Drill Size Chart

The drill size chart provides a list of standard size drill bits in several measurement systems, including fractional, metric, wire gauge number, and letter. The decimal equivalents of the diameters are shown in both English and Metric units. Fractional sizes are measured in inches, while metric sizes are measured in millimeters. The wire gauge and letter systems refer to tool diameters that increase as the wire gauge decreases from #107 to #1 and then continues from A to Z. The drill size chart contains tools up to 1.5 inches in diameter, but larger tools are also commonly used.

Drill size	Diameter (in)	Diameter (mm)
#107	0.0019	0.0483
0.05 mm	0.0020	0.0500
#106	0.0023	0.0584
#105	0.0027	0.0686
#104	0.0031	0.0787
#103	0.0035	0.0889
#102	0.0039	0.0991
0.1 mm	0.0039	0.1000
#101	0.0043	0.1092
#100	0.0047	0.1194
#99	0.0051	0.1295
#98	0.0055	0.1397
#97	0.0059	0.1499
#96	0.0063	0.1600
#95	0.0067	0.1702
#94	0.0071	0.1803
#93	0.0075	0.1905
0.2 mm	0.0079	0.2000
#92	0.0079	0.2007
#91	0.0083	0.2108
#90	0.0087	0.2210
#89	0.0091	0.2311
#88	0.0095	0.2413
#87	0.0100	0.2540
#86	0.0105	0.2667
#85	0.0110	0.2794
#84	0.0115	0.2921
0.3 mm	0.0118	0.3000
#83	0.0120	0.3048
#82	0.0125	0.3175
#81	0.0130	0.3302
#80	0.0135	0.3429
#79	0.0145	0.3680
1/64 in	0.0156	0.3969
0.4 mm	0.0158	0.4000
#78	0.0160	0.4064
#77	0.0180	0.4572
0.5 mm	0.0197	0.5000
#76	0.0200	0.5080
#75	0.0210	0.5334
#74	0.0225	0.5715
0.6 mm	0.0236	0.6000
#73	0.0240	0.6096
#72	0.0250	0.6350
#71	0.0260	0.6604
0.7 mm	0.0276	0.7000
#70	0.0280	0.7112
#69	0.0292	0.7417
#68	0.0310	0.7874
1/32 in	0.0313	0.7938
0.8 mm	0.0315	0.8000
#67	0.0320	0.8128
#66	0.0330	0.8382
#65	0.0350	0.8890
0.9 mm	0.0354	0.9000
#64	0.0360	0.9144
#63	0.0370	0.9398
#62	0.0380	0.9652
#61	0.0390	0.9906
1 mm	0.0394	1.0000
#60	0.0400	1.0160
#59	0.0410	1.0414
#58	0.0420	1.0668
#57	0.0430	1.0922
1.1 mm	0.0433	1.1000
#56	0.0465	1.1811
3/64 in	0.0469	1.1906
1.2 mm	0.0472	1.2000
1.3 mm	0.0512	1.3000
#55	0.0520	1.3208
#54	0.0550	1.3970
1.4 mm	0.0551	1.4000
1.5 mm	0.0591	1.5000
#53	0.0595	1.5113
1/16 in	0.0625	1.5875
1.6 mm	0.0630	1.6000
#52	0.0635	1.6129
1.7 mm	0.0669	1.7000
#51	0.0670	1.7018
#50	0.0700	1.7780
1.8 mm	0.0709	1.8000
#49	0.0730	1.8542
1.9 mm	0.0748	1.9000
#48	0.0760	1.9304
5/64 in	0.0781	1.9844
#47	0.0785	1.9939
2 mm	0.0787	2.0000
#46	0.0810	2.0574
#45	0.0820	2.0828
2.1 mm	0.0827	2.1000
#44	0.0860	2.1844
2.2 mm	0.0866	2.2000
#43	0.0890	2.2606
2.3 mm	0.0906	2.3000
#42	0.0935	2.3749
3/32 in	0.0938	2.3813
2.4 mm	0.0945	2.4000
#41	0.0960	2.4384
#40	0.0980	2.4892
2.5 mm	0.0984	2.5000
#39	0.0995	2.5273
#38	0.1015	2.5781
2.6 mm	0.1024	2.6000
#37	0.1040	2.6416
2.7 mm	0.1063	2.7000
#36	0.1065	2.7051
7/64 in	0.1094	2.7781
#35	0.1100	2.7940
2.8 mm	0.1102	2.8000
#34	0.1110	2.8194
#33	0.1130	2.8702
2.9 mm	0.1142	2.9000
#32	0.1160	2.9464
3 mm	0.1181	3.0000
#31	0.1200	3.0480
3.1 mm	0.1221	3.1000
1/8 in	0.1250	3.1750
3.2 mm	0.1260	3.2000
#30	0.1285	3.2639
3.3 mm	0.1299	3.3000
3.4 mm	0.1339	3.4000
#29	0.1360	3.4544
3.5 mm	0.1378	3.5000
#28	0.1405	3.5687
9/64 in	0.1406	3.5719
3.6 mm	0.1417	3.6000
#27	0.1440	3.6576
3.7 mm	0.1457	3.7000
#26	0.1470	3.7338
#25	0.1495	3.7973
3.8 mm	0.1496	3.8000
#24	0.1520	3.8608
3.9 mm	0.1535	3.9000
#23	0.1540	3.9116
5/32 in	0.1563	3.9688
#22	0.1570	3.9878
4 mm	0.1575	4.0000
#21	0.1590	4.0386
#20	0.1610	4.0894
4.1 mm	0.1614	4.1000
4.2 mm	0.1654	4.2000
#19	0.1660	4.2164
4.3 mm	0.1693	4.3000
#18	0.1695	4.3053
11/64 in	0.1719	4.3656
#17	0.1730	4.3942
4.4 mm	0.1732	4.4000
#16	0.1770	4.4958
4.5 mm	0.1772	4.5000
#15	0.1800	4.5720
4.6 mm	0.1811	4.6000
#14	0.1820	4.6228
#13	0.1850	4.6990
4.7 mm	0.1850	4.7000
3/16 in	0.1875	4.7625
4.8 mm	0.1890	4.8000
#12	0.1890	4.8006
#11	0.1910	4.8514
4.9 mm	0.1929	4.9000
#10	0.1935	4.9149
#9	0.1960	4.9784
5 mm	0.1969	5.0000
#8	0.1990	5.0546
5.1 mm	0.2008	5.1000
#7	0.2010	5.1054
13/64 in	0.2031	5.1594
#6	0.2040	5.1816
5.2 mm	0.2047	5.2000
#5	0.2055	5.2197
5.3 mm	0.2087	5.3000
#4	0.2090	5.3086
5.4 mm	0.2126	5.4000
#3	0.2130	5.4102
5.5 mm	0.2165	5.5000
7/32 in	0.2188	5.5563
5.6 mm	0.2205	5.6000
#2	0.2210	5.6134
5.7 mm	0.2244	5.7000
#1	0.2280	5.7912
5.8 mm	0.2284	5.8000
5.9 mm	0.2323	5.9000
A	0.2340	5.9436
15/64 in	0.2344	5.9531
6 mm	0.2362	6.0000
B	0.2380	6.0452
6.1 mm	0.2402	6.1000
C	0.2420	6.1468
6.2 mm	0.2441	6.2000
D	0.2460	6.2484
6.3 mm	0.2480	6.3000
