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When it comes to choosing the right metal for your project, a systematic approach can save you money and time and ensure the success of your endeavor. Here are three essential steps to guide you through the process:
The first step in selecting the best type of metal is clearly defining your project’s specific requirements. Consider the following factors:
What role will the metal component play in your project? Is it for structural support, electrical conductivity, heat resistance, or something else entirely? Understanding its function is crucial.
Will the metal be exposed to harsh weather, chemicals, or high temperatures? Different metals have varying levels of corrosion resistance and heat tolerance.
Assess the metal component’s load-bearing capacity and expected lifespan. Some metals, like steel, are renowned for their strength, while others may be more prone to deformation or wear.
Determine your budget constraints. Some metals are more expensive than others, so balancing performance with cost is essential.
Once you have a clear understanding of your project requirements, research and compare different types of metals and consider these factors:
Examine various metals’ physical and chemical properties, such as tensile strength, conductivity, malleability, and corrosion resistance. Match these properties with your project’s needs.
Ensure that the selected metal is readily available in the required form and quantity. Some specialized metals may be challenging to source.
Assess the environmental impact of the metal. Is it recyclable? How energy-intensive is its production? Consider sustainability concerns.
Conduct tests or create prototypes to validate the suitability of the chosen metal for your project. This step can help uncover potential issues early in the process.
While you may have gathered valuable information during your research, consulting with metallurgy, engineering, or materials science experts can provide critical insights. Here’s how experts can assist:
Professionals in the field can offer expert guidance based on their extensive knowledge of materials and their real-world applications.
Experts can help optimize your choice, ensuring that the selected metal aligns perfectly with your project’s performance, cost-effectiveness, and longevity goals.
Professionals can identify potential risks or drawbacks associated with specific metals and suggest mitigation strategies.
The process of selecting the best type of metal involves an evaluation of project requirements, metal comparison and expert advice. Making an informed choice is important to the success and longevity of your project. Consulting with Markham Metals is the next step! Our expert metal fabricators have many years of experience helping people pick the best metal for their projects. We are located in Wilmington, Massachusetts, but we serve all areas of New England. Contact us here today for a free quote on your next metal project. We look forward to hearing from you!
Q235 and Q345 are 16 Mn steel grade with good formability and weldability properties. It’s commonly used for structural applications and parts for a variety of industries. Q345 offers better performance at low temperatures and offers better steel strength.
Hot rolled steel is produced when steel is processed by a series of roll presses at temperatures over 1700°F. The process creates a steel that is easily formed or shaped into large pieces and is best used where tolerances aren’t as important.
Sheet metal is made from a variety of metals that each have their own unique properties and offer unique benefits. A list of the most common sheet metal materials used for fabrication have been summarized below.
The sheet metal used in your sheet meetal fabrication includes a very broad list of possible materials . Making the best choice for your products includes decisions about the type of metal, its thickness, and a choice of form. What you choose should be based on your overall expectations, desired end product, and recommendations from your sheet metal fabricator contractor manufacturing services
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Cold rolled steel (CRS) is essentially hot rolled steel that has gone through an additional rolling process at room temperature.
This additional processing produces a steel with closer tolerances and a broader range of finishes. The result is an increase in strength by as much as 20% compared to hot rolled steel. SPCC is commonly used for automotive parts and some construction applications. SPCC can be used for galvanized products, appliances, containers, and other products.
SAPH440 is commonly used for automotive frames, wheels, and other parts. It has very good tensile strength making it a good choice for load bearing or structural uses.
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Section 4
The category of spring steel includes several high yield strength steels including low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel, or high-carbon steel. They are primarily used to manufacture springs as the steel will return to its original shape after twisting or load bearing.
A carbon steel can be used for small springs, but large springs are best when an alloy is used. High carbon spring steel is a common choice, inexpensive, and easily processed. It is not suited to extreme temperatures or for shock/ impact loads. Alloy spring steel are well suited to shock or impact loads or conditions with high stress. Stainless spring steel can be used in some forms at extremely high temperatures (288°C) and are corrosion resistant. 65Mn is a high carbon with manganese to improve hardenability. It has good wear resistance and good workability.
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Section 5
Aluminum is a pure metal that is easily alloyed with small amounts of other materials like copper, manganese, silicone, or magnesium. It is not magnetic or combustible and is a good conductor of electricity. Aluminum offers good corrosion resistance and is generally easy to form and process. It comes in several different grades and is often used because of its weight. It weighs about 1/3 of other materials like iron, steel, copper, and brass. It conducts heat well and is non-toxic making it a good choice in a variety of applications.
AL1060 is a wrought alloy with high electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and workability but somewhat low mechanical strength. It’s commonly used in electrical and chemical industries. AL6063 is most often used for architectural applications or trimming. It has high tensile properties and offers good finish options. It also offers high corrosion resistance and is a good option for anodized applications. AL 6061 is the most flexible heat-treated alloy with excellent workability. It’s well suited to most processes and has good corrosion resistance. AL 5052 is the highest strength non-heat-treated aluminum alloy and offers very good fatigue resistance. Highly workable, AL 5052 can be formed into complex shapes and offers good saltwater corrosion resistance.
