5*10mm G1 Expanded Titanium Mesh Thickness 1.4mm Diamond Hole For Protection

Materials

Manufacturers use several metal materials to create expanded metal products. Copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium are among those metals that they use most often. Each of these metals is strong and resists corrosion well while still being fairly lightweight. They can all be cold rolled after being expanded to reduce the material’s thickness for a more uniform surface.

Copper is a naturally occurring, non-ferrous transition metal. Copper is known for its electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, antimicrobial properties, corrosion resistance, strength, and color. Manufacturers use copper expanded metal to make products like metal grating, enclosures, filters, radiators, walkways and heat sinks, decorative ornaments, and decorative metal mesh.

Aluminum is another naturally-occurring element, though it is rarely used in its pure form. It is lightweight, durable, and corrosion resistant (more so than carbon steel). In addition, aluminum becomes stronger in cold temperatures, instead of brittle. Expanded aluminum works well as enclosures for refrigerators and freezers, guards, flooring, walkways, grilles, electronic components, automotive components, marine and aquarium components, cooking tools, and air filters.

Stainless steel is a steel alloy featuring at least 10% chromium composition. For this reason, stainless steel also features a thin chromium oxide top layer. This layer makes expanded stainless steel products self-repairing when scratched, extra corrosion resistant, and rust resistant. Stailess steel is also stronger, more durable, and more bacteria resistant than other steel alloys, such as mild steel. Expanded stainless steel products are useful in a wide variety of settings, including the kitchen, the clinic and hospital, the laboratory, outside, in and on vehicles, in and on buildings, in water treatment plants, in marine settings, and on airplanes.

Titanium is extremely strong, lightweight, corrosion resistant, heat resistant, and sterile. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. Also, it does not react with the human body, so it can be used in surgeries and orthopedics. Expanded titanium is most popular in industries including military and defense, aerospace, automotive, electronics, and healthcare.

Process Details

During the process of turning metal sheet into expanded metal products, manufacturers start with the expansion, then go into the shaping and forming of the sheet to custom specifications. For more detail, read on.

1. The start of the manufacturing process for regular and flattened metals is exactly the same. First, manufacturers feed metal sheets into a machine that presses and expands them. These days, this is usually all controlled by an automated process, as it offers better efficiency.

2. After expansion, a die pierces the sheet over and over again in an even pattern. Most often, this is a diamond shape pattern. However, manufacturers can cut and form custom shapes and patterns.

3. Next, manufacturers feed the sheet through a hot rolling press. The hot rolling press causes the metal to expand and become thinner and flattened. If the original metal sheet is very thick, they will have to apply extra heat and pressure to expand and cut it.

4. After this, if they so choose, manufacturers can finish the expanded metal product with annealing to promote corrosion resistance, veneers (such as those derived from paint or PVC), galvanization (to make galvanized steel), or anodization. Protective coatings that manufacturers add after the metal is formed are usually a spray or dip. Manufacturers can employ these coating methods not only to improve the properties of the metal, but also to change the colors of the surface.

5. Once this is done, manufacturers consider the piece to be a finished metal grid or mesh.

Design

Manufacturers have to think about a number of different things when they engage in an expanding metal process. Mainly, they have to decide the shape and size of the hole patterns in the expanded metal products, based on the application requirements. They must also consider standard requirements, the best metal for the job based on its qualities, the metal gauge (thickness in centimeters or inches), the overall size (length, width, etc.), and the texture.

To calculate the size of the open areas they plan to create during metal expansion, manufacturers use two measurement methods: SWD and LWD. SWD stands for “short way of the diamond”, that is, the width of the openings. LWD means “long way of the diamond” or the length of the openings. Manufacturers calculate the SWD and LWD based on the amount/density size of air, water, etc. that needs to be able to pass through the pattern in the metal.

To customize an expanded metal product, manufacturers can form expanded metals into any desired shape and finish them with any number of paints or other coatings. They can also create custom hole patterns.

Machinery Used

Manufacturers use a number of different machines and tools in order to perform the metal expansion process and subsequent parts forming procedure. These include expansion presses, flattening presses, dies, and hot rolling presses.

Expansion presses push metal outward using a stretcher bar as they cut slits into the metal using mechanical knives. Manufacturers may use either manual expansion presses or automated CNC expansion presses, though they most often use the latter.

Flattening presses do just what their name suggests–they flatten and smooth metal sheet. They come into play after perforation and expansion. They cold roll metal using parallel cylinders that squeeze the metal as it passes in between the cylinders.

Dies are special manufacturing tools used in conjunction with presses and other forming machines. Typically made from metal, these tools are designed in the shape of a product to be produced. When material is forced through them, or in this case, when they press into material, they cut and shape it.

Hot rolling presses are presses featuring rollers to flatten metal. They are different than cold rollers because they work the metal above its recrystallization temperature.

Variations and Similar Processes

Similar to expanded metals are perforated metals. Manufacturers make perforated metals by punching holes into solid metal sheet (without expanding it). Expanded sheet metal is more flexible and weighs less than perforated metal sheet.

Benefits

Expanded metals offer customers a wide range of benefits. First, expanded metals are more cost-effective than the alternative, perforated metals. Second, the expanded metal production process creates no waste. Similarly, expanded metal applications require fewer raw materials. This is because manufacturers can stretch each piece up to ten times its original length for maximum surface area.

Next, because expanded metal products have holes in them, they offer the best of both worlds. They can, for example, keep users protected from large debris, while allowing them to experience fresh air and sunlight.

In addition, expanded metal products keep their structural integrity in the face of all kinds of challenges. Plus, they can conduct heat, magnetic flux, and electricity with ease. Expanded metal products also have a high tensile strength and are trustworthy in building applications.

Another advantage of expanded metals is that, since they have no moving parts, they require little maintenance. All it really takes to keep expanded metal products working well and looking good is to clean them with a hose, rag, or scrubbing brush.

Finding the Right Service Provider

Metal expansion is not terribly tricky, but there is a big difference between an experienced service provider and a novice. For the best results, you want to work with someone with lots of experience and integrity. We recommend you take some time to put together a list of your own. This list should include all of your specifications, as well as your questions and concerns. Once you’ve done this, you will be ready to begin your search. As you browse, use your list as your guide. If a company does not offer a service you require, eliminate them. Pick out three or four expanded metal manufacturers in whom you are most interested, then reach out to talk. Make sure to discuss your budget, timeline, and delivery preferences. Once you have spoken with each of them, compare and contrast your conversations. Figure out which manufacturer is right for you and get started.