Glossary
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Alloy
An alloy is a solid solution or homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, which itself has metallic properties. It usually has different properties from those of its component elements. Alloying one metal with others often enhances its properties. For instance, steel products are stronger than iron, their primary element.Aluminum
Next to steel, Aluminum products are the most commonly used and commercially available metals. Its light weight and high strength-to-weight ratio make it a good choice for everything from aircraft to flashlights to jigs to just about anything else you can make out of metal. Aluminum is produced in several heat temper grades including 6061-0, 6061-T4 and 6061-T6.Aluminum (2024)
2024 is an aluminum alloy, with copper and magnesium as the alloying elements. It is used in applications requiring high strength to weight ratio, as well as good fatigue resistance. It is not weldable, and has average machinability.Aluminum (3003)
3003 Aluminum is available in sheet (i.e. diamond tread plate).Aluminum (5052)
5052 Aluminum is available in sheet. 5052 is the alloy most suited to forming operations, with good workability and higher strength than that of the 1100 or 3003 alloys that are commercially available. 5052 is not heat-treatable, but is stronger than most of the 5xxx series of alloys. It has very good corrosion resistance, and can be easily welded. 5052 is not a good choice for extensive machining operations, as it has only a fair machinability rating.Aluminum (6061)
6061 Aluminum is Available in Angle, Channel, I-Beam, Pipe, Plate, Rectangle, Round, Sheet, Square, Tube. 6061 Aluminum is, by most any measure, the most commonly used aluminum alloy. It is specified in most any application due to its strength, heat treatability, comparatively easy machining, and weldability. If that were not enough, it is also capable of being anodized, adding a layer of protection for finished parts. The main alloy ingredients of 6061 aluminum are magnesium and silicon.Aluminum (6063)
(see also architectural aluminum)Available in Angle, Channel, Rectangle Tube, Square Tube. 6063 is often called architectural aluminum for two reasons - first, it has a surface finish that is far smoother than the other commercially available alloys, and second, its strength is significantly less (roughly half the strength of 6061), making it suited for applications where strength is not the foremost consideration. 6063 is rated as "Good" for forming and cold working operations, "Excellent" for anodizing, and "Fair" for machining.
Architectural Aluminum
(see also 6063 aluminum). 6063 is often called architectural aluminum for two reasons - first, it has a surface finish that is far smoother than the other commercially available alloys, and second, its strength is significantly less (roughly half the strength of 6061), making it suited for applications where strength is not the foremost consideration. 6063 is rated as "Good" for forming and cold working operations, "Excellent" for anodizing, and "Fair" for machining.
ATP-5
(see also Cast Aluminum Tooling Plate, K100, MIC-6, Jig-plate)Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
Carbon Steel
(see also Steel, Hot Rolled Steel, Cold Rolled Steel) Hot rolled and Cold rolled Bar include: Round, Square, Hex, Flat, StripCast Aluminum Tooling Plate
(see also ATP-5, K100, MIC-6, Jig-plate)Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
Chromoly Steel (4130)
41xx steel is a family of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as . They have an excellent strength to weight ratio, are easily welded and are considerably stronger and more durable than standard 1020 steel. While these grades of steel do contain chromium, it is not in great enough quantities to provide the corrosion resistance found in stainless steel. Common uses of 4130 tubing include automotive and bicycle frames, roll cages and aircraft parts.
Cold Rolled Steel
(see also Steel, Carbon Steel, Hot Rolled Steel)Steel that is rolled to its final dimensions well below scaling temperatures so it is harder and stronger and has tighter tolerances than hot rolled steel.
DOM Steel
DOM stands for Drawn-over-mandrel and it is a cold drawn electric resistance welded tube with all the flash removed. Each tube is tested for soundness of weld. DOM is often chosen over seamless tubing because of its excellent concentric OD (outer diameter) and ID (inner diameter) measurements.Ductility
A mechanical property used to describe the extent to which materials can be deformed plastically without fracture.Electro-Galvanized
A zinc plating process where the molecules on the positively charged zinc anode attach to the negatively charged steel sheet - electroplated. This process helps protect against corrosion and offers an excellent finish for paint, enamel and lacquered applications. This is similar to hot-dipped galvanized but electroplating offers a superior appearance and a better finish for close fitting parts.Galvanized
Commonly known as hot-dipped galvanized, this is a process that is used to apply a coat of zinc to steel. This process is similar to Electro-galvanized which is when the zinc is applied to the steel through electroplating. Hot dipping will give much better corrosion resistance because the zinc coating will be much thicker than with the electro-galvanized process and consequently often a better product for outdoor applications.Galvannealed
(see also Jet-Coat, Paintlok)Is the result from the combined process of galvanizing and annealing the steel. The galvanization is made through the hot-dipping (Hot-dip galvanizing) process and gives a very fine grayish matte finish. Galvanneal does not flake off its galvanized coating when formed, stamped, and bent. The very fine matte finish acts like a primer, easily adheres to paint, and is very rust proof; only white to dark grey marks appear if it comes in contact with water. Galvanneal sheets offers good paintability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and formability. It is extensively used in the automotive, signage, electric equipment, and other industries requiring a metal with good paintability and long reliable service life.