1/4 in	0.2500	6.3500
E	0.2500	6.3500
6.4 mm	0.2520	6.4000
6.5 mm	0.2559	6.5000
F	0.2570	6.5278
6.6 mm	0.2598	6.6000
G	0.2610	6.6294
6.7 mm	0.2638	6.7000
17/64 in	0.2656	6.7469
H	0.2660	6.7564
6.8 mm	0.2677	6.8000
6.9 mm	0.2717	6.9000
I	0.2720	6.9088
7 mm	0.2756	7.0000
J	0.2770	7.0358
7.1 mm	0.2795	7.1000
K	0.2810	7.1374
9/32 in	0.2813	7.1438
7.2 mm	0.2835	7.2000
7.3 mm	0.2874	7.3000
L	0.2900	7.3660
7.4 mm	0.2913	7.4000
M	0.2950	7.4930
7.5 mm	0.2953	7.5000
19/64 in	0.2969	7.5406
7.6 mm	0.2992	7.6000
N	0.3020	7.6708
7.7 mm	0.3032	7.7000
7.8 mm	0.3071	7.8000
7.9 mm	0.3110	7.9000
5/16 in	0.3125	7.9375
8 mm	0.3150	8.0000
O	0.3160	8.0264
8.1 mm	0.3189	8.1000
8.2 mm	0.3228	8.2000
P	0.3230	8.2042
8.3 mm	0.3268	8.3000
21/64 in	0.3281	8.3344
8.4 mm	0.3307	8.4000
Q	0.3320	8.4328
8.5 mm	0.3347	8.5000
8.6 mm	0.3386	8.6000
R	0.3390	8.6106
8.7 mm	0.3425	8.7000
11/32 in	0.3438	8.7313
8.8 mm	0.3465	8.8000
S	0.3480	8.8392
8.9 mm	0.3504	8.9000
9 mm	0.3543	9.0000
T	0.3580	9.0932
9.1 mm	0.3583	9.1000
23/64 in	0.3594	9.1281
9.2 mm	0.3622	9.2000
9.3 mm	0.3661	9.3000
U	0.3680	9.3472
9.4 mm	0.3701	9.4000
9.5 mm	0.3740	9.5000
3/8 in	0.3750	9.5250
V	0.3770	9.5758
9.6 mm	0.3780	9.6000
9.7 mm	0.3819	9.7000
9.8 mm	0.3858	9.8000
W	0.3860	9.8044
9.9 mm	0.3898	9.9000
25/64 in	0.3906	9.9219
10 mm	0.3937	10.0000
X	0.3970	10.0838
Y	0.4040	10.2616
13/32 in	0.4063	10.3188
Z	0.4130	10.4902
10.5 mm	0.4134	10.5000
27/64 in	0.4219	10.7156
11 mm	0.4331	11.0000
7/16 in	0.4375	11.1125
11.5 mm	0.4528	11.5000
29/64 in	0.4531	11.5094
15/32 in	0.4688	11.9063
12 mm	0.4724	12.0000
31/64 in	0.4844	12.3031
12.5 mm	0.4921	12.5000
1/2 in	0.5000	12.7000
13 mm	0.5118	13.0000
33/64 in	0.5156	13.0969
17/32 in	0.5313	13.4938
13.5 mm	0.5315	13.5000
35/64 in	0.5469	13.8906
14 mm	0.5512	14.0000
9/16 in	0.5625	14.2875
14.5 mm	0.5709	14.5000
37/64 in	0.5781	14.6844
15 mm	0.5906	15.0000
19/32 in	0.5938	15.0813
39/64 in	0.6094	15.4781
15.5 mm	0.6102	15.5000
5/8 in	0.6250	15.8750
16 mm	0.6299	16.0000
41/64 in	0.6406	16.2719
16.5 mm	0.6496	16.5000
17 mm	0.6693	17.0000
43/64 in	0.6719	17.0656
11/16 in	0.6875	17.4625
17.5 mm	0.6890	17.5000
45/64 in	0.7031	17.8594
18 mm	0.7087	18.0000
23/32 in	0.7188	18.2563
18.5 mm	0.7284	18.5000
47/64 in	0.7344	18.6531
19 mm	0.7480	19.0000
3/4 in	0.7500	19.0500
49/64 in	0.7656	19.4469
19.5 mm	0.7677	19.5000
25/32 in	0.7813	19.8438
20 mm	0.7874	20.0000
51/64 in	0.7969	20.2406
20.5 mm	0.8071	20.5000
13/16 in	0.8125	20.6375
21 mm	0.8268	21.0000
53/64 in	0.8281	21.0344
27/32 in	0.8438	21.4313
21.5 mm	0.8465	21.5000
55/64 in	0.8594	21.8281
22 mm	0.8661	22.0000
7/8 in	0.8750	22.2250
22.5 mm	0.8858	22.5000
57/64 in	0.8906	22.6219
23 mm	0.9055	23.0000
29/32 in	0.9063	23.0188
21/23 in	0.9130	23.1913
59/64 in	0.9219	23.4156
23.5 mm	0.9252	23.5000
15/16 in	0.9375	23.8125
24 mm	0.9449	24.0000
61/64 in	0.9531	24.2094
24.5 mm	0.9646	24.5000
31/32 in	0.9688	24.6063
25 mm	0.9843	25.0000
63/64 in	0.9844	25.0031
1 in	1.0000	25.4000
25.5 mm	1.0039	25.5000
1 1/64 in	1.0156	25.7969
26 mm	1.0236	26.0000
1 1/32 in	1.0313	26.1938
26.5 mm	1.0433	26.5000
1 3/64 in	1.0469	26.5906
1 1/16 in	1.0625	26.9875
27 mm	1.0630	27.0000
1 5/64 in	1.0781	27.3844
27.5 mm	1.0827	27.5000
1 3/32 in	1.0938	27.7813
28 mm	1.1024	28.0000
1 7/64 in	1.1094	28.1781
28.5 mm	1.1221	28.5000
1 1/8 in	1.1250	28.5750
1 9/64 in	1.1406	28.9719
29 mm	1.1417	29.0000
1 5/32 in	1.1563	29.3688
29.5 mm	1.1614	29.5000
1 11/64 in	1.1719	29.7656
30 mm	1.1811	30.0000
1 3/16 in	1.1875	30.1625
30.5 mm	1.2008	30.5000
1 13/64 in	1.2031	30.5594
1 7/32 in	1.2188	30.9563
31 mm	1.2205	31.0000
1 15/64 in	1.2344	31.3531
31.5 mm	1.2402	31.5000
1 1/4 in	1.2500	31.7500
32 mm	1.2598	32.0000
1 17/64 in	1.2656	32.1469
32.5 mm	1.2795	32.5000
1 9/32 in	1.2813	32.5438
1 19/64 in	1.2969	32.9406
33 mm	1.2992	33.0000
1 5/16 in	1.3125	33.3375
33.5 mm	1.3189	33.5000
1 21/64 in	1.3281	33.7344
34 mm	1.3386	34.0000
1 11/32 in	1.3438	34.1313
34.5 mm	1.3583	34.5000
1 23/64 in	1.3594	34.5281
1 3/8 in	1.3750	34.9250
35 mm	1.3780	35.0000
1 25/64 in	1.3906	35.3219
35.5 mm	1.3976	35.5000
1 13/32 in	1.4063	35.7188
36 mm	1.4173	36.0000
1 27/64 in	1.4219	36.1156
36.5 mm	1.4370	36.5000
1 7/16 in	1.4375	36.5125
1 29/64 in	1.4531	36.9094
37 mm	1.4567	37.0000
1 15/32 in	1.4688	37.3063
37.5 mm	1.4764	37.5000
1 31/64 in	1.4844	37.7031
38 mm	1.4961	38.0000
1 1/2 in	1.5000	38.1000

