​Building information modeling (BIM) software creates 2D or 3D building models. The latter offers better visualization and coordination benefits than traditional drawings. With 3D BIM models, architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders can better communicate and coordinate their work.

BIM using 3D models streamlines collaborative building design by combining architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing models into a shared virtual workspace. Within this workspace, design teams can detect interference between building systems and minimize costly revisions during construction by resolving component conflicts before the build.

Realistic 3D renderings allow construction leads to fine-tune schedules in real time. Detailed digital representations also facilitate ongoing improvements across disciplines through collaboration.

Powerful integration software allows comprehensive virtual walk-throughs to detect clashes across all system designs. Project managers coordinate workshop sessions to resolve any clashes, ensuring that systems do not interfere with each other. Once modeling is complete, intelligent 3D models automatically generate sections and drawings with labels linked to components.

​Commercial kitchens require exhaust duct systems. The systems provide ventilation and proper and constant airflow, keeping the air in an enclosed and often smoky space clean and safe. Since the systems provide a vital function, the materials must meet code standards.

The two primary code-compliant materials used in commercial exhaust duct systems are 18-gauge stainless steel and 16-gauge carbon steel. Made from basic carbon and iron steel, the latter can withstand high temperatures and various stresses. With stainless steel, adding at least 10 percent chromium to the alloy helps prevent rusting and corrosion in oxygenated environments.

Fire codes generally mandate welded joints for exhaust hoods, which provides protection should a fire break out. Beyond its noncorrosive properties, stainless steel can prevent bacteria from building up in the welds and highly recommended in food processing environments.

With commercial systems, ducted hoods employ a fan and an external vent to suck up fumes and smoke associated with kitchen activities. Then, the exhaust exits the space via the ductwork.

​Metal is one of the most common elements on the periodic table. Different metals usually have distinct physical properties, characteristic masses, and melting points. An alloy is formed when two or more distinct metals are mixed with unknown properties.

Alloys and metals typically vary in their chemical compositions. For instance, pure metals usually comprise a single element or atoms of one metallic substance. On the other hand, an alloy could have two or more elements mixed such that their chemical formulas have at least two elements.

Also, metals and alloys' thermal tolerance and melting points are different. Because alloys have more than one element, they do not have a fixed melting point. This means that they can melt over varying temperatures. This is unlike metals that have definite melting points depending on the type of metal.

Furthermore, alloys appear to be more malleable compared to metals. Manufacturers often combine pure metals to create alloys to change the metals' physical properties. For example, jewelry makers typically alloy their gold with zinc, silver, or copper to be more durable and rigid.

​With the fast pace of modern industry, maximizing efficiency and quality while minimizing costs and errors is vital to remain competitive. As such, the manufacturing industry has adopted digital technologies associated with Industry 4.0, including data exchange and automation, which have significantly impacted fabrication processes.

Automation has enabled previously unattainable levels of precision in manufacturing through computer-guided machinery. Operators can now complete fabrication tasks such as welding, cutting, and bending with consistent dimensions and high precision. This precision eliminates defective output that would otherwise require costly reprocessing, saving time and money. Further, automated machinery carries out tasks to highly accurate programming specifications, ensuring uniformity across products by removing quality variations that can arise from human factors.

Furthermore, automation has vastly improved production efficiency in fabrication. Machinery like beamline technology, which uses laser, plasma, or waterjet for cutting, can handle previously labor-intensive tasks such as measuring, cutting, and drilling steel beams, accelerating processes and reducing completion times. With the increased speed and shorter lead times enabled by automation, fabricators can use these tools to complete projects for various clients concurrently without compromising quality.

Besides efficiency, automation has improved workplace safety in the fabrication industry. For example, many robots now have intelligent safety features, including motion detectors, which initiate the automatic shutdown of machinery whenever a person is in proximity, helping reduce risk of accidental contact. Moreover, automated systems lessen the need to frequently reposition or move heavy steel components by hand, tasks that can cause injuries as well as fatigue and strain over time.

