Metal Blanks Glossary
77 terms covering metal grades, blank types, cutting processes, material properties, and industry standards.
#
1018 Steel
1018 is a low-carbon cold-drawn steel with excellent machinability and weldability. It's commonly used for shafts, pins, and precision machined blanks.
1084 Steel
1084 is a high-carbon steel popular with knife makers for its excellent edge retention and ease of heat treating. It's commonly sold as flat bar or blade blanks.
1095 Steel
1095 is a high-carbon spring steel with excellent hardness after heat treatment. It is one of the most popular steels for knife blades, springs, and cutting tools.
304 Stainless Steel(304 SS)
304 stainless steel is the most widely used stainless alloy, offering excellent corrosion resistance and formability. Common in food equipment, architectural panels, and laser-cut blanks.
316 Stainless Steel(316 SS)
316 stainless steel contains molybdenum for superior corrosion resistance versus 304, especially in marine and chemical environments. Used in medical devices and marine hardware.
4140 Steel
4140 is a chromium-molybdenum alloy steel known for high strength, toughness, and wear resistance. Used in axles, gears, tooling, and structural components.
5052 Aluminum(5052)
5052 is a non-heat-treatable aluminum alloy with excellent formability and corrosion resistance. It is the most common sheet and blank alloy for stamping and forming applications.
6061 Aluminum(6061)
6061 is a heat-treatable aluminum alloy with excellent strength, machinability, and weldability. The go-to alloy for precision machined blanks, structural parts, and aerospace components.
7075 Aluminum(7075)
7075 is a high-strength aerospace aluminum alloy with strength comparable to many steels. Used in aircraft frames, high-stress structural components, and precision blanks.
A
A36 Steel(A36)
A36 is the most common structural carbon steel grade in the US, defined by ASTM standard A36. It is weldable, machinable, and widely available as plate, sheet, and bar stock.
Aluminum Blank
An aluminum blank is a flat, cut-to-size piece of aluminum used as feedstock for laser cutting, CNC machining, stamping, or forming. Common alloys include 5052 and 6061.
Annealing
Annealing is a heat treatment process that softens metal by heating it to a specific temperature and slowly cooling it. It relieves internal stress and improves ductility for forming.
Anodizing
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that grows a protective oxide layer on aluminum, increasing corrosion resistance and allowing dyeing for color. Type II (standard) and Type III (hard coat) are the most common.
ASTM(ASTM)
ASTM International publishes voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, and testing. ASTM grades like A36, A108, and A500 define the chemical and mechanical requirements for steel products.
B
Bar Stock
Bar stock is long, solid metal in a consistent cross-section — round, square, flat, or hex — sold by the foot or in standard lengths. It is the starting material for most machined parts.
Billet
A billet is a solid block or bar of metal — usually square or round — cut from rolled or cast stock, used as input material for forging, extrusion, or heavy machining.
Blanking
Blanking is a stamping process where a punch forces metal through a die to cut out a flat shape — the blank — from a sheet. The blank is the desired part; the surrounding sheet is the scrap.
Brinell / Rockwell Hardness(HB / HRC)
Brinell (HB) and Rockwell (HRC) are scales for measuring metal hardness by indentation. HRC is common for tool steels and knife steels; HB is used for structural and softer metals.
Brushed Finish
A brushed finish is created by mechanically abrading the metal surface with a fine abrasive belt or pad, leaving fine parallel lines. Common on stainless steel appliances and architectural panels.
Burr
A burr is a raised edge or rough projection left on a metal part after cutting, stamping, or drilling. Burrs must be removed (deburred) for safe handling and proper part fit.
C
C110 Copper(C110)
C110 is electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper with 99.9% purity. The most common copper alloy used for electrical components, jewelry blanks, and decorative metalwork.
C260 Brass(C260)
C260 is cartridge brass, a 70/30 copper-zinc alloy known for excellent cold-working properties. Widely used for stamping blanks, cartridge cases, and jewelry.
Certificate of Conformance(CoC / C of C)
A certificate of conformance (CoC) is a document from a supplier declaring that a product meets the required specification or standard. Often required alongside an MTR for regulated industries.
Coil
A coil is a continuous length of sheet or strip metal wound into a roll for efficient storage and transport. Coils are fed directly into stamping presses and roll forming machines.
Cold-Rolled Steel(CR)
Cold-rolled steel is processed further after hot-rolling by passing through rollers at room temperature. It has tighter dimensional tolerances, a smoother surface finish, and higher strength than hot-rolled.