Tap Size Chart

The tap size chart provides a list of standard size taps, specifying the diameter and thread spacing, for fractional, metric, and screw sizes. The decimal equivalents of the diameters are shown in both English and Metric units. Fractional sizes are listed in inches, while metric sizes are listed in millimeters following the letter "M". A screw size number corresponds to a diameter which is larger for a higher screw size. The thread spacing, which may be coarse or fine, is listed after the diameter. In the fractional and screw size systems, the thread count is used, measured in threads per inch. The metric system uses the thread pitch, which is the distance between threads, measured in millimeters. For each thread count, the equivalent thread pitch is provided and for metric taps, the approximate thread count is shown based on the pitch. Lastly, the recommended tap drill size is provided for each standard tap size. This size drill bit should be used for drilling the initial hole that will then be tapped.
 

Tap size	Diameter (in)	Diameter (mm)	Thread count (TPI)	Thread pitch (mm)	Tap drill size
#0000-160	0.0210	0.5334	160	0.159	1/64 in
#000-120	0.0340	0.8636	120	0.212	#71
M1x0.2	0.0394	1.0000	~127	0.200	0.8 mm
M1x0.25	0.0394	1.0000	~102	0.250	0.75 mm
M1.1x0.25	0.0433	1.1000	~102	0.250	0.85 mm
M1.1x0.2	0.0433	1.1000	~127	0.200	0.9 mm
#00-90	0.0470	1.1938	90	0.282	#65
M1.2x0.2	0.0472	1.2000	~127	0.200	1 mm
M1.2x0.25	0.0472	1.2000	~102	0.250	0.95 mm
M1.4x0.2	0.0551	1.4000	~127	0.200	1.2 mm
M1.4x0.3	0.0551	1.4000	~85	0.300	1.1 mm
#0-80	0.0600	1.5240	80	0.318	3/64 in
M1.6x0.2	0.0630	1.6000	~127	0.200	1.4 mm
M1.6x0.35	0.0630	1.6000	~73	0.350	1.25 mm
M1.8x0.2	0.0709	1.8000	~127	0.200	1.6 mm
M1.8x0.35	0.0709	1.8000	~73	0.350	1.45 mm
#1-64	0.0730	1.8542	64	0.397	#52
#1-72	0.0730	1.8542	72	0.353	#53
M2x0.25	0.0787	2.0000	~102	0.250	1.75 mm
M2x0.4	0.0787	2.0000	~64	0.400	1.6 mm
#2-56	0.0860	2.1844	56	0.454	#50
#2-64	0.0860	2.1844	64	0.397	#50
M2.2x0.25	0.0866	2.2000	~102	0.250	1.95 mm
M2.2x0.45	0.0866	2.2000	~57	0.450	1.75 mm
M2.5x0.35	0.0984	2.5000	~73	0.350	2.1 mm
M2.5x0.45	0.0984	2.5000	~57	0.450	2.05 mm
#3-48	0.0990	2.5146	48	0.529	#47
#3-56	0.0990	2.5146	56	0.454	#45
#4-40	0.1120	2.8448	40	0.635	#43
#4-48	0.1120	2.8448	48	0.529	#42
M3x0.35	0.1181	3.0000	~73	0.350	2.6 mm
M3x0.5	0.1181	3.0000	~51	0.500	2.5 mm
#5-40	0.1250	3.1750	40	0.635	#39
#5-44	0.1250	3.1750	44	0.577	#37
M3.5x0.35	0.1378	3.5000	~73	0.350	3.1 mm
M3.5x0.6	0.1378	3.5000	~43	0.600	2.9 mm
#6-32	0.1380	3.5052	32	0.794	#36
#6-40	0.1380	3.5052	40	0.635	#33
M4x0.35	0.1575	4.0000	~73	0.350	3.6 mm
M4x0.5	0.1575	4.0000	~51	0.500	3.5 mm
M4x0.7	0.1575	4.0000	~37	0.700	3.3 mm
#8-32	0.1640	4.1656	32	0.794	#29
#8-36	0.1640	4.1656	36	0.706	#29
M4.5x0.5	0.1772	4.5000	~51	0.500	4 mm
M4.5x0.75	0.1772	4.5000	~34	0.750	3.8 mm
#10-32	0.1900	4.8260	32	0.794	#21
#10-24	0.1900	4.8260	24	1.058	#25
M5x0.5	0.1969	5.0000	~51	0.500	4.5 mm
M5x0.8	0.1969	5.0000	~32	0.800	4.2 mm
#12-24	0.2160	5.4864	24	1.058	#17
#12-28	0.2160	5.4864	28	0.907	#15
M5.5x0.5	0.2165	5.5000	~51	0.500	5 mm
M6x0.5	0.2362	6.0000	~51	0.500	5.5 mm
M6x0.75	0.2362	6.0000	~34	0.750	5.2 mm
M6x1	0.2362	6.0000	~26	1.000	5 mm
1/4-20	0.2500	6.3500	20	1.270	#7
1/4-28	0.2500	6.3500	28	0.907	#3
M7x0.75	0.2756	7.0000	~34	0.750	6.2 mm
M7x1	0.2756	7.0000	~26	1.000	6 mm
5/16-18	0.3125	7.9375	18	1.411	F
5/16-24	0.3125	7.9375	24	1.058	I
M8x0.5	0.3150	8.0000	~51	0.500	7.5 mm
M8x0.75	0.3150	8.0000	~34	0.750	7.2 mm
M8x1	0.3150	8.0000	~26	1.000	7 mm
M8x1.25	0.3150	8.0000	~21	1.250	6.8 mm
M9x0.75	0.3543	9.0000	~34	0.750	8.2 mm
M9x1	0.3543	9.0000	~26	1.000	8 mm
M9x1.25	0.3543	9.0000	~21	1.250	7.8 mm
