China has again dominated global crude steel production in the year to September 2010, the World Steel Association reports. The WSA, which includes 66 member countries, reported 112m metric tons of crude steel was produced in the year from September 2009. While China’s production figure of 47.9m mt represented a fall of 5.9% on the [...]
The world’s largest scrap metal recycling company reported a swing back into profit yesterday. Full-year net profit after tax rose to $126.7 million, after a $150.3m loss the previous year. The result beat market expectations of net profit after tax of about $117m and was driven largely by strong margins at its non-ferrous metals business [...]
An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away. While finishing a material often means polishing it to gain a smooth, reflective surface it can also involve roughening as in satin, matte or beaded finishes. [...]
By Russell Wood, When you buy sheetmetal from the steel supply shop, it comes coated with a rust inhibitor so that the product doesn’t rust before it gets sold. But if you try to weld to that surface, you’re going to get poor results, so you have to remove it first. Fortunately, it’s not very [...]
MILLER Electric’s product manager John Leisner has written about the considerations between renting or buying welding equipment. The long-running debate between renting or buying welding equipment primarily concerns the balance between budget and technical needs. According to Leisner, a rule of thumb is to consider purchasing or leasing if the welding equipment has utilisation rates [...]
By Gerald Davis The article discusses making small holes and when to use a punch or laser cutter, inside radius measurements and how they differ depending on whether you are coining or air bending on a press brake, and adding bend relief to prevent tearing material. My experience, and therefore this article, is limited to [...]
Stainless steel alloys usually have a chromium content of a least 10%. Stainless steel base metals are grouped primarily into three classes depending on their crystal structure; austenitic (such as 302, 304, 308, 316, etc.), martensitic (such as 410, and 416), and ferritic (such as 409, and 430.). Austenitic grades are also available with a [...]
By C.L. Rease Sheet metal mark out or layout is the practice of putting dimensions on a piece of metal to show locations of cuts and bends that will be used to fabricate the final work piece. Sheet metal layout tools are needed to measure, mark dimensions, draw straight lines, find non-standard points and calculate [...]
By Valthenya Making a good arc welding bead takes practice, knowledge, the proper equipment, and skill. A shielded metal arc welder (SMAW) or commonly a stick welder is one of the most used methods of welding in the world. It uses an electric welding power supply and a flux covered consumable electrode to make an [...]
