What material properties can we test for - Sheet metal pressing

[ashram]

Dear everbody
we have sheet metal pressing industry, we test material properties like Tensile test and chemical test.
so please tell me can we test the properties like elastic modulus,heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion,specific heat,resistivity.
or othrwise these are the inbuilt material properties.

 

[bobdoering]

Dear everbody
we have sheet metal pressing industry, we test material properties like Tensile test and chemical test.
so please tell me can we test the properties like elastic modulus,heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion,specific heat,resistivity.
or othrwise these are the inbuilt material properties.

Elastic modulus - to ensure the material will survive your process, it likely to be a measurement that will be handy. You are right, the properties of the material are built in, and one of the problems with steel specifications is that they are so wide a bucket of dirt might pass them.

The question I have for you is, what is the result of any measurement you would take? Can you adjust your process for the material variation? Can you afford to pay for sorted material that would meet a tighter specification, or the cost of a steel supplier doing additional testing? What is the "end game"? If we know where you are willing to head, we might be able to better suggest ways to get there.

 

[Wes Bucey]

Dear everbody
we have sheet metal pressing industry, we test material properties like Tensile test and chemical test.
so please tell me can we test the properties like elastic modulus,heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion,specific heat,resistivity.
or othrwise these are the inbuilt material properties.

Elastic modulus - to ensure the material will survive your process, it likely to be a measurement that will be handy. You are right, the properties of the material are built in, and one of the problems with steel specifications is that they are so wide a bucket of dirt might pass them.

The question I have for you is, what is the result of any measurement you would take? Can you adjust your process for the material variation? Can you afford to pay for sorted material that would meet a tighter specification, or the cost of a steel supplier doing additional testing? What is the "end game"? If we know where you are willing to head, we might be able to better suggest ways to get there.

Bob is pretty much on the mark here. An excellent metallurgical lab can be equipped and set up in a relatively small space to test and analyze physical and chemical properties of materials. Generally, you do need a good metallurgist to oversee the lab, but most of the tests can be run by trained technicians under the direction of that metallurgist.

The cost for equipping and staffing such a lab is not terribly outrageous and you can recoup some of that expense by taking in work from other organizations for a fee.

So, the ultimate question your organization should ask is:
"What is the economic benefit to our organization for having such a facility?"

Sub-questions might be:

1. Do our current customers have requirements such that they would pay a sufficient surcharge over simple sheet metal work to justify the expense of the lab?
2. Are there sufficient new customers who would pay such a surcharge?
3. How much metallurgical testing and analyzing work can we get from others?

Bottom line:
If there is no present or future economic benefit, it is probably not a good idea to have such a lab, but to rely on an outside lab for the few times it is necessary and to be sure to include a surcharge to the customer for the added requirements which make such testing necessary.

 

[prototyper]

Dear everbody
we have sheet metal pressing industry, we test material properties like Tensile test and chemical test.
so please tell me can we test the properties like elastic modulus,heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion,specific heat,resistivity.
or othrwise these are the inbuilt material properties.

Have any of your customers requested this information?

I have been in sheet metal stamping and fabrication for 20 years and have never had a customer request some of these tests. In my experience customers will require information on chemical composition and tensile properties. It is essential that you understand the elastic properties so that you know how the material will perform when stamping.
I don't see the need for heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion, specific heat, resistivity testing unless the stampings have a very specific and critical application.

Don't over complicate your test regime and spend money unnecessarily if this is not a customer requirement or a regulatory issue.

 

[Umang Vidyarthi]

Have any of your customers requested this information?

I have been in sheet metal stamping and fabrication for 20 years and have never had a customer request some of these tests. In my experience customers will require information on chemical composition and tensile properties. It is essential that you understand the elastic properties so that you know how the material will perform when stamping.
I don't see the need for heat transfer, coefficient of thermal expansion, specific heat, resistivity testing unless the stampings have a very specific and critical application.

Don't over complicate your test regime and spend money unnecessarily if this is not a customer requirement or a regulatory issue.

I am in full agreement with you. I too am in to sheet metal pressing industry and the customers are satisfied with the 'Test certificate' issued by the manufacturer. All one has to ensure is to use the 'right grade' specified by the customer viz: D, DD or EDD quality. Whenever in doubt one may have it tested by an accreditated lab.

IMO, unless there is specific requirement of the customer (in which event he may have to be charged extra), in house lab will be an avoidable burden.

Umang