3/8-24	0.3750	9.5250	24	1.058	Q
3/8-16	0.3750	9.5250	16	1.588	5/16 in
M10x0.75	0.3937	10.0000	~34	0.750	9.2 mm
M10x1.5	0.3937	10.0000	~17	1.500	8.5 mm
M10x1.25	0.3937	10.0000	~21	1.250	8.8 mm
M10x1	0.3937	10.0000	~26	1.000	9 mm
M11x0.75	0.4331	11.0000	~34	0.750	10.2 mm
M11x1	0.4331	11.0000	~26	1.000	10 mm
M11x1.5	0.4331	11.0000	~17	1.500	9.5 mm
7/16-14	0.4375	11.1125	14	1.814	U
7/16-20	0.4375	11.1125	20	1.270	25/64 in
M12x1.5	0.4724	12.0000	~17	1.500	10.5 mm
M12x1.75	0.4724	12.0000	~15	1.750	10.2 mm
M12x0.75	0.4724	12.0000	~34	0.750	11.25 mm
M12x1	0.4724	12.0000	~26	1.000	11 mm
M12x1.25	0.4724	12.0000	~21	1.250	10.8 mm
1/2-20	0.5000	12.7000	20	1.270	29/64 in
1/2-13	0.5000	12.7000	13	1.954	27/64 in
M14x1.5	0.5512	14.0000	~17	1.500	12.5 mm
M14x1.25	0.5512	14.0000	~21	1.250	12.8 mm
M14x1	0.5512	14.0000	~26	1.000	13 mm
M14x2	0.5512	14.0000	~13	2.000	12 mm
9/16-18	0.5625	14.2875	18	1.411	33/64 in
9/16-12	0.5625	14.2875	12	2.117	31/64 in
M15x1	0.5906	15.0000	~26	1.000	14 mm
M15x1.5	0.5906	15.0000	~17	1.500	13.5 mm
5/8-18	0.6250	15.8750	18	1.411	37/64 in
5/8-11	0.6250	15.8750	11	2.309	17/32 in
M16x2	0.6299	16.0000	~13	2.000	14 mm
M16x1.5	0.6299	16.0000	~17	1.500	14.5 mm
M16x1	0.6299	16.0000	~26	1.000	15 mm
M17x1	0.6693	17.0000	~26	1.000	16 mm
M17x1.5	0.6693	17.0000	~17	1.500	15.5 mm
M18x2.5	0.7087	18.0000	~11	2.500	15.5 mm
M18x1	0.7087	18.0000	~26	1.000	17 mm
M18x1.5	0.7087	18.0000	~17	1.500	16.5 mm
M18x2	0.7087	18.0000	~13	2.000	16 mm
3/4-16	0.7500	19.0500	16	1.588	11/16 in
3/4-10	0.7500	19.0500	10	2.540	21/32 in
M20x2	0.7874	20.0000	~13	2.000	18 mm
M20x1.5	0.7874	20.0000	~17	1.500	18.5 mm
M20x1	0.7874	20.0000	~26	1.000	19 mm
M20x2.5	0.7874	20.0000	~11	2.500	17.5 mm
M22x2	0.8661	22.0000	~13	2.000	20 mm
M22x1.5	0.8661	22.0000	~17	1.500	20.5 mm
M22x1	0.8661	22.0000	~26	1.000	21 mm
M22x2.5	0.8661	22.0000	~11	2.500	19.5 mm
7/8-9	0.8750	22.2250	9	2.822	49/64 in
7/8-14	0.8750	22.2250	14	1.814	13/16 in
M24x3	0.9449	24.0000	~9	3.000	21 mm
M24x1	0.9449	24.0000	~26	1.000	23 mm
M24x1.5	0.9449	24.0000	~17	1.500	22.5 mm
M24x2	0.9449	24.0000	~13	2.000	22 mm
M25x2	0.9843	25.0000	~13	2.000	23 mm
M25x1	0.9843	25.0000	~26	1.000	24 mm
M25x1.5	0.9843	25.0000	~17	1.500	23.5 mm
1-14	1.0000	25.4000	14	1.814	15/16 in
1-8	1.0000	25.4000	8	3.175	7/8 in
M26x1.5	1.0236	26.0000	~17	1.500	24.5 mm
M27x1.5	1.0630	27.0000	~17	1.500	25.5 mm
M27x3	1.0630	27.0000	~9	3.000	24 mm
M27x1	1.0630	27.0000	~26	1.000	26 mm
M27x2	1.0630	27.0000	~13	2.000	25 mm
M28x2	1.1024	28.0000	~13	2.000	26 mm
M28x1	1.1024	28.0000	~26	1.000	27 mm
M28x1.5	1.1024	28.0000	~17	1.500	26.5 mm
1 1/8-12	1.1250	28.5750	12	2.117	1 3/64 in
1 1/8-7	1.1250	28.5750	7	3.629	63/64 in
M30x1.5	1.1811	30.0000	~17	1.500	28.5 mm
M30x3.5	1.1811	30.0000	~8	3.500	26.5 mm
M30x2	1.1811	30.0000	~13	2.000	28 mm
1 1/4-12	1.2500	31.7500	12	2.117	1 11/64 in
1 1/4-7	1.2500	31.7500	7	3.629	1 7/64 in
M33x2	1.2992	33.0000	~13	2.000	31 mm
M33x3.5	1.2992	33.0000	~8	3.500	29.5 mm
M36x3	1.4173	36.0000	~9	3.000	33 mm
M36x4	1.4173	36.0000	~7	4.000	32 mm
1 1/2 -12	1.5000	38.1000	12	2.117	1 27/64 in
1 1/2-6	1.5000	38.1000	6	4.233	1 11/32 in
M39x4	1.5354	39.0000	~7	4.000	35 mm
M39x3	1.5354	39.0000	~9	3.000	36 mm
M42x4.5	1.6535	42.0000	~6	4.500	37.5 mm
1 3/4-12	1.7500	44.4500	12	2.117	1 43/64 in
1 3/4-5	1.7500	44.4500	5	5.080	1 35/64 in
M45x4.5	1.7717	45.0000	~6	4.500	40.5 mm
M48x5	1.8898	48.0000	~6	5.000	43 mm
2-12	2.0000	50.8000	12	2.117	1 59/64 in
2-4 1/2	2.0000	50.8000	4.5	5.644	1 25/32 in
M52x5	2.0472	52.0000	~6	5.000	47 mm
M56x5.5	2.2047	56.0000	~5	5.500	50.5 mm
M60x5.5	2.3622	60.0000	~5	5.500	54.5 mm
M64x6	2.5197	64.0000	~5	6.000	58 mm
M68x6	2.6772	68.0000	~5	6.000	62 mm

