[ Wiki ]HOW IS EXPANDED METAL MADE?

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

The process for creating expanded metal was first developed and patented in the 1880’s in Hartlepool, UK. Despite technological advancements, the modern process for expanding metal remains similar to the original technique.

What Is Expanded Metal?

Expanded metal is plate or sheet that has been cut and stretched into a mesh. Stretching the metal results in a mesh with diamond-shaped spaces – although many other patterns can be created. Many types of metal can be expanded, including: stainless steel, hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, aluminum and more.

The pattern of the mesh can either be staggered (providing the most open area) or in a straight pattern with all rows and columns aligned. The proportion of open area determines the amount of space for the passage of air, water and light, and will vary according to the intended application of the expanded metal.

Benefits of Expanded Metal

There are several benefits to using expanded metal:

• Cost-effective: A small quantity of metal can be stretched into a large piece.
• Efficient Process: There is very little waste when manufacturing and processing expanded metal mesh.
• Good conductor: Because expanded metal is one piece, it can be excellent conductor of electricity, magnetic flux, and heat.
• Protective reinforcement: Expanded metal meshes can be combined with glass, concrete, and other materials for added strength.
• High strength: Expanded metals support weight and withstands stress better than woven metals or jointed welds.
• Low weight: Expanded metals are lighter than traditional metal sheets.
• Allows circulation: Expanded metal allows air and light to move freely.
• Acoustic properties: Specially developed meshes can enhance acoustics and provide soundproofing.

How Is Expanded Metal Made?

Expanded metal is produced by an expanding machine, which turns solid metal sheets and coils into an expanded metal mesh. The expanding machine is fitted with a knife which determines pattern for the mesh. As the metal is fed through the expanding machine, it is cut and stretched simultaneously using a pressured slitting and stretching process. The slits created by the knife allow the metal to be stretched, which produces uniform holes. To ensure a consistent pattern, the expanding machine is programmed or operated manually as the metal is fed through. The finished expanded metal is then wound into coils or cut into sheets.

Depending on the intended application, different thicknesses of metal can be used and different mesh patterns can be chosen. L.W.D (Long Way Diamond) and S.W.D. (Short Way Diamond) are commonly used to indicate the desired length and width of the diamond shaped mesh holes.

Types of Expanded Metal

The most common types of expanded metal are:

Standard Expanded Metal

Standard expanded metal is extremely versatile and economical. It comes in a variety of gauge and opening sizes. It’s often used to provide a rigid, raised, slip-resistant surface. In standard expanded metal the strands and bonds are set at a uniform angle. This provides extra strength and rigidity whilst allowing maximum air circulation.

Flattened expanded metal

Flattened expanded metal is produced by cold rolling expanded metal to flatten it. It is chosen when a smooth surface is required. The flattening process generally elongates the length of the sheet by 5%.

Hexagonal expanded metal

Hexagonal expanded metal has hexagonal openings instead of the usual diamond ones. The hexagonal shape gives the metal extra strength while allowing the passage of air, light, heat, sound and liquid. Hexagonal openings are preferred over diamond openings when the metal is heavily expanded.

Architectural expanded metal

Architectural expanded metal features the diamond pattern with added architectural features. The result is a design which combines good aesthetics, increased security and privacy, and improved ventilation. It’s suitable for functional and decorative purposes, or a combination of the two.

Micro expanded metal

Micro expanded metal features small openings in light gauge metal. The openings can be standard, flattened, hexagonal and square. This type of expanded metal is often used in filters.

[ Wiki ]THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROUND BAR, DRILL ROD AND SHAFTING

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

Metal can be produced in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. These shapes can often look similar – such as pipe and tube – but have very different attributes and applications.

This is also true for three round shapes: round bar, drill rod, and shafting.

The Difference Between Round Bar, Drill Rod and Shafting

Round Bar

Round bar is exactly as it sounds; a long, cylindrical metal bar. Round bar is available in a variety of metals including hot rolled or cold rolled steel, stainless steel, aluminum, alloy steel, brass and more; and in many different diameters ranging from 1/4″ up to 24”.

Steel Round Bars

Steel round bars are available in hot rolled or cold rolled. Hot rolled round bar is typically used for applications like construction where finish and precise dimensions aren’t a priority. Conversely, cold rolled round bar is used for applications where a superior surface finish and exact dimensions are essential. Some common applications of steel round bar include frameworks, supports, braces, shafts, and axles.

Stainless Steel Round Bars

Stainless steel round bars are highly corrosion resistant. The stainless steel will tolerate high levels of acidity and can be used in chlorine bearing environments or alkaline solutions.

