Metal fabricating and welding glossary - S

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Scrap

Leftover, unused material relegated to recycling.

Shear

A type of cutting operation in which the metal object is cut by means of a moving blade and fixed edge or by a pair of moving blades that may be either flat or curved. The type of force that causes, or tends to cause, two contiguous parts of the same body to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact.

Shearing

Cutting force applied perpendicular to material causing the material to yield and break.

Sheet

Any material or piece of uniform thickness and of considerable length and width as compared to its thickness. With regard to metal, such pieces under 6.5 mm (1/4 in.) thick are called sheets, and those 6.5 MM (1/4”) thick and over are called plates. Occasionally, the limiting thickness for steel to be designated as sheet steel is No. IO Manufacturer's Standard Gage for sheet steel, which is 3.42 mm (0.1345”) thick.

Sheet products

Hot Roll (01) Uncoated, heavy gauge, fully processed in Strip Steel, never cold reduced at Tandem Mill. Cold Roll (02) Uncoated, heavy gauge, primarily processed in Strip Steel, although some goes to the Tin Mill, always cold reduced at Tandem Mill. Galvanized (05,06) "Bath" coated with zinc, heavy gauge, primarily processed thru Strip Steel & Sheet Mill, majority is cold reduced at Tandem Mill.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

An electric arc is established between a flux-coated consumable rod electrode and the workpiece. A gaseous shield is provided by vaporization of the flux coating. SMAW is frequently referred to as “stick” or “covered electrode” welding.

Shielding gas

Inert gas used for oxidation protection during welding.

Slug

The metal removed when punching a hole in a forging; also termed punchout. The forging stock for one workpiece cut to length. See also blank.

Special purpose work holding devices and machinery

Precision-made mass production tooling such as jigs & fixtures, but also includes robotic arm end effectors (grippers / holders) for use on industrial robots. Special purpose machines / equipment may also be manufactured to carry-out specific tasks on a mass production line such as winding electric motors, assembling bearing assemblies, filling bottles and cans, or any other automated process.

Spot welding

A process for joining steel sheets. The two parts are held between electrodes and the heat generated at the interface between the sheets causes local welding when pressure is applied.

Squareness

Measure of perpendicularity of adjacent edges or surfaces.

Stainless steel

Various terrific alloys exhibiting high oxidation resistance through the alloying with chromium and nickel. Corrosion resistant steel of a wide variety, but always containing a high percentage of chromium. Stainless steels are highly resistant to corrosion attack by organic acids, weak mineral acids, atmospheric oxidation, etc.

Steel rule die

A die employing a thin strip of steel formed to the outline of a part and a flat metal plate or block of wood for the punch. Used to cut non-metallic material, soft metals, and low run prototype, sheet metal parts. Also called cookie cutter die.

Stop, automatic

A device for positioning stock in a die. (A mechanism that initiates the stopping action of a press after its complete cycle. A device which initiates the stopping action of a press at the start of operating troubles for protecting either the die or the operator, such as misfeeding, buckling of strip stock, or non-discharge of blanks.

Stop

A device for positioning stock or parts in a die.

Strip

A flat-rolled metal product of some maximum thickness and width arbitrarily dependent on the type of metal; narrower than sheet. A sheet of metal whose length is many times its width.

Strip steel (cold rolled)

A flat cold rolled steel product (Other than Flat Wire) 23 15/16 and narrower; under .250 in thickness, which has been cold reduced to desired decimal thickness and temper on single stand, single stand reversing, or tandem cold mills in coil form from coiled hot rolled pickled strip steel.

Submerged Metal Arc Welding (SAW)

A process by which metals are joined by an arc or arcs between a bare metal electrode or electrodes and the work. The heat for coalescence is provided by an electric arc struck between the workpiece and the consumable electrode. Shielding is provided by a blanket of granular flux, deposited over the area to be welded.

Call us today at 1-219-931-3131, email us at sales@midwestmetalfabrication.com, or send a fax using 1-219-844-8512 to get a quick quote to help solve your heavy gauge steel fabricating problems.