How to Specify a Custom Steel Profile
What a profile mill actually needs from your drawing, and what happens if one of those items is missing.
Start with the cross section
Send the section as a CAD or SolidWorks drawing. A sketch with two dimensions and a note saying to suit is the most common cause of a sample loop being wasted.
Say which tolerance is functional
Not every dimension on a section needs the same control. Mark the one that governs assembly so the die and the inspection are built around it.
Leave the grade open if you are not sure
If the steel grade is not determined by the customer, our engineers advise an appropriate material depending on the application area and the requirements on the mechanical properties of the product. That is a better outcome than a guessed grade on the drawing.
State length and further processing
Bar length, fixed cut lengths, hole patterns and any heat treatment belong on the enquiry, because they change both the price and the route.
Plan for the sample
We produce samples and let the buyer inspect and test them, and only then arrange volume production. Building that loop into your own schedule prevents a rushed approval.
Related Products
Custom Tailored Special Profiles
One cross section developed with our engineers from drawing to volume production
View details
Cold Drawn Special Profiles
Drawn sections held below 0.05 mm on size with a Ra under 2.5 um surface
View details
Stainless Steel Special Profiles
Custom stainless sections drawn from CAD or SolidWorks drawings
View detailsQuestions About This Topic
What file format should I send?
CAD or SolidWorks drawings of the cross section.
Do I have to choose the steel grade myself?
No. If the grade is not determined by the customer, our engineers advise an appropriate material.
Apply This To Your Own Part
Email the drawing and we will apply the guidance above to your component and quote the route we recommend.