Stretch Forming

Stretch forming is a metal forming process in which a piece of sheet metal is stretched and bent simultaneously over a die in order to form large contoured parts. Stretch forming is performed on a stretch press, in which a piece of sheet metal is securely gripped along its edges by gripping jaws. The gripping jaws are each attached to a carriage that is pulled by pneumatic or hydraulic force to stretch the sheet. The tooling used in this process is a stretch form block, called a form die, which is a solid contoured piece against which the sheet metal will be pressed. The most common stretch presses are oriented vertically, in which the form die rests on a press table that can be raised into the sheet by a hydraulic ram. As the form die is driven into the sheet, which is gripped tightly at its edges, the tensile forces increase and the sheet plastically deforms into a new shape. Horizontal stretch presses mount the form die sideways on a stationary press table, while the gripping jaws pull the sheet horizontally around the form die.

 
Stretch Forming

Stretch formed parts are typically large and possess large radius bends. The shapes that can be produced vary from a simple curved surface to complex non-uniform cross sections. Stretch forming is capable of shaping parts with very high accuracy and smooth surfaces. Ductile materials are preferable, the most commonly used being aluminum, steel, and titanium. Typical stretch formed parts are large curved panels such as door panels in cars or wing panels on aircraft. Other stretch formed parts can be found in window frames and enclosures.

Deep Drawing

Deep drawing is a metal forming process in which sheet metal is stretched into the desired part shape. A tool pushes downward on the sheet metal, forcing it into a die cavity in the shape of the desired part. The tensile forces applied to the sheet cause it to plastically deform into a cup-shaped part. Deep drawn parts are characterized by a depth equal to more than half of the diameter of the part. These parts can have a variety of cross sections with straight, tapered, or even curved walls, but cylindrical or rectangular parts are most common. Deep drawing is most effective with ductile metals, such as aluminum, brass, copper, and mild steel. Examples of parts formed with deep drawing include automotive bodies and fuel tanks, cans, cups, kitchen sinks, and pots and pans.

The deep drawing process requires a blank, blank holder, punch, and die. The blank is a piece of sheet metal, typically a disc or rectangle, which is pre-cut from stock material and will be formed into the part. The blank is clamped down by the blank holder over the die, which has a cavity in the external shape of the part. A tool called a punch moves downward into the blank and draws, or stretches, the material into the die cavity. The movement of the punch is usually hydraulically powered to apply enough force to the blank. Both the die and punch experience wear from the forces applied to the sheet metal and are therefore made from tool steel or carbon steel. The process of drawing the part sometimes occurs in a series of operations, called draw reductions. In each step, a punch forces the part into a different die, stretching the part to a greater depth each time. After a part is completely drawn, the punch and blank holder can be raised and the part removed from the die. The portion of the sheet metal that was clamped under the blank holder may form a flange around the part that can be trimmed off.

 
Deep Drawing

 
Deep Drawing Sequence

Spinning

Spinning, sometimes called spin forming, is a metal forming process used to form cylindrical parts by rotating a piece of sheet metal while forces are applied to one side. A sheet metal disc is rotated at high speeds while rollers press the sheet against a tool, called a mandrel, to form the shape of the desired part. Spun metal parts have a rotationally symmetric, hollow shape, such as a cylinder, cone, or hemisphere. Examples include cookware, hubcaps, satellite dishes, rocket nose cones, and musical instruments.

Spinning is typically performed on a manual or CNC lathe and requires a blank, mandrel, and roller tool. The blank is the disc-shaped piece of sheet metal that is pre-cut from sheet stock and will be formed into the part. The mandrel is a solid form of the internal shape of the part, against which the blank will be pressed. For more complex parts, such as those with reentrant surfaces, multi-piece mandrels can be used. Because the mandrel does not experience much wear in this process, it can be made from wood or plastic. However, high volume production typically utilizes a metal mandrel. The mandrel and blank are clamped together and secured between the headstock and tailstock of the lathe to be rotated at high speeds by the spindle. While the blank and mandrel rotate, force is applied to the sheet by a tool, causing the sheet to bend and form around the mandrel. The tool may make several passes to complete the shaping of the sheet. This tool is usually a roller wheel attached to a lever. Rollers are available in different diameters and thicknesses and are usually made from steel or brass. The rollers are inexpensive and experience little wear allowing for low volume production of parts.

