Expanded metal is a type of mesh metal sheeting. During the manufacturing process, the machine stretches an ordinary malleable metal sheet to make it thinner. At the same time, cutting is performed on the board. As the metal expands, the incision will stretch and the slit will become a hole in the plate. A grid will appear on the entire sheet of metal.
Depending on your application and needs, you can use this process to create grids of different shapes. Although the diamond grid may be the most common pattern, you can also choose shapes such as circles, ellipses, squares, and hexagons.
Expanded metal plates are relatively light. In the process of being stretched by the machine, the board will of course become thinner, which loses some relative weight. However, this does not mean that it is not durable.
On the contrary, expanded metal is strong and durable. Because it is manufactured in one piece and has excellent integrity. Unlike a woven mesh or sheet with connecting joints, it does not have any weak areas.
If you use a perforated metal plate, you need to punch holes in the plate to create a grid effect. This increases waste. The metal that needs to be removed from these punches becomes scrap.
If expanded metal is used, punching does not require metal removal. There is no waste when expanding and reducing. Because it is only used to cut a few cuts during the stretching process, it will not remove any metal like punching holes in the sheet.
If you use expanded metal, then you use up every bit of the sheets. You don't lose any of the metal during the perforation process.
If you reduce wastage, then you also reduce your manufacturing costs. This is especially important if you're working with a more expensive type of metal.
Your base material costs will also be lower. If you aren't wasting any of the material during the manufacturing process, then you can use less of it. The expansion process significantly increases the size of your sheets. One sheet can be stretched out to create a much larger area.
It's often easier to mold expanded metal to a specific application and design. You also have more flexibility with the angle of your cuts. For example, if you want to let through maximum light and air, then you can use larger cuts to make larger gaps.
This isn't always possible with perforated sheets. If your perforation is too large and there is not enough metal around it, you may weaken the performance of the board or even scrap it directly.
If you're interested in learning more about expanded metals, contact ZHUOTE METAL. We can meet your need.
