Fabrication industry: The fabrication industry covers all commercial activities involving the production and construction of metal components and products.

Face down: Face down is the term used to describe the markings that are transferred to material which are not visible but are facing down as it is passed through the press or rollers.

Face up: Face up is the term used to describe the markings transferred to material to be formed that are visible as it is passed through the press or rollers.

Ferrous: Ferrous means made of or containing iron.

Fillet weld: A fillet weld is used to join two pieces of metal, like a T-joint (generally at 90°, but it may be at an angle).

First angle projection: First-angle projection is a method of creating a 2D drawing of a 3D object. It is mainly used in Europe and Asia and has not been officially used in Australia for many years.

Flange: A flange is a 'collar' used to attach one component to another.

Flexi-curve: A flexi-curve is an adjustable tool that can be moulded to any curve or contour. It is usually made from lead which is wrapped in steel ribbons, and covered in plastic. Lead easily bends to, and holds a shape. Also known as flexible curve.

Forced depth: Forced depth is a technique that creates an optical illusion to make objects appear to be three dimensional.

Forming lines: Forming lines are the lines placed on a surface that are used to press on to form a shape.

Formula: A formula is sometimes called an equation. It is a specification or description of a calculation. The plural of formula is formulae.

Formulae: Plural of formula. A formula is sometimes called an equation. It is a specification or description of a calculation.

Fractions: A fraction is a way of expressing a quantity that is divided into a number of equal sized parts. For example, each part of a cake, split into four equal parts, is called a quarter (and represented numerically as 1/4), two quarters is one half (1/2) of the cake, and eight quarters would make two cakes.

Fractions are written in the form 'a/b', where 'a' and 'b' are whole numbers, and 'b' is not 0. The number 'a' is called the numerator, and the number 'b' is called the denominator. For example, the following numbers are all fractions 1/2, 3/7, 6/10, 4/99.

Frustum: A frustum is a section of a conical shape.

Full pattern method: A method of pressing a conical shape which requires the end sections to be pressed first and the mid-section last.

Full section: The view obtained when the cutting plane is right across the object.