When the finished product requires a very exact threshold, flat ground stock, a precision ground flat bar made of tool grade steel, is frequently employed. Also known as plates, sheets, strips, squares, or even flats, it is also known as gauge stock, shim stock, key stock, and even plates.
To ensure that there are no flaws or carburization on any of its four sides, it is made into flat strips and finely ground. This makes ensuring that items created from flat ground stock adhere to very strict tolerances (also known as material thickness) and standards.
What is the purpose of precision ground flat stock?
Flat Ground Stock is often utilized to create precise metalworking equipment since it is a precision product. A wide range of different steel grades can be used to make flat ground stock, which can then be transformed into a variety of different tools. These consist of:
Machine ways, gauges, punches, and dies are examples of machining tools.
Knives, saws, hot work tools, and lathe tools are examples of cutting tools.
Hot shear blades and die casting are examples of high-temperature equipment.
Knives and other surgical supplies are precision stainless steel instruments.
How is steel used in precision ground flat stock made?
Cutting a machined rectangular bar to a specific length and then grinding the four long sides to the necessary tolerances produces flat ground stock. Although the Flat Ground Stock can also be hardened for particular purposes, the steel is typically annealed to increase workability.
In order for the Flat Ground Stock to be utilized to produce various tools with extremely high precision, surface grinding is done to make sure there are no flaws or carburization present.
The cross-rolling procedure also greatly improves the flat stock’s toughness and tensile strength in the transverse direction. However, the steel grade ultimately determines a piece of ground flat stock’s hardness and machinability.
Ground flat stock is produced by manufacturers in a wide range of thicknesses, widths, and lengths. The ground flat stock is cold-sawn for thicknesses of 3/16′′ and greater, while lighter portions of flat stock are sheared.
Cold-drawn flat stock versus regular, oversized stock
Cold-drawn flat stock, ordinary flat stock, and oversize flat stock all have distinct tolerance requirements.
The most strictly controlled tolerances for thickness and width are found in regular grind flat stock.
The thickness and width of oversized ground flat stock have excess grind stock, allowing the end-user to cut, heat-treat, and/or grind the piece to a precise dimension.
Cold drew ground flat stock varies from precision ground flat stock in that it resembles a drill rod more than the drill bit. However, it is rectangular rather than round like a typical drill rod. Tolerances for thickness and width are comparable to those for flat stock that has been regularly machined.
How is flat bar different from precision ground flat stock steel?
Flat Bar has a more industrial use that doesn’t call for a lot of accuracies. Frame construction, structural supports, reinforcement, and even industrial artwork are examples of typical uses. While maintaining its strength and durability, the flat bar is simple to work with and may be cut to size on the spot. It is not, however, surface ground to provide extremely small tolerances.
In contrast, Flat Ground Stock is produced to extremely tight tolerances, which are not necessary for the industrial applications that Flat Bar is often used. Flat Ground Stock should therefore be handled and stored carefully to prevent harm to the final finish.