Aluminum Round Bars

Aluminum round bars possess light weight and strong corrosion resistance, while being easy to machine and cut. Common applications of aluminum round bar include supports, trim, shaft, braces, pins, and dowels.

Brass Round Bars

Brass round bars are used when strength, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and spark resistance are important. Brass is easy to machine and has an attractive sheen when polished. Some examples of brass bar applications are marine hardware, instruments, fasteners and fittings.

Drill Rod

Drill rods are manufactured from tool steel that has been ground to a tight tolerance diameter. While typically round, drill rods may also be fabricated in square shapes. They are also often tempered prior to machining. This process involves heating the steel to relieve the hardness and to make the steel more workable. The steel is then air cooled before machining begins. Common applications of drill rods include drill bits, taps, dowel pins, shafts, and reamers. They are also used to manufacture hammers, files, and punches.

There are two basic types of drill rod: water and oil hardened:

Water hardened drill rods

Water hardened drill rods are not heavily alloyed, allowing the material to be more easily machined than the oil hardened variety. During the water hardening process, the rod is heated until glowing red then plunged into a vat of water to cool. The result is a hard, durable metal which is easily machined. However, it is not suitable for welding. Water hardened drill rods are used in the manufacturing of hammers and files.

Oil hardened drill rods

Oil hardened drill rods are easily welded and machined and are very tough and durable. During the oil hardening process, the rod is heated until glowing red then plunged into a vat of warm oil. This causes the surface to become extremely hard. Oil hardened drill rods are used for general tool making.

Shafting

Shafting, also known as ‘Turned Ground and Polished’ shafting, refers to round bars made with fine precision and high-quality steel. They are polished to ensure flawless and perfectly straight surfaces. The manufacturing process is designed for extremely close tolerances for surface finish, roundness, hardness, and straightness which ensures a long service life with reduced maintenance.

Shafting bars are commonly used often used in applications that require high accuracy, such as weather measuring devices, laboratory tools, high-speed motor shafts, drive shafts, pump shafts, and ball bushings. In these scenarios, the bar is often required to rotate at high speeds. Thus extreme straightness is critical to prevent unwanted vibration and wear on bearings.

Shafting is manufactured through induction hardening.

Induction hardening

Induction hardening is a non-contact heating process which uses electromagnetic induction to produce the required heat. The steel is placed into a strong alternating magnetic field which causes an electric current to flow through the metal, generating heat. During this process the core of the steel remains unaffected and retains its physical properties. The steel is then quenched in water, oil, or a special polymer which causes the surface layer to form a martensitic structure which is extremely hard.

[ Info ] Steel: Higher, Faster, Deeper, Longer!

Innovation in steel makes it possible.

From the deepest depths of the sea to the stars in the universe, steel allows humans to push the boundaries of the possible! Our latest infographic shows how innovation in steel has helped our civilization smash through new barriers, strengthen our lives, and hit new heights.

[ News ]China to reinvestigate anti-dumping case into stainless steel tubes from EU, Japan

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

China's Commerce Ministry said on Monday it would reinvestigate its anti-dumping case into imports of high performance, seamless stainless steel tubes from Japan and the European Union.

China lost an appeal ruling in October at the World Trade Organization in a dispute in which Japan and the European Union had complained about Chinese use of anti-dumping duties on the steel products.

stainless steel fabrication

FOR MORE, FEEL FREE TO VIEW OUR WEBISTE:

WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM

Stainless Steel Cabinet Doors: Interior Applications

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

The elegant and clean look of stainless steel adds a sophisticated style to your indoor kitchen cabinetry.

Stainless steel kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts are manufactured to the highest quality standards, covered with commercial grade (#304) stainless steel and backed with your choice of metallic laminate, white or grey laminate.

With the popularity of stainless steel on modern kitchen appliances, homeowners can now have an entire kitchen made from commercial quality stainless steel.

Your dream kitchen can look like a high end commercial restaurant kitchen!



Stainless Steel Cabinet Door Features

Steel Process: Stainless steel is produced in the mill and is rolled to the desired gauge (thickness). This process sets the underlying surface of the material. The stainless is given a brushed finish using sanding belts. The grain direction of the brushed finish is vertical unless otherwise specified. The stainless steel is then covered with a vinyl coating to protect the surface. Slight imperfections add character and uniqueness to each cabinet door produced.

Seamless Corners: Developed a process of welding and grinding the corners of cabinet doors and drawer fronts so that they appear almost seamless.

Gauge of Material: The gauge of the steel ranges from 20 ga. (.036") to 16 ga. (.060") with a #4 brushed finish.

