Welded Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Frames and Stands

Welded frames start as laser-cut flat parts with tabs and slots that self-locate during assembly, which reduces fixture cost and improves squareness. Bent members add stiffness without extra welds. TIG welding is used on stainless for clean, controlled beads; tack sequences and alternating welds keep heat distortion down. Critical mounting faces can be machined after welding if flatness needs to be tighter than fabrication allows.

304 stainless is the general-purpose choice; 316 is chosen for salt, chlorides or harsher washdown chemicals. Welding discolors stainless and can reduce corrosion resistance in the heat zone, so welds are pickled or passivated and then brushed to blend. Aluminum frames are lighter and can be anodized or powder coated, but aluminum welds are weaker than parent metal, which design loads must account for.

Assembled frames are checked for overall dimensions, diagonals for squareness, and flatness of mounting faces. Welds are visually inspected for full fusion, porosity and undercut. Critical dimensions are 100% inspected before crating. Typical uses include machine bases, conveyor stands, cleanroom equipment frames, laboratory instrument racks and food-equipment supports, shipped assembled or flat-packed.