 
Spinning Lathe

There are two distinct spinning methods, referred to as conventional spinning and shear spinning. In conventional spinning, the roller tool pushes against the blank until it conforms to the contour of the mandrel. The resulting spun part will have a diameter smaller than the blank, but will maintain a constant thickness. In shear spinning, the roller not only bends the blank against the mandrel, it also applies a downward force while it moves, stretching the material over the mandrel. By doing so, the outer diameter of the spun part will remain equal to the original blank diameter, but the thickness of the part walls will be thinner.

 
Conventional Spinning vs. Shear Spinning

Roll forming

sRoll forming, sometimes spelled rollforming, is a metal forming process in which sheet metal is progressively shaped through a series of bending operations. The process is performed on a roll forming line in which the sheet metal stock is fed through a series of roll stations. Each station has a roller, referred to as a roller die, positioned on both sides of the sheet. The shape and size of the roller die may be unique to that station, or several identical roller dies may be used in different positions. The roller dies may be above and below the sheet, along the sides, at an angle, etc. As the sheet is forced through the roller dies in each roll station, it plastically deforms and bends. Each roll station performs one stage in the complete bending of the sheet to form the desired part. The roller dies are lubricated to reduce friction between the die and the sheet, thus reducing the tool wear. Also, lubricant can allow for a higher production rate, which will also depend on the material thickness, number of roll stations, and radius of each bend. The roll forming line can also include other sheet metal fabrication operations before or after the roll forming, such as punching or shearing.

 
Roll Forming Line

The roll forming process can be used to form a sheet into a wide variety of cross-section profiles. An open profile is most common, but a closed tube-like shape can be created as well. Because the final form is achieved through a series of bends, the part does not require a uniform or symmetric cross-section along its length. Roll forming is used to create very long sheet metal parts with typical widths of 1-20 inches and thicknesses of 0.004-0.125 inches. However wider and thicker sheets can be formed, some up to 5 ft. wide and 0.25 inches thick. The roll forming process is capable of producing parts with tolerances as tight as ±0.005 inches. Typical roll formed parts include panels, tracks, shelving, etc. These parts are commonly used in industrial and commercial buildings for roofing, lighting, storage units, and HVAC applications.

Bending

Bending is a metal forming process in which a force is applied to a piece of sheet metal, causing it to bend at an angle and form the desired shape. A bending operation causes deformation along one axis, but a sequence of several different operations can be performed to create a complex part. Bent parts can be quite small, such as a bracket, or up to 20 feet in length, such as a large enclosure or chassis. A bend can be characterized by several different parameters, shown in the image below.

 
Bending Diagram

• Bend line - The straight line on the surface of the sheet, on either side of the bend, that defines the end of the level flange and the start of the bend.
• Outside mold line - The straight line where the outside surfaces of the two flanges would meet, were they to continue. This line defines the edge of a mold that would bound the bent sheet metal.
• Flange length - The length of either of the two flanges, extending from the edge of the sheet to the bend line.
• Mold line distance - The distance from either end of the sheet to the outside mold line.
• Setback - The distance from either bend line to the outside mold line. Also equal to the difference between the mold line distance and the flange length.
• Bend axis - The straight line that defines the center around which the sheet metal is bent.
• Bend length - The length of the bend, measured along the bend axis.
• Bend radius - The distance from the bend axis to the inside surface of the material, between the bend lines. Sometimes specified as the inside bend radius. The outside bend radius is equal to the inside bend radius plus the sheet thickness.
• Bend angle - The angle of the bend, measured between the bent flange and its original position, or as the included angle between perpendicular lines drawn from the bend lines.
• Bevel angle - The complimentary angle to the bend angle.

The act of bending results in both tension and compression in the sheet metal. The outside portion of the sheet will undergo tension and stretch to a greater length, while the inside portion experiences compression and shortens. The neutral axis is the boundary line inside the sheet metal, along which no tension or compression forces are present. As a result, the length of this axis remains constant. The changes in length to the outside and inside surfaces can be related to the original flat length by two parameters, the bend allowance and bend deduction, which are defined below.

 
Neutral Axis

• Neutral axis - The location in the sheet that is neither stretched nor compressed, and therefore remains at a constant length.
• K-factor - The location of the neutral axis in the material, calculated as the ratio of the distance of the neutral axis (measured from the inside bend surface) to the material thickness. The K-factor is dependent upon several factors (material, bending operation, bend angle, etc.) and is typically greater than 0.25, but cannot exceed 0.50.
• Bend allowance - The length of the neutral axis between the bend lines, or in other words, the arc length of the bend. The bend allowance added to the flange lengths is equal to the total flat length.
• Bend deduction - Also called the bend compensation, the amount a piece of material has been stretched by bending. The value equals the difference between the mold line lengths and the total flat length.

When bending a piece of sheet metal, the residual stresses in the material will cause the sheet to springback slightly after the bending operation. Due to this elastic recovery, it is necessary to over-bend the sheet a precise amount to achieve the desired bend radius and bend angle. The final bend radius will be greater than initially formed and the final bend angle will be smaller. The ratio of the final bend angle to the initial bend angle is defined as the springback factor, K_S. The amount of springback depends upon several factors, including the material, bending operation, and the initial bend angle and bend radius.

 
Springback

Bending is typically performed on a machine called a press brake, which can be manually or automatically operated. For this reason, the bending process is sometimes referred to as press brake forming. Press brakes are available in a range of sizes (commonly 20-200 tons) in order to best suit the given application. A press brake contains an upper tool called the punch and a lower tool called the die, between which the sheet metal is located. The sheet is carefully positioned over the die and held in place by the back gauge while the punch lowers and forces the sheet to bend. In an automatic machine, the punch is forced into the sheet under the power of a hydraulic ram. The bend angle achieved is determined by the depth to which the punch forces the sheet into the die. This depth is precisely controlled to achieve the desired bend. Standard tooling is often used for the punch and die, allowing a low initial cost and suitability for low volume production. Custom tooling can be used for specialized bending operations but will add to the cost. The tooling material is chosen based upon the production quantity, sheet metal material, and degree of bending. Naturally, a stronger tool is required to endure larger quantities, harder sheet metal, and severe bending operations. In order of increasing strength, some common tooling materials include hardwood, low carbon steel, tool steel, and carbide steel.

