. Welding is often the finishing step after laser, waterjet, plasma, or press brake work, and many shops do the cutting, forming, and welding under one roof. Send the full assembly and they quote the whole job.

### What file formats should I send?

STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, or a dimensioned PDF with a weldment drawing. Include material and thickness, weld symbols, inspection level, and quantity. A weld map or callout of critical joints helps the quote come back fast.

## Other Capabilities

- [Sheet Metal & Press Brake](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/sheet-metal-fabrication.md)
- [Laser Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/laser-cutting.md)
- [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/waterjet-cutting.md)
- [Plasma Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/plasma-cutting.md)
- [Tube Bending](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/tube-bending.md)
- [Powder Coating](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Powder%20coating)

## Design Notes That Move Your Price

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.

## Get welding and fabrication quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent welding and fabrication shops.