Metal Measurement Conversions

Being in the sheet metal fabrication world means working with people from all over. Whether it’s the US or overseas, working with companies from different countries means knowing the different fabrication standards that others are accustomed to. This includes being aware of the measurement system that is used. Many times dimensional prints will show the dimensions in either imperial/US or metric. Being aware of the different measurement systems will save you from havoc of manufacturing parts to the inappropriate dimension. Which is why it is so important to know how to convert dimensions of parts. So to save some time, we have created this blog post as your Go-To For Measurement Conversions. So be sure to bookmark this page for future use. Continue reading

Aluminum vs. Steel

We often get asked by start-ups and or those designing new products on what the difference is between aluminum and steel for the design of their product. There are several physical properties and characteristics of aluminum and steel that set them a part and make them both ideal for different applications. Here is a list of the differences between the two metal materials:

Features Aluminum Steel
Conductivity Higher Lower
Corrosion Resistant Yes No
Magnetic No Yes
Malleability More Less
Melting Point Lower Higher
Recyclable Yes Yes
Reflectivity Good (polished state) Good (polished state)
Weight Lighter Heavier

If you have more characteristics to add, feel free to comment below!

Metal Manufacturing Language

Just like in many industries, the metal manufacturing industry has its own jargon. Whether you are looking into working in the metal fabrication industry, or you are having metal parts manufactured, it’s good to become familiar with some of the manufacturing language. So lets get started! Continue reading