Plane solid sheets or plates of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, silver, nickel and a variety of nickel alloys are used for the production of expanded metal. As the expanded metal is fabricated from a metal sheet and it is not woven or welded hence it doesn’t deform.
For the fabrication of expanded metal, a sheet is simultaneously slit and stretched; it expands the cuts into diamond shape holes of equal size and shape. As the process doesn’t cause any metal loss while expanding the metal, the resulting product is more economical.
While selecting an expanded metal for fence application you will require to find which type or diamond size is suitable for your fencing application. Expanded metal designations are described by SWD (short way of diamond), metal gauge, weight per hundred sq. foot etc.
Another factor to consider while ordering the expanded metal mesh panels is actual metal strand width and strand thickness. These are essential as they are essential for opening size of diamond and open area% or visibility through fence.
Heanjia Super-Metals has standardized it for fencing requirements. Following is the commonly used specifications for expanded metal for fencing applications.
Style | weight/sq. ft | Diamond size, in | Diamond opening size, in | Strand size, inch | Open area | |||||||
SWD | LWD | SWO | LWO | Width | Thickness | |||||||
Carbon steel standard expanded | ||||||||||||
½ in-13R | 1.74 | 0.500 in | 1.20 in | 0.312 in | 0.938 in | 0.096 in | 0.090 in | 57 % | ||||
½ in-13R | 3.1 | 0.500 in | 1.20 in | 0.220 in | 0.630 in | 0.188 in | .090 in | 25 % | ||||
¾ in – 9R | 1.98 | 0.923 in | 2 in | 0.688 in | 1.562 in | 0.150 in | .134 in | 68 % | ||||
1 in – 7R | 3.7 | 1 in | 2.40 in | 0.650 in | 1.6 in | 0.240 in | .170 in | 39 to 41 % | ||||
1 in- 7R | 4.79 | 0.875 in | 2.20 in | 0.450 in | 1.550 in | 0.275 in | .183 in | 52 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – 6R | 2.75 | 1.330 in | 3 in | 1.110 in | 2.313 in | 0.203 in | .194 in | 69 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – 9R | 1.31 | 1.330 in | 3 in | 1.125 in | 2.375 in | 0.144 in | .134 in | 76 % | ||||
2 in – 9R | 0.99 | 1.850 in | 4 in | 1.563 in | 3.375 in | 0.149 in | .134 in | 84 % | ||||
Flattened | ||||||||||||
½ in – 13F | 1.61 | 0.500 in | 1.25 in | 0.265 in | 1 in | 0.107 in | .078 in | 52 % | ||||
¾ in – 9F | 1.88 | 0.923 in | 2.10 in | 0.563 in | 1.688 in | 0.165 in | .120 in | 63 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – 9F | 1.25 | 1.330 in | 3.20 in | 1 in | 2.563 in | 0.158 in | .110 in | 75 % | ||||
Stainless steel 304 | ||||||||||||
½ in – 13R | 1.87 | 0.480 in | 1.20 in | .270 in | .830 in | .113 in | .093 in | 52 % | ||||
¾ in – 9R | 2.05 | .923 in | 2 in | .687 in | 1.562 in | .160 in | .140 in | 67 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – 9R | 1.37 | 1.330 in | 3 in | 1.125 in | 2.500 in | .155 in | .140 in | 77 % | ||||
Flatness stainless steel | ||||||||||||
½ in – 13R | 1.78 | .48 in | 1.26 in | .220 in | .970 in | .128 in | .080 in | 47 % | ||||
¾ in – 9R | 1.95 | .923 in | 2.10 in | .562 in | 1.697 in | .165 in | .119 in | 61 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – 9R | 1.31 | 1.330 in | 3.15 in | .937 in | 2.625 in | .165 in | .119 in | 75 % | ||||
Aluminum | ||||||||||||
½ in – .081 | .44 | .500 in | 1.20 in | .375 in | .937 in | .096 in | .081 in | 60 % | ||||
¾ in -.125 | .65 | .923 in | 2 in | .687 in | 1.680 in | .169 in | .125 in | 68 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – .125 | .43 | 1.330 in | 3 in | 1.187 in | 2.5 in | .162 in | .125 in | 79 % | ||||
Flattened aluminum | ||||||||||||
½ in -.081 | .42 | .500 in | 1.27 in | .312 in | 1 in | .105 in | .060 in | 58 % | ||||
¾ in – .125 | .62 | .923 in | 2.13 in | .625 in | 1.750 in | .187 in | .095 in | 62 % | ||||
1-1/2 in – .125 | .41 | 1.330 in | 3.15 in | 1 in | 2.750 in | .181 in | .095 in | 70 % | ||||
SWD (short way diamond) and LWD (long way diamond) are commonly used designations. The diamond’s orientations develop a different look for the fencing applications. An expanded metal mesh panels can be configured in two ways – standard and reversed diamond orientation.
Reverse diamond orientation:-
Expanded metal is specified as SWD x LWD.
Standard and flattened expanded metal:
Standard expanded sheet plate delivered as it is received from the press. It has good strength and is commonly used for the fencing applications.
Flattened expanded sheet is produced by passing the metal through cold roll reducing mill parallel to the LWD. Through flattening, the bonds and strands are settled down to create a smooth and flat surface.