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How are expanded metal sheets made?

Expanded metal is manufactured by cutting and stretching to form a pattern, the shape is available in diamond, hexagonal, square, irregular, among which, diamond shape is most common. It is formed without joins or welds and not waste during production. The materials could be carbon steel, galvanized, stainless steel, aluminum etc.

How is expanded metal flattened?

When regular or raised expanded metal is cold rolled, it will leave a flat smooth surface that is flattened expanded metal. In common use, flattened expanded metal is more widely than raised expanded metal. But the weight is usually 5 less than raised expanded metal

How do I measure expanded metal?

The expanded metal contains raised and flattened two types. We need to measure SWM, LWM, Strand and thickness; there is small difference between raised and flattened types. The following drawing shows the details.

Besides the above, we also need to pay attention to the direction when measure the length and width which also affects price much. Please check the following:

Based on above, we conclude that the following datas are required when quoted:

50. Size
50. Material
50. Quantity
50. Swd x lwd
50. Strand
50. Thickness

For example, flattened expanded metal, 3/4#9, carbon, 200pcs, and 48’’x96’’.

How to calculate the weight of expanded metal:

When calculate the weight of expanded metal, we can use the following format:

Weight= length / 1/2 swd x strand x thickness x width x density

How to cut expanded metal?

Usually, we need to cut expanded metal into different shapes or size to suite different use application.

The process of cutting expanded metal includes random cutting and bond cutting, we also called random shearing and bond shearing. The process of cutting a piece of expanded metal parallel to the long diamond of diamond is called side shearing while the end shearing means process of cutting a piece of expanded metal parallel to the short way of diamond .

When all four sides of expanded metal sheet are cut , the maximum tolerance is .00625’’ allowance per ft width.

What size expanded metal for walkway?

When expanded metal is used for walkway, there is a high requirement on bearing weight which requires a high strand and thickness. In all specifications, 3/4#9, 2lb, 3lb, 3.14lb, 4lb, 4.27lb, 5lb, 6.25lb,7lb for carbon steel, 3.3lg and 4.5lb of stainless steel and 2lb for aluminum 5052. The common size is 48’’x96’’, 48’’x120’’, 60’’x120’’ or customized.

What is expanded metal used for?

With the features of strong, durable, versatile, economical, and easy to installation, expanded metal is widely used in acoustics, agricultural , construction, filtration, automotive, agricultural, highway road and security areas, mainly used as fence, walkway, grate, greenhouse platform, metal lath, machine guard, catwalk, drainage cover, façade or screen materials.

Based on the styles, the raised expanded meal is suitable for anti-dazzle mesh, grain drying mesh, heat resistant mesh, construction laths, and concrete reinforcement meshes, while flattened expanded metal is more common used as filtration area.

Based on the materials:

Mild steel raised: speaker grilles, bolt boxes, spark guards, pedestrian, walkway, fencing, trailer ramps, pallets, stillage, sheep flooring, cages, pedestrian barriers, flooring, guarding, machine guards, electromagnetic screens, louvers, wheelchair ramps, decorative applications.

Aluminum raised ( typical applications): radiator grilles, lightweight ramps, car body repair, arts and crafts, bird guards, gutter guards, greenhouse staging

Stainless steel raised: plastering and rendering, insect screening, batteries, acoustics, filtration, flue guards

What size expanded metal for grill, trailer, bbq pit, grill, trailer gate, trailer, trailer floor, trailer gate, trailer ramp, walkway, orchard cab?

No matter for what application, the size is not fixed, it can be sheared or machined according to the application site. The common size is 4’x8’ , 5’x10’ 4’x10’ , 1000mmx2000mm.

What type metal for expanded metal lath

Expanded metal lath is produced from coils of steel sheet, slit and expanded into a pattern. Expanded metal lath is also called metal lath, diamond mesh lath, stucco metal lath and self-furring expanded metal lath and used in exterior stucco work, available in two styles: dimpled and continuous V groove.

The material is G-60 galvanized hot dipped, and with the ASTM standard.

The thickness is: 0.3mm-0.7mm.

The detailed specification is as following:

How to tell if expanded metal is galvanized?

When people mention galvanized expanded metal, we must make clear what types of galvanized. Based on the process, there are three meanings: expanded metal by galvanized plate, cold dipped galvanized after expanded and hot dipped galvanized after expanded. The main difference is before or after. If before, the material is galvanized plate, it was slit and stretched from galvanized plate; if after, the material is steel plate, we will dip the expanded metal by hot dipped or cold dipped after expanding.

The difference is the cutting point by galvanized plate is easy to rust. While for zinc dipped after expanding, all surfaces are surrounded by galvanized coating and could be rust resistant.

From price, hot dipped galvanized is most expansive and galvanized plate type is cheaper. We need to choose the suitable galvanized type according to the use situation and place.

How thick is 3 4 9 expanded metal

3 4 9 expanded metal should be 3/4#9 expanded metal. There are two styles: raised and flattened. For raised 3/4#9 expanded metals, the thickness is 3.4’’, while for flattened 3/4#9 expanded metal, the thickness is 2.7’’.

How to bend expanded metal

We need to bend expanded metal according to different site use sometimes, the correct process is: first confirm and measure the size that needs to bend and make a mark; second is putting the panel on a bending machine and bending it; finally test if the bending satisfying the requirements. Attention that the bending work must be before painting, if any painting work is needed.

How to paint expanded metal.

There are three types of painting of expanded metal: anodized, powder coating and PVDF. Each type of painting has its strict requirements. But the basic process is : first cleaning the expanded metal to remove oil or dust on the surface ; second painting the color on the surface, third drying and packing .