fabricator

Fabricator is a noun with several related meanings. Most commonly, it denotes a person or company that fabricates—i.e., makes, assembles, or shapes components from raw materials. In metal fabrication, a fabricator is a skilled tradesperson who reads drawings, selects materials, and uses processes such as cutting, forming, welding, bolting, coating, and finishing to produce parts or structures. They may work in shipyards, construction, automotive, aerospace, or general manufacturing. Duties include planning work from blueprints or 3D models, setting up and operating equipment, inspecting parts for dimensional accuracy, and coordinating with engineers and other fabricators. Common tools include plasma or laser cutters, shears, brakes, rollers, welding equipment (MIG, TIG), and CNC machines. Qualifications often include vocational training or apprenticeship, practical experience, and knowledge of safety standards.

The term can also refer to a machine or line in a fabrication facility that performs fabrication tasks, or to equipment used specifically for shaping and assembling parts in a shop setting.

A third usage relates to information and storytelling. A fabricator can be a person who creates or manufactures something, including inventions or claims; in a negative sense, it may mean someone who makes up false information or evidence. In journalism and law enforcement, a fabricator is someone whose statements or data are considered intentionally deceptive. Across contexts, the core idea is construction or creation from components, and, in some uses, the production of falsehoods. See also fabrication.