|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is expanded metal?
Expanded Metal is an extraordinarily
versatile material - one with thousands of uses. It comes
in four basic types, and it has four primary areas of applications.
Basic types are standard (or regular), flattened, grating, and
architectural (or decorative) meshes. The major areas
of use are enclosure, protection, support and decoration.
Expanded metal products are produced from solid sheets or plates
of carbon, galvanized and stainless steel, as well as aluminum
and a variety of alloys of copper, nickel, silver, titanium,
and other metals.
In an expanding process, the sheet or plate is simultaneously
slit and stretched longitudinally - expanding the slits into
diamond-shaped holes of uniform size, shape and regularity.
The diamonds typically range from 1/8 to 2-in. wide and 1/4
to 6-in long.
No metal is lost in the expanding process. Moreover the
final product is stronger per pound and lighter per foot than
the original sheet or plate. The strands and bonds of
the diamond-shaped trusses form a sharp angle to the original
plane of the sheet, adding strength and rigidity.
Because it is made from a solid sheet of metal, it can never
ravel. The slender metal strands forming the open diamonds
permit light, heat, air, liquids and sound to pass through -
yet present a virtually impenetrable barrier to intruders.
Even if cut at one or more points, the remaining strand intersections
continue to hold.
What
are the different types of expanded metal?
Standard Expanded Metals:
Expanded metal as it comes off the machine. The strands
and bonds are set at a uniform angle to the plane of the sheet. This
adds strength and rigidity, allows air circulation, distributes
the load on the metal to the supporting frames as well as making
a skid resistant surface. Standard expanded metal is abbreviated
XM.
Flattened Expanded Metal: Manufactured by passing
the standard expanded sheet through a cold roll reducing mill
parallel to the LWD. By flattening the sheet, the bonds
and strands are turned down to produce a smooth and flat surface,
reducing the overall thickness and elongating the diamond pattern
(LWD). Cross roll flattening is done by passing the expanded
metal sheet through a cold roll reducing mill parallel to the
SWD. The result is the same except the diamond pattern
SWD is elongated. Flattened expanded metal is abbreviated FXM.
Decorative Patterns: Specially designed expanded metal
for use in architectural and decorative applications.
These design can be used to provide privacy and to control light
and air while allowing visibility. Sun screens, room dividers,
and building facades are only a few of the possible design possibilities.
Available in carbon steel, aluminum and other alloys in a wide
range of patterns and gauges. Most of these patterns are
produced on a special order basis only.
Grating: Grating is a standard expanded metal pattern
produced from heavier gauge low carbon steel plates. The strands
and openings are considerably larger than the other meshes.
Ideal for use whenever a strong durable and lightweight surface
is required. Although used primarily for pedestrian traffic,
grating can accommodate heavier loads when properly supported.
|
|
|