When outfitted with AI-based software systems, automated fabrication machinery creates a wealth of data that metal fabricators can leverage for insightful analytics. Fabricators can capture vast production data such as processing times, welding parameters, and machine performance metrics using these tools, enabling them to optimize schedules, cutting costs and boosting quality. Additionally, computational data analysis enables real-time identification of potential issues, allowing for prompt corrective actions.

Automated quality assurance tasks can also capture detailed data on welding and fabrication processes, delivering consolidated reporting that supports continuous improvement efforts. With vast information collected, estimates to customers can be more accurate. Moreover, manufacturing relying on robotics and automation can consistently produce high-quality products faster and more cost-effectively than relying solely on manual labor.

Implementing automated systems also allows fabricators to optimize workforce needs. Advanced machines such as CNC plasma (a computerized cutting machine that uses a plasma torch to cut sheet metal) and laser tables only require one technician who can initiate complex cutting with a button press after uploading designs. Moreover, mobile manipulator robots equipped with moving arms can handle various tasks traditionally performed by multiple workers across large production areas.

Regarding waste management, robotic machinery and automated fabrication solutions help minimize production waste by consistently maintaining tight tolerances and notifying operators of deviations to enable adjustments that reduce defects. Methods such as 3D metal printing only use the necessary material, unlike traditional manufacturing. In addition, AI integration within automated systems helps optimize process parameters, reducing the consumption of unnecessary resources.

While advanced automation technologies promise revolutionary gains, implementing them demands substantial upfront investments to upgrade facilities. Firms planning on leveraging these technologies should invest in acquiring specialized technical professionals and extensive retraining efforts to cultivate employees' skills and enable them to work well with robotic, AI, and data-driven systems. Fabrication firms should also communicate clearly to the existing workforce how automation enhances rather than replaces jobs to address concerns and ensure acceptance of these operational transformations.

​Maintaining your home’s ventilation system is one of the most vital parts of homeownership. Proper heating and air conditioning are necessary for maintaining comfort levels, as well as air purification. Clean ductwork and filters ensure your home remains free of allergens, mold, and other harmful pathogens.

A well-maintained ventilation system can also help save on utility bills. A heating or air conditioning unit often works overtime due to a dirty filter, blocked vents, or faulty ductwork. This can cause your system extra mechanical strain and result in much more gas or electric usage every month.

One way to improve air purification is to check all exhaust fans regularly. This includes fans in bathrooms and kitchens, which remove bad odors and exchange humid air with fresh air. Excess humidity can cause mildew to build up, which is harmful to breathe and difficult to clean.

Changing the home’s air filter is also vital for maintaining air quality. According to the Washington Post, modern homes are more energy-efficient and better insulated, which can cause air to get trapped inside. Without a proper air filter, polluted air gets stuck in the house and inhaled every day. Air filters are usually found at the large air intake vent on an interior wall.

The most affordable filter type is a flat panel made with tiny strands of fiberglass. The next is a pleated filter, which is thicker and offers more purification due to the increased surface area created by the added pleats. One of the best types is the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter: these filters reduce 99.97 percent of small particles in the air and are endorsed by the U.S. Energy Department. Most filters are easy to install and should be changed monthly.

After the air enters the intake filter, it is heated or cooled and enters the ductwork into various rooms of your home. Ensure your system’s fan is on, but the heating and cooling elements are turned off. Unscrew the panels to your supply vents, where the air enters each room. Place paper towels between the vent and the ceiling to cover the slots in the vent. This will prevent any loosened particles from entering each room.

Remove caked dust from ducts by lightly tapping inside or outside any accessible areas. A handheld vacuum can help trap loosened dust during this process. Use a damp cloth and wipe as far as you can reach into the duct. Have a professional test your home if you encounter mold or mildew, as it can be dangerous to inhale.

To remove more dust, clean the furnace and fan as well. Make sure the entire system and fans are turned completely off, then remove the panels on your furnace to access the blower department. Use a vacuum to remove dust and wipe the bottom of the connected air return.

While all of the vents are open, this is also a good time to look for any damaged ductwork. Check near the metal seams and where the duct connects to the home’s framework. You may have signs of damaged ductwork causing an air leak if you notice higher utility bills, more dust throughout the home, or if certain areas seem inexplicably warmer than others. For the best maintenance, have a professional check for these issues and more during an annual visit.