What is the manufacturing process used to make metal?

A raw material is mixed with other raw materials and melted down to form a billet. For example, steel; iron ore is mixed with limestone & manganese & other alloys depending on the type of steel that you want (nickel is mixed in to produce stainless steel).

This is then melted down and poured into vats, or depressions in the plant floor and allowed to cool. To get steel plate to make a washing machine, the slabs are then rolled through mills (like rolling bread dough, but there is a roll on top and a roll on the bottom, to flaten it). The slab may pass through several mills (stacks of rollers) to obtain the gauge needed.

The rolled steel is then collected on a coil and further processed depending on the finish. The rolls are then shipped to customers (i.e. Maytag). The coils are then cut into strips which are bent and shaped to look like the outside of your washer.

First answer by Kevlarster. Last edit by Kevlarster. Contributor trust: 178 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 10 [recommend question]