This process is used to make extremely fine meshes, apertures, flexible heating elements, metal gaskets, electrical contacts and jewellery. Photochemical machining can be used to cut any metal. Since matching dies are generally not needed, hydroforming can be used to form unconventional shapes. There are other measurement units used to categorise metals by thickness, though. Gauge represents the thickness of a metal in relation to its weight per square foot. There are a lot of questions out there asked about all aspects of this topic and that's where we come in, to answer them quickly and helpfully. Punching is a very common technique for cutting holes in sheet metal. Curling is the process of forming a circular ring at the edge of the metal sheet to make it safer for handling. In this process, a long sheet of metal is bent around a straight axis going through the material. The thickness of sheet metal starts from 0.5 mm and goes up to 6 mm. sifting. Off-centre rolls have the centre above the level of the sheet, whereas on-centre rolls have the centre at the same level as that of the metal sheet. Foils, sheets and plates are pretty much the same, with the only difference being in thickness. The customary range gauge of a metal sheet is from a scale of 35 going down to 6. Choosing the right one for you comes down to the application and requirements of your product. This conversion table will show us the exact values in decimal inches for every gauge for sheet steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum and both strip and tubing. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes. It is not possible to use this method for mass production. There, a V-shaped die and a punch press together to give the sheet the desired form. So the largest advantage of this method is its flexibility. One mil equals to a thousandth of an inch. The customary range gauge of a metal sheet is from a scale of 35 going down to 6. In this process, the metal is placed on a die, but instead of a punch, high pressure fluid is used to shape the sheet. Only if the depth of the shape formed exceeds the original diameter of the sheet, it is considered deep drawing. Sheet metal on the other hand is basically metal designed into thin quantities used for metalworking. Sheet metal thickness is denoted by gauge, sometimes spelled gage, which indicates a standard thickness before processing. Sheet metal is the next in line. Conversion Table link: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/gauge-sheet-d_915.html. While millimetre is a pretty straightforward unit, mils and gauges are only common in engineering and manufacturing. Thickness that is more than 6mm or 0.25 inches is called plates. As you can see, the difference on its entirety varies from one point to another. The sheet metal is bent so plastic deformation is reached. A higher gauge number means a smaller thickness. Exceptions to this table definitely exist. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Jeremy is the editor at TopToolTips.com where we're passionate about providing you with the best tips about a DIY and the tools to get it done. It is clearly noted in the chart above that the connection between the gauge and thickness of sheet metals are opposite from each other. Sheet Metal Gauge Thickness Chart ( to mm/inch Comversation) Gauge Number Standard Steel Galvanized Steel Stainless Steel Aluminum, Brass, Copper in mm in mm in mm in mm 3 0.2391 6.073 0.2294 5.827 4 0.2242 5.095 0.2344 5.954 0.2043 5.189 5 0.2092 5.314 0.2187 5.555 0.1819 4.62 In galvanized steel it is 8 and for stainless steel it is 6/0. Order your sheet metal fabrication online. For engineering purposes, it is important to differentiate the two. Anything above that is a metal plate. Sometimes you can just weld together two smaller sheets but it is not the optimal solution. It is only viable with low volumes. There is a very small clearance between the two. Steel is an alloy made up of different kinds of elements; but iron presents the greatest value compared to other components such as carbon. If changes are required, they can be easily brought about. This forming process is commonly used for manufacturing fences, catwalks, platforms, grating, etc. Ironing process is used when the thickness needs to be reduced in a certain area of the sheet metal. Processing may include polishing, or the applying of protective plastics which will decrease or increase a sheet’s thickness … It is precise and the finish is extremely smooth. The strength of the original metal is retained. Nevertheless, in some situations sheet metals thickness can vary significantly which is then called foil or leaf. Also, it is good to not only pay attention to the starting and ending points but the actual values. At a relatively cheap price, it makes a great fit for most engineering purposes. This is because in hot rolled steels, after cooling, the steel shrinks slightly and the shape might change a little. Many times have we received parts for production that are just a bit larger than a standard size. The process is relatively inexpensive in large quantities and capable of punching a hole in strip as well as sheet metal. For our purpose, we are going to stick with millimetres as the unit of measurement. Gague are used to specify the thickness of a metal sheet. A ‘V’, ‘U’, or a channel-shaped material may be formed depending on the punch and the die. Deep drawing is mostly used for large-batch production. Most people working with steel sheet metals consult to a particular chart for reference when it comes to gauge number and thickness.