Cut to Size
Cut to size means metal is cut to the buyer's specified dimensions before shipment rather than shipping a full-length piece. Service centers and online metal suppliers commonly offer this for plate, sheet, and bar.
D
D2 Tool Steel(D2)
D2 is a high-chromium, high-carbon tool steel known for exceptional wear resistance and edge retention. Widely used for dies, punches, and knife blades.
Deep Drawing
Deep drawing is a forming process where a flat metal blank is pressed into a die to create a cup, box, or shell shape. Used to make cans, pots, automotive panels, and enclosures.
Disc Blank
A disc blank is a circular metal blank cut from sheet or plate. Disc blanks are used for wheels, flanges, signs, jewelry, and laser-engraved custom pieces.
F
Fine Blanking
Fine blanking is a precision blanking process that produces parts with smooth, square edges and tight tolerances in a single stroke. Used for automotive and medical components requiring no secondary operations.
Flat Bar
A flat bar is a rectangular cross-section bar stock sold by length. It is wider than it is thick and used for brackets, frames, and cut-to-size flat blanks.
Flatness Tolerance
Flatness tolerance specifies how much a metal sheet or plate can deviate from a perfectly flat surface. Laser cutting and precision stamping require tight flatness — wavy or bowed stock causes defects.
G
Galvanizing
Galvanizing is the process of coating steel with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion. Hot-dip galvanizing and electro-galvanizing are the two main methods used in the industry.
Grade 5 Titanium(Ti-6Al-4V)
Grade 5 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) is the most widely used titanium alloy, offering high strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion resistance. Used in aerospace, medical implants, and premium knife hardware.
H
Hardening and Tempering(H&T)
Hardening heats steel above its critical temperature and quenches it rapidly to increase hardness. Tempering then reheats it at a lower temperature to reduce brittleness while retaining strength.
Heat Number
A heat number is a unique identifier assigned to a batch of metal produced in a single melting operation. It links the material to its mill test report for full traceability.
Heat Treating(HT)
Heat treating is a group of industrial processes that alter the physical and mechanical properties of metal through controlled heating and cooling. It includes annealing, hardening, tempering, and normalizing.
Hot-Rolled Steel(HR)
Hot-rolled steel is produced by rolling steel at high temperature (above recrystallization point). It has a rough mill scale surface and looser tolerances than cold-rolled, but is less expensive and widely stocked.
HRPO Steel(HRPO)
HRPO stands for Hot-Rolled Pickled and Oiled. It is hot-rolled steel that has been acid-cleaned (pickled) to remove mill scale and coated with oil to prevent rust. Preferred for stamping and laser cutting.
L
Laser Cutting
Laser cutting uses a focused, high-powered laser beam to cut metal with extreme precision. Fiber lasers are the current standard for cutting steel, aluminum, and stainless with tight tolerances and clean edges.
Laser-Cut Blank
A laser-cut blank is a flat metal piece cut to shape using a fiber or CO2 laser. Laser cutting offers tight tolerances, clean edges, and the ability to cut complex profiles without tooling.
Lead Time
Lead time is the time between placing an order and receiving the material. For service centers, lead times range from same-day (stock items) to 6+ weeks (mill orders or specialty alloys).
LME Price(LME)
The London Metal Exchange (LME) sets the global benchmark prices for base metals including aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, and tin. LME prices drive pricing at distributors and service centers worldwide.
M
Metal Blank
A metal blank is a flat piece of metal cut to a specific size or shape, ready to be formed, stamped, machined, or processed further. It's the starting material before a part is finished.
Metal Service Center
A metal service center is a distributor that buys metal in large quantities from mills and resells it in smaller quantities with value-added processing such as cutting, sawing, and slitting.
Mill Finish
Mill finish is the surface condition of metal as it comes directly from the rolling mill — no additional polishing or treatment. It often has a dull, slightly rough appearance with mill scale on hot-rolled steel.
Mill Test Report(MTR)
A mill test report (MTR) is a quality document provided by a metal manufacturer that certifies the chemical composition and mechanical properties of a batch of metal. Required for aerospace, defense, and many industrial applications.
Minimum Order Quantity(MOQ)
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest amount a supplier will sell in a single order. Metal service centers may set MOQs by weight (e.g., 100 lbs) or dollar value.