 
Press Brake (Open)

 
Press Brake (Closed)

While using a press brake and standard die sets, there are still a variety of techniques that can be used to bend the sheet. The most common method is known as V-bending, in which the punch and die are "V" shaped. The punch pushes the sheet into the "V" shaped groove in the V-die, causing it to bend. If the punch does not force the sheet to the bottom of the die cavity, leaving space or air underneath, it is called "air bending". As a result, the V-groove must have a sharper angle than the angle being formed in the sheet. If the punch forces the sheet to the bottom of the die cavity, it is called "bottoming". This technique allows for more control over the angle because there is less springback. However, a higher tonnage press is required. In both techniques, the width of the "V" shaped groove, or die opening, is typically 6 to 18 times the sheet thickness. This value is referred to as the die ratio and is equal to the die opening divided by the sheet thickness.

 
V Bending

In addition to V-bending, another common bending method is wipe bending, sometimes called edge bending. Wipe bending requires the sheet to be held against the wipe die by a pressure pad. The punch then presses against the edge of the sheet that extends beyond the die and pad. The sheet will bend against the radius of the edge of the wipe die.

 
Wipe Bending

Design rules

• Bend location - A bend should be located where enough material is present, and preferably with straight edges, for the sheet to be secured without slipping. The width of this flange should be equal to at least 4 times the sheet thickness plus the bend radius.
• Bend radius
• Use a single bend radius for all bends to eliminate additional tooling or setups
• Inside bend radius should equal at least the sheet thickness
• Bend direction - Bending hard metals parallel to the rolling direction of the sheet may lead to fracture. Bending perpendicular to the rolling direction is recommended.
• Any features, such as holes or slots, located too close to a bend may be distorted. The distance of such features from the bend should be equal to at least 3 times the sheet thickness plus the bending radius.
• In the case of manual bending, if the design allows, a slot can be cut along the bend line to reduce the manual force required.

Sheet Metal Forming

Sheet metal forming processes are those in which force is applied to a piece of sheet metal to modify its geometry rather than remove any material. The applied force stresses the metal beyond its yield strength, causing the material to plastically deform, but not to fail. By doing so, the sheet can be bent or stretched into a variety of complex shapes. Sheet metal forming processes include the following:

• Bending
• Roll forming
• Spinning
• Deep Drawing
• Stretch forming

Water jet cutting

Water jet cutting uses a high velocity stream of water to cut through sheet metal. The water typically contains abrasive particles to wear the material and travels in a narrow jet at high speeds, around 2000 ft/sec. As a result, the water jet applies very high pressure (around 60,000 psi) to the material at the cut location and quickly erodes the material. The position of the water jet is typically computer controlled to follow the desired cutting path.

Water jet cutting can be used to cut nearly any 2D shape out of sheet metal. The width of the cuts is typically between 0.002 and 0.06 inches and the edges are of good quality. Because no burrs are formed, secondary finishing is usually not required. Also, by not using heat to melt the material, like laser and plasma cutting, heat distortion is not a concern.

Plasma cutting

Plasma cutting uses a focused stream of ionized gas, or plasma, to cut through sheet metal. The plasma flows at extremely high temperatures and high velocity and is directed toward the cutting location by a nozzle. When the plasma contacts the surface below, the metal melts into a molten state. The molten metal is then blown away from the cut by the flow of ionized gas from the nozzle. The position of the plasma stream relative to the sheet is precisely controlled to follow the desired cutting path.

Plasma cutting is performed with a plasma torch that may be hand held or, more commonly, computer controlled. CNC (computer numerically controlled) plasma cutting machines enable complex and precision cuts to made. In either type of plasma torch, the flow of plasma is created by first blowing an inert gas at high speed though a nozzle pointed at the cutting surface. An electrical arc, formed through the flow of gas, ionizes the gas into plasma. The nozzle then focuses the flow of plasma onto the cut location. As with laser cutting, this process does not require any physical tooling which reduces initial costs and allows for cost effective low volume production.

The capabilities of plasma cutting vary slightly from laser cutting. While both processes are able to cut nearly any 2D shape out of sheet metal, plasma cutting cannot achieve the same level of precision and finish. Edges may be rough, especially with thicker sheets, and the surface of the material will have an oxide layer that can be removed with secondary processes. However, plasma cutting is capable of cutting through far thicker sheets than laser cutting and is often used for workpieces beyond sheet metal.

Laser beam cutting

Laser cutting uses a high powered laser to cut through sheet metal. A series of mirrors and lenses direct and focus a high-energy beam of light onto the surface of the sheet where it is to be cut. When the beam strikes the surface, the energy of the beam melts and vaporizes the metal underneath. Any remaining molten metal or vapor is blown away from the cut by a stream of gas. The position of the laser beam relative to the sheet is precisely controlled to allow the laser to follow the desired cutting path.

This process is carried out on laser cutting machines that consist of a power supply, laser system, mirrors, focusing lens, nozzle, pressurized gas, and a workpiece table. The laser most commonly used for sheet metal cutting is a CO2 based laser with approximately 1000-2000 watts of power. However, Nd and Nd-YAG lasers are sometimes used for very high power applications. The laser beam is directed by a series of mirrors and through the "cutting head" which contains a lens and nozzle to focus the beam onto the cutting location. The beam diameter at the cutting surface is typically around 0.008 inches. In some machines, the cutting head is able to move in the X-Y plane over the workpiece which is clamped to a stationary table below. In other laser cutting machines, the cutting head remains stationary, while the table moves underneath it. Both systems allow the laser beam to cut out any 2D shape in the workpiece. As mentioned above, pressurized gas is also used in the process to blow away the molten metal and vapor as the cut is formed. This assist gas, typically oxygen or nitrogen, feeds into the cutting head and is blown out the same nozzle as the laser beam.

Laser cutting can be preformed on sheet metals that are both ferrous and non-ferrous. Materials with low reflectivity and conductivity allow the laser beam to be most effective - carbon steel, stainless steel, and titanium are most common. Metals that reflect light and conduct heat, such as aluminum and copper alloys, can still be cut but require a higher power laser. Laser cutting can also be used beyond sheet metal applications, to cut plastics, ceramics, stone, wood, etc.

As previously mentioned, laser cutting can be used to cut nearly any 2D shape. However, the most common use is cutting an external profile or complex features. Simple internal features, such as holes or slots are usually punched out using other sheet metal processes. But highly complex shapes and outer part boundaries are well suited for laser cutting. The fact that laser cutting does not require any physical contact with the material offers many benefits to the quality of the cuts. First, minimal burrs are formed, creating a smooth edge that may not require any finishing. Secondly, no tool contact means only minimal distortion of the sheet will occur. Also, only a small amount of heat distortion is present in the narrow zone affected by the laser beam. Lastly, no contaminates will be embedded into the material during cutting. Although not a quality issue, it is worth noting that the lack of physical tool wear will reduce costs and make laser cutting cost effective for low volume production.

