Common Metal Fabricating Terms:
Welcome to our library, we hope to serve you better with this library of free information about metal fabrication. Below you will see a list of the most commonly used metal fabrication terms, and some articles that relate to cutting, bending, notching and iron working.
OD (Outer Diameter)
OD is the measurement a cross the center of a tube, pipe, or coil from one outer edge to the other. It is the outside diameter of a tube or pipe.
WT (Wall Thickness)
The thickness of the material wall.
CLR (Center Line Radius)
CLR is the distance from the center of curvature to the centerline (axis) of the pipe, expressed as a number multiplied by the tube or pipe size. For example, the bend radius of a 5 x D bend for a 2-inch nominal pipe size (NPS) pipe or a 2-inch tube is 10 inches.
DBB (Distance Between Bends)
Minimum distance betweenbends (Length of each straight section).
POB (Plane of Bend)
POB is the orientation of a bend in relation to the axis of the straight section preceding it. Used specifically for changes of plane in successive bends. A bend in relation to the axis of the straight section preceding it.
DOB (Degree of Bending)
DOB is the maximum degree of bending. (Angle of each bend).
Easy Way
Bending of a rectangular tube with its short side in the plane of the bend.
Hard Way
Bending of a rectangular tube with its long side in the plane of the bend.
Arc
The degree of bend for the curved portion of a pipe, tube or beam.
Bevel
An angular cut on the OD or ID of a tube end.
Cold Bending
Using cold shaping methods to bend a pipe, beam or tube.
Degree
The angle at which a bend is formed. (e.g: 45 degrees).
ID (Inside Diameter)
Inside diameter of tube, pipe or coil. It is the length of a straight line passing through the center of the opening.
Neutral Axis
Neutral axis is a measurement of distance along the midpoint in the tube wall thickness. It is different from the circumference because it is not the outside of the tube but a point in the very middle of the tube wall thickness.
Out of Plane
The deviation of the horizontal plane of a single bend between its tangent points, based on the theoretical centerline of the bend.
Ovality
The distortion of tube or pipe from its circular shape caused by bending.
Material Grade
Manufacturer’s specification of material for pipe, beam, or tube.
Plain End
Square cuts made to a tube, pipe or beam; prior to bending.
Roll Past
Degree or fraction of degree that beam, tube or pipe is bent beyond a specified point.
Rough Cut
Pipe, beam or tube end cuts that are not required to be straight.
Square Cut
End cuts to a tube, beam or pipe that are square to the centerline of a bend after the bending process.
Tangent
The straight portion of material on either end of the arc of a bend.
Tangent Point
A point where the bend of a pipe, beam or tube begins or ends.
Taper Bore
A milling or grinding out of the inside diameter of the end of a bend to create a tapered tube or pipe diameter.
Wrinkles
Ribbed or wavy indentations in the inner bend angle of a bend of a tube, beam or pipe.