The Core: The core is a very stable ultra-light MDF substrate, which is backed with your choice of a metallic laminate that looks the same as stainless steel or a more economical white or grey laminate. This allows for easy hinge boring. The thickness of the doors is 3/4" unless otherwise specified.

Application: metallic laminate backings in white or gray for indoor use.

Cleaning is Easy: This product is easy to clean! It is also sanitary and environmentally friendly.

Ease of Repair: Although durable, stainless steel will scratch and dent. Minor scratches can be masked by lightly rubbing the surface with the grain using a (Scotch Bright) pad. Over rubbing the surface may remove the brushed finish.

The result is an exciting contemporary look that fits any cabinet application!

Different use in kitchen scope

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

Indoor S/S  Kitchens

Corrosion, fingerprint resistant stainless steel cabinets for commercial & home kitchens have become a practical, efficient solution for any kitchen, whether it is a new installation or a remodel.

Outdoor S/S Kitchens

Give your outdoor entertainment space that same unique look as you would on your indoor kitchen. Cabinets can be permanently decorated with artwork, patterns, designs, or whatever your desire.

Countertops - Backsplashes

Stainless Steel can be used for countertops and backsplashes for the ultimate in beauty, serviceability, and easy carefree use.

Decorative Cabinets

Take the beauty of stainless steel and enhance it with almost any design you can imagine - Lasertron will etch the design into the cabinets to create a one of a kind artwork for your installation.

Designing With (or Around) Stainless Steel

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

Want the kinds of ovens, ranges, microwaves and even vent hoods that the pros use? Get ready to love stainless steel, because most commercial-grade "prosumer" appliances feature it.

You don't have to endure a cold or industrial kitchen design for the sake of going pro. There are many design techniques that allow you to mesh stainless with any style kitchen: contemporary to country.

"I really like stainless; it's neutral color-wise and style-wise and really versatile," says Mark White, a certified kitchen designer for Kitchen Encounters in Annapolis, Md. "It even makes stuff that's not pro equipment look clean and professional, since that's what we're used to seeing in restaurant kitchens."

Mark and other top designers offer ideas for incorporating stainless steel without veering into sterile territory:

Designers agree that stainless steel is gorgeous as a focal point or a fine enhancement as an accent but should never be used in both capacities.

"A little goes a long way when you're designing with stainless steel," says Michael Schwartz of 2S Designs in Grayslake, Ill. "You have to develop a fear of too much metal."

One of Mark's favorite designs paired weathered, distressed cabinets with a tapered stainless stove hood, which served as the kitchen's focal point. "The hood helped create what I'd call a European country style, which is not country in the sense of being rural," he says.

Michael has used a bit of stainless steel in a backsplash for his home kitchen and says you could do the same with metallic tiles like the Metallismo collection by Walker Zanger.

"Stainless accents are beautiful, but less is more with metal in kitchen designs," Michael says. "You wouldn't want stainless counters or small appliances in the same design with large pro line stainless pieces, unless you were going for an over-the-top industrial design."

You can soften the cold shine of stainless with granite and ceramic, says Karen Sciascia, designer for A Matter of Style in Cheshire, Conn. In a traditional or contemporary kitchen design, Karen favors cream-colored granite counters to offset the cold shine of stainless appliances. "The mica in the stone really picks up the soft gray color in the stainless," she says.

Another warm, soft touch that works well to balance the metallic sheen: textured ceramic tile forming a backsplash in back of a metallic cooktop or range. "I particularly like the designs available from Waterworks," Karen says.

Wood is always a welcome foil to stainless, particularly over pro-quality cooktops. "A stainless range like a Viking is a very commercial, very professional looking appliance," Karen says. "Pairing it with a wood hood is a beautiful look and really warms the appearance of the stainless steel."

Mark also designs a lot of mantel-style wood hoods over stainless cooktops, incorporating a stainless interior hood liner for easy cleaning. "The concealed hoods are a nice way to integrate the stainless without seeming 'over the top,'" he says.

"A stainless-steel range, wall oven or cooktop is no problem to incorporate into even the most conservative kitchens," says Karen, who designs mostly traditional kitchens for her Connecticut clients. "But a refrigerator is tough — even one that's just 36 inches wide is a big, jarring piece of metal and most people going for the pro-quality fridge are going to want one bigger than that." She steers her clients to wood front panels for large fridges, like Sub-Zero all-fridges or all-freezers.

Mark avoids stainless-steel dishwasher fronts as well.

"In a traditional kitchen design, they don't work because the dishwasher is virtually always under the counter and flanked by custom cabinetry," he says. "Visually, stainless steel on the dishwasher tends to break up what otherwise would be the smooth flow of a continuous line, so in most kitchens I prefer a cabinet facade over the dishwasher to reduce that negative impact."

