Methods and devices are disclosed for a fabrication layout device and assembly table. The device includes a table with a work surface. The work surface being a continuous surface and configured to support a plurality of railing pieces for fabrication of a railing assembly. The device further includes a beam located above the work surface. The beam is operatively coupled to the table, such that the beam moves relative to the work surface in a first direction. Attached to the beam is an ink dispenser. The ink dispenser is configured to move along the beam in a second direction different from the first direction. The ink dispenser is further configured to dispense ink onto the work surface of the table in the form of a pattern of the railing assembly. Railing pieces can be positioned on the pattern so that they can be assembled to one another.

A method for connecting functional elements (14) to a shaft (10, having the following steps: (a) forming elevations (12) for receiving the functional elements (14), said elevations (12) being machined out of the shaft (10) by removing material, and (b) welding the functional elements (14) to the elevations (12) on the shaft (10).

A method for producing a welded I-beam profile includes providing a first flat material as a first flange of the I-beam profile, providing a second flat material as a second flange of the I-beam profile, and providing a third flat material as a web of the I-beam profile. The method includes aligning and guiding the first flange between first flange guiding rollers, aligning and guiding the second flange between second flange guiding rollers, and aligning and guiding the web between web guiding rollers. The web is arranged between the flanges in a plane that is perpendicular to the flanges for forming the I-beam. The method includes connecting the first flange to a first longitudinal edge of the web by a first welding operation in a welding station, and connecting the second flange to a second longitudinal edge of the web by a second welding operation in the welding station.

A method is provided for transporting flat materials to be welded together, specifically a first flange and/or a second flange and a web for producing a beam through a welding station. The flat materials are aligned and guided by rollers. A slide is arranged upstream of the welding station in the run-through direction and a gripper is arranged downstream of the welding station. The slide introduces the flat materials into the welding station and moves them as far as a first position by means of a pushing movement at an advancement speed. The gripper grips the flat materials at the first position, and pulls the flat materials out of the welding station at the pulling speed and moves them as far as a second position by means of a pulling movement. The slide is arranged upstream of the welding station and the gripper is arranged downstream of the welding station.

A variable gage blank is formed from a set of components joined by a joining process. The set of components include a web, a first flange, and a second flange. The components have respective thicknesses. The first flange and the second flange may be modified to include a transition region with a variable thickness that terminates on an edge having a thickness substantially similar to a thickness of the web.