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Terminology

  • FINISHING: Limited finishing can be accomplished at manufacturing plants. This includes annealing, hot dip galvanizing and prime coating. Special finishing such as anodizing, enameling, and plastic coating can be arranged for by contacting your Steel Service Center.
  • OVERALL THICKNESS: This is the finished thickness and often determines the selection of framing members.
  • CAMBER: A slight bow which can occur during manufacturing and results in an out-of-square condition.
  • MESH DEFORMATION: A deformation of the mesh at one of the ends due to the characteristics of the raw material.
  • FOLDED: Metal foil that has been simultaneously subjected to a cutting and stretching process to convert it into a rigid mesh. This makes it ideal for solving safety and security problems and at the same time creating a good appearance.
  • EXPANDED METAL GRATING: is sheet or plate expanded into a structural open grating ideal for catwalk and platform applications.
  • LOUVER MESH: Expanded metal products with a louvered shape opening allowing for directing air flow, available in several diamond sizes and open areas. This group of expanded metal meshes has endless architectural and security applications.
  • FLATTENING: Product resulting from the cold rolling of regular expanded metal. The rolling process reduces the overall thickness of the sheet and leaves its surface flat.
  • DISTRIBUTION: Expanded metal products are readily available from inventory maintained by your local Steel Service Center.
  • STAIR TREADS: Expanded metal grating stair treads are fabricated using grating, angles and bars. They are shipped ready for installation.
  • FILTRO-RED: Galvanized sheet deployed with very small openings used to manufacture automotive and industrial filters.
  • FXM: Commonly used abbreviation for Flattened Expanded Metal.
  • GRATING: Synonym for non-skid expanded metal.
  • SWD OR SWO: Short way of diamond, or short way of opening, is the dimension measured across the sheet in a direction parallel to the smallest dimension of the diamond.
  • SWD OR SWO: Short way of diamond, or short way of opening, is the dimension measured across the sheet in a direction parallel to the smallest dimension of the diamond.
  • LWO (Long way of opening): Inner dimension of the long side of the rhombus.
  • LWD: Long way of diamond or long way of opening is the dimension measured across the sheet in a direction parallel to the largest dimension of the diamond.
  • XM: Widely used abbreviation for Expanded Metal
  • MDI R: Abbreviation for expanded metal in rolls, either ironed or unironed.
  • CONCRETE STRUCTURAL MESH: There are several expanded metal products designed specifically for use in various concrete applications, particularly in bank vaults and other high security installations.
  • HEXAGONAL MESH: An expanded metal product having a similar thickness and cross-section, having a relatively square-shaped opening and resulting in a mesh whose symmetrical design provides reflective qualities.
  • SECURITY MESH: Expanded metal that is installed on the inside of a wall to prohibit access.
  • MINI-MESH EXPANDED METAL: is manufactured from light gauge metals with small openings and is ideally suited for use in grilles and antennas.
  • MOSQUI-RED: Micro mesh manufactured by LADESA for insect screen doors and windows that is much more resistant than a traditional woven mesh.
  • MR (METAL-RED): Abbreviation commonly used to refer to regular or standard expanded metal, i.e., not ironed.
  • LEVELING: All expanded metal products except grating are leveled after having been expanded.
  • PLAFON/FALSE CEILING: 26-gauge steel sheet deployed to manufacture false ceilings and walls.
  • PERCENT OF OPEN AREA: These important relative percentages are used by designers to calculate the degree with which light or air can pass through a piece of expanded metal.
  • PR (PLANO-RED): Abbreviation used to refer to flat expanded metal.
  • POLISHING: Process to which expanded metal in medium heavy gauges is subjected to remove steel burrs and smooth its edges through the action of steel brushes.
  • RUBBER/ DIAMOND/ OPENING: Product where heavy gauge non-skid rolled out metal is used in combination of angle and bar, ready for installation. Description commonly used to refer to the area formed by sections and studs when a metal is rolled out. This open area is usually diamond or diamond shaped.
  • SECTION: A strip of metal that forms the edge of a diamond or opening in the expanded metal. The width of the section represents the amount of material advancing as it is processed.
  • SECURITY MESH: This represents several flattened expanded metals used in drywall and plaster ceilings and walls as a security barrier to prevent penetration or access from room to room. Attachment clips are available.
  • SXM: Abbreviation commonly used in the English system to refer to regular or standard expanded metal, i.e., non-iron.
  • TACON: The point where two sections of a rhombus meet. The heel is always twice the size of the section.
  • SHEET SIZE: While expanded metal can be manufactured in many varying sheet sizes, practical limitations are such that it is wise to select sheet sizes shown in the catalog. Availability can be determined by contacting your Steel Service Center.
  • TOLERANCES: The dimensional margins (+/-) established by the industry.

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