Consider Clearance and Vents

The pro-quality cooking that powerful stainless ranges and cooktops offer creates a whole other level of design considerations, says Mark. "The pro-line appliances produce much higher BTUs, so you need sufficient clearance and counterspace on either side," he says. "The design must also provide for proper ventilation and a way to protect the back wall from getting scorched or catching fire, particularly when all six burners on that pro line cooktop are working away."

Integrate stainless and cabinets for warmth.

Given the demands placed on the ventilator for a high caliber stainless range, you may also need to provide a louvered vent to an adjacent space for "make up air" to replace the hot air circulated out, says Mark. "When you're dealing with pro equipment like that, you should consult an HVAC specialist to see if you need to do anything special with the air," he says.

Metal Countertops: Copper, Zinc and Stainless Steel

      

_____________    CONTACT US   _____________

Holly Zhang

E-mail: sales4@sunraysteel.com

Mob: 86-13417960037 / Tel: 86-0757-63999952

Skype: hollyzhang97

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhang.holly.5

Address: 1507, A6, Hao Science Park, Guicheng, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China.

----------------------------------    WWW.SUNRAYSTEEL.COM   -----------------------------------

        There's a reason professional chefs have relied on metal countertops for decades: they're anti-bacterial, stain resistant and add a beautiful glow to any kitchen.

Stainless steel contertops and cabinets create a high-end kitchen that any chef would love.

Stainless Steel: Leading the Pack

You've probably seen stainless-steel countertops in sleek, contemporary kitchens or professional ones; they're that good looking and that hard working, the kitchen countertop equivalent of brains, brawn and beauty. But when it comes to metal countertops, stainless steel is hardly the only game in the kitchen. Other metals — which have been in use since before there were kitchens, never mind countertops — are making kitchen comebacks. Stainless steel casts a modern glow, but zinc, pewter, copper or even bronze countertops meld into traditional or period kitchens.

All of these metal options go to the head of the countertop class. Unlike stone (such as the ubiquitous granite) metal is nonporous (read antibacterial and stain-resistant). In the case of copper and zinc, they're recyclable, and metal countertops don't require sealing or more than soap and water to clean. Metal does scratch, however, so keep the cutting board handy. And when you get the inevitable etches, enjoy their character.

Except for stainless steel, the metals will also oxidize, forming a patina. You can keep them pristine by polishing, but that's not an insignificant commitment. If your spouse has ever muttered the word "obsessive" about your cleaning habits, these countertops might not be for you. But most owners want the patina and even work on hastening it. To find out whether a metal countertop is right for your kitchen, buy a small sample of copper or zinc and put it on your current countertop. See if the changing color enchants or exasperates you. Metals cost about the same as granite, and many metal fabricators make integrated sinks to match. If you like the look, investigate using metal tiles or a patterned metal piece as a backsplash.

Since its invention in 1913, stainless steel has been a multitasking wonder. It's the most popular finish for appliances and matching countertops can make a sweeping design statement and a breezy cleanup. Stainless steel, unlike other countertop metals, won't patina.

Copper: the Glowing Germ Fighter

Copper helped hoist humans from the Stone Age into the Bronze Age. Several millennia later, it can propel your kitchen forward, too. You can polish it — on a weekly basis — to keep a rosy gold or allow it to develop a patina of a burnished brown-black with green flecks. Copper inhibits germs, too. A recent British study highlighted copper's antibacterial skills: E coli survived on stainless steel for 34 days while on copper it lasted for only four hours.

Bronze and Brass: Rare but Beautiful Choices

More rarely used as a countertop material are the alloys bronze (copper and tin) and brass (copper and zinc). The mix of metals makes both of them harder than copper and both start out with more golden hues than their salmon-colored parent. Both will patina into dark brownish black tones.

Zinc: From Oyster Bars to Your Kitchen

Take a zinc lozenge for a cold, slather zinc oxide on your baby's rash, and — what the heck — put it on your kitchen countertops. People have for centuries and if you've eaten in an oyster bar, for example, you've seen a zinc countertop. Skip the polish and zinc's silver shine will develop a blue-gray patina. A soft metal, the edges can be decoratively shaped, echoing dentil or crown molding or your own design. Interest in zinc is leading more metal fabricators to put it in their repertoire.

Pewter: Enjoying a Renaissance

Pewter, an alloy of tin and small amounts of hardening agents such as copper, has graced French bistro and brasserie tabletops and bars for centuries. Lead was once added as a hardening agent but today's pewter is lead-free. It has a luxurious look and turns to a gray or charcoal patina. Like zinc, pewter is soft enough to be shaped into decorative edges.