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Stainless steel includes a variety of sheet metals which contain at least 10.5% chromium. There are many different grades available, offering corrosion resistant and a commercially familiar appearance. Standard or austenitic stainless steel (300 series steels) is very common and does not require heat during the manufacturing process. They offer good corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability.
SS301 has high work hardening and is commonly used for trailer bodies and fasteners. SS304 has low carbon, is an economical grade but is not seawater resistant. SS316 has higher molybdenum content that improves its resistance to seawater corrosion. A lower carbon version (SS316L) is available for better corrosion resistance after welding.
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Section 7
Cold galvanized steel has a zinc coating painted to the steel surface to protect it from corrosion. The coating will provide both a barrier protection and a galvanic protection to help extend the life of the product. It can be applied with brushes, rollers, sprayers, or through electro galvanizing. The paint includes special binders so it will mechanically bond to the steel. SGCCis a galvanized steel with good weldability and formability. It can have a pure zinc coating or have a Zn/Fe alloy coating.
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Section 8
Each metal has its own unique characteristics. This section of our guide outlines some of the factors that you should consider when making your choice of materials.
Surface finish Yield Tensile Hardness GB Standard Powder coating E-coating Zinc plating Dacromet Anodized Passivation Cold Rolled Steel (CRS) SPCC X X X X ≥210MPa ≥350MPa HB 65 - 85 JIS G3141-2009 SAPH440 X X X X ≥305MPa ≥440MPa HB 80 ±30 Q/BQB 310-2009 Hot Rolled Steel Q235 X X X X ≥235MPa 375 ~500MPa HB 120 ±40 GB/T 700-2006 Q345 X X X X ≥345MPa 490 ~675MPa HB 120 ±40 GB/T 1591-2008 Spring Steel 65Mn X X ≥785MPa ≥980MPa HB 190 - 340 GB/T 1222-2007 Aluminium AL 1060 X X ≥35MPa ≥75MPa HB 26 ±5 GB/T 3190-2008 AL6061 T6 X X ≥276MPa ≥260MPa HV 15 ~ 18 GB/T 3190-2008 AL6063 T5 X X ≥170MPa ≥250MPa HB 25 ±5 GB/T 3190-2008 AL5052 H32 X X ≥70MPa 210 ~ 260MPa HV 11 ±2 GB/T 3190-2008 Stainless SS301 X X ≥205MPa ≥520MPa HB 76 ~ 187 GB/T 8170-2008 SS304 X X ≥205MPa ≥520MPa HB 76 ~ 187 GB/T 24511-2009 SS316 X X ≥205MPa ≥520MPa HB 76 ~ 187 GB/T 24511-2009 Cold Galvanized Steel SGCC X ≥200MPa ≥380MPa HB 50 - 65 JIS-G3302
Section 9
Different metals can accommodate different surface finishes. Some will require additional processing before a surface finish can be applied. Your choice of surface finishes can be for aesthetic or functional reasons – or both.
Section 10
The yield strength of a metal is the point at which applied stress will cause it to deform and not return to its original shape. It provides an indication of a metal’s elasticity and the maximum force you can apply to it before it will permanently deform, buckle, or even fail. Processes like annealing can impact the yield strength of some materials.
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Hardness refers to the metal’s ability to resist deformation from an impact, abrasion, or load. You can measure hardness based on its resistance to scratches, indentations, or rebounds. Some issues with hardness can be overcome with a hardening process. Hardness is important for load bearing structures as hard metals are better able to withstand the application of load or abrasion.
Section 12
Tensile strength refers to ability of a metal to resist force. Higher tensile strength requires more force to snap it for example. If the product you’re producing doesn’t need to bear any load, then a metal with less tensile strength might be the best choice. Keep in mind that how you form the sheet metal can impact its strength and the load it can bear.
Section 13
The ductility of a metal offers insight into how pliable it is and how easy it is to form. When a metal is referred to as having high ductility, that means it easier to form and bend.
Section 14
If your product requires welding, it’s important to understand how easy or difficult a metal is to weld. Some metals require extensive preparation or advanced welding techniques which can impact both your budget and schedule.
Section 15
A metal that has high machinability is one that can be more easily cut and cut at higher speeds. Hard machinability requires more power and time to cut the metal.
Section 16
The material you choose should take into consideration the environment it will be exposed to. Some metals respond better than others to factors like water, oxidation, or other elements it will be exposed to. Some metals, like stainless steel, won’t corrode but they can develop an oxide film. Also keep in mind that galvanic corrosion can occur when to dissimilar metals are in contact with each other.
Section 17
Choosing a lighter weight material might be best for large objects or objects that need to move (like vehicles, trailers, etc.). At the same time, you need to consider the strength of the material. In general, lighter metals have less strength than heavier ones – although that’s not always the case.
Section 18
Cost usually isn’t’ the most important factor in choosing a sheet metal for fabrication. It’s important to make the best choice based on the other factors we’ve listed. However, if there is an equally good alternative that has a lower cost, it’s worth considering. Keep in mind however, sometimes lower cost materials require additional processing which may result in you not actually saving a lot had you used the higher cost material instead.
Our team of engineers and technicians here at Komaspec have more than 15-years’ experience in sheet metal fabrication in China and are glad to review your product design together and help you select the fabrication process that best suits your product’s needs, whether it’s laser cutting, bending, stamping, etc..
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