N
Near-Net Shape(NNS)
A near-net shape is a blank or preform cut or cast very close to its final dimensions, minimizing the amount of machining or material removal needed to finish the part.
Nest Blank
A nest blank is a blank cut from a sheet using an optimized nesting layout, where multiple part shapes are arranged to minimize scrap. Common in laser and plasma cutting shops.
Nesting
Nesting is the process of arranging part shapes on a sheet to maximize material use and minimize scrap. Nesting software is used by laser and plasma cutting shops to reduce material waste.
Normalizing
Normalizing is a heat treatment that heats steel above its critical temperature and air-cools it to produce a uniform, fine-grained microstructure. It relieves stress and improves machinability.
O
P
Pickling and Oiling(P&O)
Pickling removes mill scale from hot-rolled steel using acid, and oiling applies a thin protective oil coat to prevent rust. The result is HRPO steel — a cleaner surface for stamping and laser cutting.
Piercing
Piercing is a stamping operation that cuts holes in a metal part or blank. Unlike blanking, the cut-out material (slug) is discarded and the sheet with holes is the workpiece.
Plasma Cutting
Plasma cutting uses a high-temperature plasma arc to cut through electrically conductive metals. It is faster than laser cutting on thick plate but produces a wider kerf and rougher edge.
Plate vs Sheet
Plate is metal thicker than 3/16 inch (4.76mm); sheet is thinner. Plate is used for structural and heavy fabrication work; sheet is used for stamping, forming, and laser cutting.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is a dry finishing process where electrostatically charged powder is applied to a metal surface and cured in an oven, producing a durable, even color finish superior to liquid paint.
Preform
A preform is a roughly shaped piece of metal that has been partially worked but not yet brought to final dimensions. It is an intermediate step between raw stock and a finished part.
Punching vs Blanking
In punching, the punched-out piece is the scrap (called a slug) and the sheet with holes is the product. In blanking, the punched-out piece is the product (the blank) and the surrounding sheet is scrap.
Purchase Order(PO)
A purchase order (PO) is a formal document a buyer sends to a supplier authorizing the purchase of specific goods at an agreed price. It creates a legal contract between the buyer and supplier.
R
S
Sawing Metal
Sawing uses a toothed blade (band saw or cold saw) to cut bar stock, plate, and structural shapes to length. It is the most common method for cutting raw stock at a service center.
Shearing
Shearing is a cutting process that uses two blades — like giant scissors — to make straight cuts in sheet metal. It's the fastest way to cut rectangular blanks from flat stock.
Slug
In stamping, a slug is the scrap piece punched out from the sheet when a hole is made — it is the waste, not the product. Do not confuse with a blank, which is the desired piece.
Spot Price
The spot price is the current market price for immediate delivery of a metal commodity. For aluminum, copper, and steel, spot prices fluctuate daily based on global supply and demand.
Stamping
Metal stamping is a manufacturing process that uses presses and dies to cut, bend, and shape flat metal blanks into finished parts. It is used for high-volume production of automotive, appliance, and electronic components.
Stamping Blank
A stamping blank is a flat piece of metal cut to size for use in a stamping press. It can be a simple rectangle, circle, or complex profiled shape depending on the part being formed.
Steel Blank
A steel blank is a metal blank made from steel — typically carbon steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel — cut to size for further processing such as stamping, laser cutting, or machining.
Steel Distributor
A steel distributor purchases steel from mills and resells it to manufacturers, fabricators, and machine shops. Also called a steel service center, they stock common grades and sizes for fast delivery.
Steel Mill
A steel mill is a facility that produces steel from raw materials (iron ore, scrap) using furnaces and rolling equipment. Mills sell in large coils, bundles, or plates — service centers buy from mills and break into smaller quantities.
Strip Steel
Strip steel is thin, narrow coiled steel slit to a specific width from a wider coil. It is the feedstock for high-volume stamping and roll forming operations.
T
Temper
Temper describes the mechanical condition of aluminum after processing — how it was strengthened by work-hardening (-H) or heat treatment (-T). For example, 6061-T6 means the alloy 6061 in a T6 heat-treated temper.
Tensile Strength(UTS)
Tensile strength (ultimate tensile strength, UTS) is the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched before breaking. It is a key property listed on mill test reports.
Tolerances
Tolerances define the allowable range of variation in a dimension — thickness, width, length, or flatness. Tighter tolerances require more precise processing and typically cost more.