There are a variety of different techniques you can use to bend and form metal, including cold and hot metal rolling. Depending on the type and size of your project, you may find that one is more effective than the other. Metal Pro Inc. is happy to help evaluate the best techniques for your project, including channel rolling services in Phoenix, AZ. If you have questions about how to achieve the results you’re looking for, be sure to call us today.
Hot rolling vs. cold rolling
Hot rolling techniques use molten metal and very high temperatures in order to create certain shapes—for example, those that are used to reinforce buildings. Hot steel is extruded from a large cylinder, and then we use rollers to fine-tune that shape into the project’s exact specifications. This typically takes very large and specialized equipment.
Cold roll forming makes shapes around room temperature, making it a more popular choice for smaller fabrication shops. Flat and coiled sheets are fed through the rollers to create the desired shape.
Different metals and grades are more appropriate for hot or cold rolling, so which you’ll use depends on your project. Here are the major differences between the two methods:
- Structural: If you’re making I-beams, for example, you’ll almost always need to hot roll them. The steel that’s used in structural projects is harder and less ductile than other types of steel, so cold rolling isn’t as effective. On the other hand, cold roll forming works for a number of uses, such as street signs, solar, escalators and elevators and more.
- Size limitations: Hot rolling can only be performed on sheets of metal that are up to 20 gauge thick. Length, however, is not an issue in either cold or hot rolling.
- Run speed: Depending on your project, it might take 50 hot rolling passes to generate the same quality and results as you would get with 100 cold rolling passes, thanks to the flexibility and force that heat generates.
- Quality: Even if you need more passes, that can actually produce a higher-quality roll with tighter tolerances. Due to the cost of labor, the end result may be more expensive, but depending on the project, you may decide that it’s worth it.
- Strength: Finally, the strength of the metal may be increased when you’re cold rolling metal, thanks to the force involved and the repeated, increased strain that the metal goes under. This hardens the metal and produces an overall stronger product.
If you have further questions, be sure to ask our friendly team.
Channel rolling services in Phoenix, AZ
Since 2000, Metal Pro Inc. has been providing channel rolling and metal fabrication services to Phoenix, AZ clients. Our shop is able to handle all sizes and scopes of projects, including cutting, rolling, welding and more. We are proud to offer you the benefit of over 20 years of industry experience. If you’re looking for quotes and advice for your next metal fabrication project, please call us today.