Capabilities

• Sheet thickness: 0.02-0.50 in.
• Cutting speed: 30-500 IPM (1000 IPM feasible)
• Kerf width: 0.006-0.016 in. (0.004 in. feasible)
• Tolerance: ±0.005 in. (±0.001 in. feasible)
• Surface finish: 125-250 μin

Design rules

• Edges - Burrs are minimal, but can be further reduced by using a thinner sheet stock.
• Corners - Rounded corners are preferred to sharp corners. Interior corners must have a minimum radius equal to the laser beam radius.
• Holes - Minimum hole diameter should be approximately 20% of sheet thickness, down to 0.010 inches. Laser-cut holes will have a slight natural taper.
• Multiple sheets can be cut at once to reduce cost

Sheet Metal Cutting

Cutting processes are those in which a piece of sheet metal is separated by applying a great enough force to caused the material to fail. The cut being formed may follow an open path to separate a portion of material or a closed path to cutout and remove that material. The geometric possibilities for a cutting process depend on the technology used, but most are capable of cutting out any 2D shape. Some of the most common sheet metal cutting processes use shearing forces to separate the material. A description of those processes can be found in the previous section. In this section, cutting processes that use other forces, such thermal energy or abrasion, will be discussed. Some common methods of sheet metal cutting that use such forces include the following:

• Laser beam cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Water jet cutting

Sheet Metal Cutting (Shearing)

Cutting processes are those in which a piece of sheet metal is separated by applying a great enough force to caused the material to fail. The most common cutting processes are performed by applying a shearing force, and are therefore sometimes referred to as shearing processes. When a great enough shearing force is applied, the shear stress in the material will exceed the ultimate shear strength and the material will fail and separate at the cut location. This shearing force is applied by two tools, one above and one below the sheet. Whether these tools are a punch and die or upper and lower blades, the tool above the sheet delivers a quick downward blow to the sheet metal that rests over the lower tool. A small clearance is present between the edges of the upper and lower tools, which facilitates the fracture of the material. The size of this clearance is typically 2-10% of the material thickness and depends upon several factors, such as the specific shearing process, material, and sheet thickness.

The effects of shearing on the material change as the cut progresses and are visible on the edge of the sheared material. When the punch or blade impacts the sheet, the clearance between the tools allows the sheet to plastically deform and "rollover" the edge. As the tool penetrates the sheet further, the shearing results in a vertical burnished zone of material. Finally, the shear stress is too great and the material fractures at an angle with a small burr formed at the edge. The height of each of these portions of the cut depends on several factors, including the sharpness of the tools and the clearance between the tools.

 
Sheared edge

A variety of cutting processes that utilize shearing forces exist to separate or remove material from a piece of sheet stock in different ways. Each process is capable of forming a specific type of cut, some with an open path to separate a portion of material and some with a closed path to cutout and remove that material. By using many of these processes together, sheet metal parts can be fabricated with cutouts and profiles of any 2D geometry. Such cutting processes include the following:

• Shearing - Separating material into two parts
• Blanking - Removing material to use for parts
• Conventional blanking
• Fine blanking
• Punching - Removing material as scrap
• Piercing
• Slotting
• Perforating
• Notching
• Nibbling
• Lancing
• Slitting
• Parting
• Cutoff
• Trimming
• Shaving
• Dinking

Punching

Punching is a cutting process in which material is removed from a piece of sheet metal by applying a great enough shearing force. Punching is very similar to blanking except that the removed material, called the slug, is scrap and leaves behind the desired internal feature in the sheet, such as a hole or slot. Punching can be used to produce holes and cutouts of various shapes and sizes. The most common punched holes are simple geometric shapes (circle, square, rectangle, etc.) or combinations thereof. The edges of these punched features will have some burrs from being sheared but are of fairly good quality. Secondary finishing operations are typically performed to attain smoother edges.

The punching process requires a punch press, sheet metal stock, punch, and die. The sheet metal stock is positioned between the punch and die inside the punch press. The die, located underneath the sheet, has a cutout in the shape of the desired feature. Above the sheet, the press holds the punch, which is a tool in the shape of the desired feature. Punches and dies of standard shapes are typically used, but custom tooling can be made for punching complex shapes. This tooling, whether standard or custom, is usually made from tool steel or carbide. The punch press drives the punch downward at high speed through the sheet and into the die below. There is a small clearance between the edge of the punch and the die, causing the material to quickly bend and fracture. The slug that is punched out of the sheet falls freely through the tapered opening in the die. This process can be performed on a manual punch press, but today computer numerical controlled (CNC) punch presses are most common. A CNC punch press can be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically powered and deliver around 600 punches per minute. Also, many CNC punch presses utilize a turret that can hold up to 100 different punches which are rotated into position when needed.

 
Punching

A typical punching operation is one in which a cylindrical punch tool pierces the sheet metal, forming a single hole. However, a variety of operations are possible to form different features. These operations include the following:

Piercing - The typical punching operation, in which a cylindrical punch pierces a hole into the sheet.
Slotting - A punching operation that forms rectangular holes in the sheet. Sometimes described as piercing despite the different shape.
Perforating - Punching a close arrangement of a large number of holes in a single operation.
Notching - Punching the edge of a sheet, forming a notch in the shape of a portion of the punch.
Nibbling - Punching a series of small overlapping slits or holes along a path to cutout a larger contoured shape. This eliminates the need for a custom punch and die but will require secondary operations to improve the accuracy and finish of the feature.
Lancing - Creating a partial cut in the sheet, so that no material is removed. The material is left attached to be bent and form a shape, such as a tab, vent, or louver.
Slitting - Cutting straight lines in the sheet. No scrap material is produced.
Parting - Separating a part from the remaining sheet, by punching away the material between parts.
Cutoff - Separating a part from the remaining sheet, without producing any scrap. The punch will produce a cut line that may be straight, angled, or curved.
Trimming - Punching away excess material from the perimeter of a part, such as trimming the flange from a drawn cup.
Shaving - Shearing away minimal material from the edges of a feature or part, using a small die clearance. Used to improve accuracy or finish. Tolerances of ±0.001 inches are possible.
Dinking - A specialized form of piercing used for punching soft metals. A hollow punch, called a dinking die, with beveled, sharpened edges presses the sheet into a block of wood or soft metal.