Bar stock is raw purified metal used in many manufacturing products. It comes in many shapes and sizes and is most effectively cut by a laser machine. Shapes tend to be round, rectangular or square, but can also be hexagonal. The metal is rolled into a bar and typically takes the form of long rods or strips. Here are important facts to know about laser cut bar stock.
Purpose of Bar Stock
The main purpose of bar stock is to have material ready in a supply chain for manufacturing for specific applications. Many times the finished product looks nothing like how the bar stock was originally shaped. An important note: while tubing and piping appear to be similar manufacturing materials, they are not considered bar stock due to their hollow centers.
These long bars must be stored safely to avoid worker injury since they present a variety of safety hazards. Standing up long bars on a wall or stacking them in a pile on the floor, for example, can lead to accidents that could’ve been easily prevented. For this reason it’s safer to cut long bars into shorter pieces.
Fabrication shops and warehouses often store various standardized lengths and thicknesses of laser cut bar stock for future use. Due to storage limitations many fabrication shops rely on third party suppliers for unconventional bar sizes. They then order these bars from the supplier, which can delay delivery time and project deadlines if the nonstandard bar is not readily available. Nonstandard bars are typically more expensive than standard bars, which causes many machine shops to settle for working with standard sizes.
The types of metal used for bar stocks include the following:
- stainless steel
- alloy steel
- tool steel
- galvanized steel
- aluminum
- brass
- copper
Steel round bars are used for various products such as frameworks, axels, supports and braces. Aluminum round bars are common because they resist corrosion and provide strength, despite being light weight. They are used to made supports, braces and dowels.
Manufacturing with Bar Stock
Because bar stock is a raw material, it’s frequently used in conjunction with CNC million machines in order to produce custom parts. Using the proper machine is essential to productivity, in which large production orders can be fulfilled quickly. Here at Serra Laser, we offer both 3-D laser cutting and 2-D laser cutting, along with tube cutting, reverse engineering, and a host of other attendant services. Our well-stocked manufacturing facility can fulfill any order in a timely fashion, with an attention to detail that you can’t get anywhere else.
Conclusion
Utilizing bar stock is a standard in many manufacturing businesses. It’s important to know the different types of metals and sizes used for your parts and building materials in order to get the best outcome. Contact us at Serra Laser & Waterjet to learn more about the benefits of laser cut bar stock.