A measure of the ease with which a material can be shaped with the aid of cutting or abrasive tools.
machining
Removing material from a metal part, usually using a cutting tool, and usually using a power-driven machine.
mandrel
A tool device used to provide internal support to the pipe to prevent excessive flattening, collapse or wrinkling during rotary draw bending. It is supported by a mandrel rod that runs through the pipe ID and is held in location at the bend die.
mark
A cosmetic defect that appears on steel sheet as a result of an imperfection on any of the many rolls used in processing operations.
master coil
A wide roll of coiled steel from a steel mill which will be slit into multiple narrower coils.
material handling
The movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout the process of their manufacture and distribution, consumption and disposal.
material safety data sheet
A sheet of paper containing detailed information on the hazards of each hazardous material in the workplace. OSHA requires all employers to provide these and make them readily accessible to employees. Also called MSDS.
material utilization
A term used to describe the difference between the raw material weight used to produce a part and the actual weight of the finished part. The higher the percentage of utilization, the better and more economical the stamping process.
maximum and minimum dimensions
The dimensions resulting after applying the proper tolerances to the nominal dimensions.
mean diameter
The average of two measurements of the diameter taken at right angles to each other.
mean wall
The average of two measurements of the wall thickness of a tubular product taken opposite each other.
mechanical properties
Those properties of a material that reveal the elastic and inelastic reaction when force is applied, or that involve the relationship between stresses and strain; for example, the modulus of elasticity, hardness, tensile strength, and fatigue limit.
mechanical punch press
A press having a slide or slides actuated by mechanical means. It consists of three basic elements: a frame, a ram, and a bolster. The upper section of a die is clamped to the ram, and the lower section is clamped to the bolster.
megapascal
A unit of measure to determine the amount of stress on a piece of material. The United States uses a different unit of measure: PSI, or pounds per square inch.
microhardness
Hardness measured with an instrument having a smaller indenter and applying a lower force than the standard instrument, permitting measurements on smaller specimens or thinner sheets that are not amenable to measurement by normal instruments. Usually the indentations are so small that they must be measured with a microscope.
micrometer
A precision measuring instrument used to determine thickness to an accuracy of one-thousandth of an inch.
micrometer adjuster screw
A jack screw that allows the vertical distance between the roll shafts to be adjusted. Also called vertical adjusting screw.
mild steel
A type of steel in which carbon is the primary alloying element, with the level of carbon contained in a steel being one of the most important factors governing its mechanical properties. Mild steel has no more than 1.65% manganese, 0.6% silicon or 0.6% copper. Mild steel is available with varying levels of formability. The more formable grades are typically more costly than the less formable grades. Also called carbon steel.
mill oil
An oil applied to steel coils as a normal part of the production process, primarily used to prevent rusting.
minimum wall thickness
The wall thickness specified on the fabrication drawing or computed in accordance with the applicable specification as the minimum acceptable for the design criteria.
MSDS
A sheet of paper containing detailed information on the hazards of each hazardous material in the workplace. OSHA requires all employers to provide these and make them readily accessible to employees. Also called material safety data sheet.
mult
A narrow strip of metal created by slitting or shearing a coil into any width or set of widths that can be fed into a tube mill, roll former, or press. An abbreviation for multiple.