Hardenability
The hardenability of a metal alloy is its capability to be hardened by heat treatment. It should not be confused with hardness, which is a measure of the material's resistance to indentation or scratching. It is an important property for welding, since it is inversely proportional to weldability, that is, the ease of welding a material.Hot Rolled Steel
(see also Steel, Carbon Steel, Cold Rolled Steel)Steel that is rolled to its final dimensions while hot enough to scale (over 1700 degrees);
Jet-Coat
(see also Galvannealed, Paintlok)Is the result from the combined process of galvanizing and annealing the steel. The galvanization is made through the hot-dipping (Hot-dip galvanizing) process and gives a very fine grayish matte finish. Galvanneal does not flake off its galvanized coating when formed, stamped, and bent. The very fine matte finish acts like a primer, easily adheres to paint, and is very rust proof; only white to dark grey marks appear if it comes in contact with water. Galvanneal sheets offers good paintability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and formability. It is extensively used in the automotive, signage, electric equipment, and other industries requiring a metal with good paintability and long reliable service life.
Jig-plate
(see also Cast Aluminum Tooling Plate, ATP-5, K100, MIC-6)Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
K100
(see also Cast Aluminum Tooling Plate, ATP-5, MIC-6, Jig-plate)Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
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Machinability
The ease with which a metal can be machined to an acceptable surface finish. Materials with good machinability require little power to cut, can be cut quickly, easily obtain a good finish, and do not wear the tooling much; such materials are said to be free machining.MIC-6
(see also Cast Aluminum Tooling Plate, ATP-5, K100, Jig-plate)Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
P & O Steel
(see also Pickled & Oiled Steel)P & O stands for pickled and oiled and occurs when hot rolled steel is pickled in acid to remove the mill scale and then oiled to keep it from rusting.
Paintability
The ease with which a metal can be painted with an acceptable surface finish.Paintlok
(see also Jet-Coat, Galvannealed)Is the result from the combined process of galvanizing and annealing the steel. The galvanization is made through the hot-dipping (Hot-dip galvanizing) process and gives a very fine grayish matte finish. Galvanneal does not flake off its galvanized coating when formed, stamped, and bent. The very fine matte finish acts like a primer, easily adheres to paint, and is very rust proof; only white to dark grey marks appear if it comes in contact with water. Galvanneal sheets offers good paintability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and formability. It is extensively used in the automotive, signage, electric equipment, and other industries requiring a metal with good paintability and long reliable service life.
Pickled and Oiled Steel
(see also P & O Steel)P & O stands for pickled and oiled and occurs when hot rolled steel is pickled in acid to remove the mill scale and then oiled to keep it from rusting.
Schedule 40
In the United States, "Schedule" refers to the thickness of the pipe wall and, therefore, how much pressure it will hold.Spangle
Spangle is used to describe the surface appearance of galvanized steel sheet. It is often described as a snowflake pattern or the star pattern that is visible to the naked eye.Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10% chromium content by mass.- Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel (it stains less), but it is not stain-proof.
- It is also called corrosion-resistant steel or CRES when the alloy type and grade are not detailed, particularly in the aviation industry. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected in its lifetime. Common uses of stainless steel are cutlery and watch straps.
Stainless Steel (304)
Grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products, forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. The balanced austenitic structure of Grade 304 enables it to be severely deep drawn without intermediate annealing, which has made this grade dominant in the manufacture of drawn stainless parts such as sinks, hollow-ware and saucepans. Grade 304 is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of components for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 304 also has outstanding welding characteristics.Stainless Steel (304L)
Grade 304L is the low carbon version of 304 and it does not require post-weld annealing and so it is extensively used in heavy gauge components (typically over 6mm.)Stainless Steel (316)
Grade 316 is the standard molybdenum-bearing grade, second in importance to 304 amongst the austenitic stainless steels. The molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Grade 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics.Steel
(see also Carbon Steel, Hot Rolled Steel, Cold Rolled Steel)Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and small proportions of other elements. Iron contains many impurities and steelmaking involves the removal of these impurities (known as slag,) and the addition of other desirable alloying elements. Steel comes in many alloys including 1018, 12L14, A-36, 304, A2 and 4130 to name a few.