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Top 10 Reasons Fabricated Components Fail & How to Prevent It

Top 10 Reasons Fabricated Components Fail & How to Prevent It

Whether it's oil & gas, chemical plants, refineries, power plants, pharma, or structural fabrication—fabricated metal components must be perfect. A single fabrication mistake can cause:

  • Leakage
  • Safety hazards
  • Shutdowns
  • Misalignment
  • Corrosion
  • Cracking
  • Early failure

And worst case → complete plant downtime, which costs lakhs to crores.

This guide explains the top 10 reasons fabricated components fail, with real-world prevention tips used by professional engineers and fabricators.

Poor Welding Quality (Most Common Failure)

Bad welding leads to:

  • Cracks
  • Porosity (air bubbles)
  • Undercut
  • Lack of fusion
  • Weld spatter

These reduce strength and can cause sudden failure.

Prevention

  • Use certified welders (TIG/MIG/SAW)
  • Pre-heat thick materials
  • Follow WPS/PQR
  • Perform NDT testing (UT, RT, DP)

Wrong Material Selection

Using the wrong grade causes:

  • Corrosion
  • Stress cracking
  • Softening under heat
  • Mechanical failure

Example: Using carbon steel in a chloride environment → instant corrosion.

Prevention

Choose material based on:

  • Temperature
  • Pressure
  • Chemical media
  • Corrosion level

Recommended materials:

  • Stainless Steel ✔
  • Duplex ✔
  • Nickel Alloys ✔
  • Carbon Steel ✔ (only for non-corrosive use)

Improper Cutting or Laser Inaccuracy

Poor cutting causes:

  • Distorted edges
  • Misalignment
  • Wrong dimensions
  • Stress points

Prevention

Use precision cutting:

  • CNC laser cutting
  • Waterjet
  • Plasma cutting
  • CNC machining

Incorrect Heat Treatment

Wrong heat treatment leads to:

  • Brittleness
  • Reduced strength
  • Cracking
  • Grain boundary failure

Prevention

Correct processes:

  • Annealing
  • Tempering
  • Solution annealing (for stainless)
  • Quenching & normalizing

Dimensional Inaccuracy (Incorrect Tolerances)

If the component doesn't fit → failure is guaranteed.

Causes:

  • Manual measurement
  • Old machines
  • No digital calibration

Prevention

  • CNC machining
  • Laser measurement
  • Digital vernier calibration
  • Strict dimensional QC

Corrosion Due to Poor Finishing

Unfinished surfaces trap moisture and chemicals, leading to:

  • Pitting
  • Rust
  • Micro-cracks

Prevention

Apply proper finishing:

  • Pickling
  • Passivation
  • Powder coating
  • Polishing (No. 4, No. 8, Mirror)
  • Anti-corrosion coatings

Stress Concentration & Fatigue Failure

Repeated vibration leads to:

  • Micro-cracks
  • Fatigue
  • Breakage

Common in:

  • Pumps
  • Motors
  • Structural beams
  • Pipe supports

Prevention

  • Use thicker sections
  • Avoid sharp corners
  • Proper reinforcement
  • Vibration analysis

Assembly Errors (Bolting, Alignment, Fit-Up)

Mistakes occur when:

  • Bolts are under-tightened
  • Misalignment occurs
  • No gasket or wrong gasket used
  • Poor fit-up during welding

Prevention

  • Use torque wrenches
  • Follow alignment charts
  • Correct gasket selection
  • Skilled assembly team

Cheap or Fake Raw Materials

Market is full of:

  • Low-grade steel
  • Mixed scrap material
  • Wrong grades stamped as SS 304/316

This causes early failure.

Prevention

  • Buy from certified suppliers
  • Request PMI test
  • Ask for MTC 3.1/3.2
  • Verify chemical composition

Lack of Testing & Inspection

Without testing, failures go unnoticed.

Essential tests:

  • UT (Ultrasonic Test)
  • Hydro Test
  • DP Test
  • RT (X-ray)
  • PMI

Prevention

Always demand testing before dispatch.

Conclusion

Fabricated components fail for many reasons — but 90% of failures are preventable with the right materials, cutting processes, welding quality, testing, and fabrication experience.

To ensure long-lasting performance:

  • Choose correct metal ✔
  • Use skilled welders ✔
  • Perform NDT testing ✔
  • Maintain measurements ✔
  • Use certified suppliers ✔

Moksh Tubes ensures every fabricated part is:

  • Professionally welded
  • Precision-cut
  • NDT tested
  • Dimension-checked
  • Made from certified material

FAQ's

What causes the most fabrication failures?

Poor welding & wrong materials.

How to prevent corrosion?

Use proper surface finishing (pickling, passivation, coatings).

Do dimensions affect fabrication?

Yes — even 1–2 mm mismatch can cause failure.

Does Moksh Tubes provide NDT testing?

Yes — UT, RT, DP, PMI, Hydro.

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