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Stainless Steel Plate Rolling Process: Top 5 Notes to Ensuring Quality and Cleanliness

When it comes to manufacturing stainless steel plate rolling workpieces destined for ultra-high vacuum applications, ensuring strict cleanliness and contamination prevention throughout the entire material handling, fabrication, and shipping process is of paramount importance. In this article, we delve into the strategies and precautions necessary to safeguard these critical components, ensuring they meet the stringent requirements of ultra-high vacuum environments.

Stainless Steel Specifications

Stainless is the most sought after for its ability to retain strength at very high and very low temperatures. Additionally, SS is resistant to corrosion, water stains, rust, and debris while maintaining its metal appearance. Common types of stainless-steel specifications that we fabricate with include:

  • ASME SA240 304L
  • ASME SA240 316L
  • 310 Stainless Steel
  • 309 Stainless Steel

Through years of experience, we achieve superior roundness, straightness, and quality.

Why do Industries use Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel plates are extremely durable and lightweight that won’t break under extreme stress. As the most hygienic material, stainless is easier to clean and maintain because it does not support bacteria growth or other pathogens.

Applications For Stainless Steel Rolled Shapes

The applications for stainless steel are astronomical because of its exceptional material advantages and low maintenance. Stainless steel can be found in applications such as kitchen appliances, jewelry, vehicles, architecture, aircraft, and more. As the top-rated steel manufacturing company in Illinois and the Midwest of the United States, Arntzen Corp is the primary source for industries, such as

  • Oil & Gas
  • Architecture
  • Construction
  • Marine
  • Agricultural
  • Trucking
  • Industrial
Stainless Steel Plate Rolling Process: Ensuring Quality and Cleanliness
Stainless Steel Plate Rolling Process: Ensuring Quality and Cleanliness

Stainless steel plate rolling workpiece for ultra-high vacuum

If the stainless steel plate rolling workpieces are covered to be used in ultra-high vacuum service and require strict cleanliness and contamination prevention throughout the material handling, fabrication, and shipping process. All storage for these components shall be done in the area isolated to prevent contamination from smoke, dust and oily vapors from other manufacturing areas.

Stainless steel sheets or indoor-outdoor carpeting shall be used to protect the SS plates during rolling operations. Carbon Steel or iron shall not touch the SS components.

Stainless steel plate rolling

Mechanical design requirements of stainless steel plate rolling and Machining shall be shown on the design drawings. Tolerances shall be adhered to as specified on the detailed drawings.

Stainless Steel Plate Rolling: Exciting Plate Roll Bending Process of BIT’s 4-Roll Plate Bending Machine

Rolling Of Stainless Steel Plate: Top 5 Notes

  • Carbon steel rollers shall be covered with heavy (paper or carpet) or S/S during the rolling process to prevent carbon steel contamination of the stainless steel.
  • The seam edges of the stainless steel plates to be rolled are to be pre-worked to ensure the roundness of the final cylinder. Reference Reading: Plate Edge Milling Machine
  • Rollup plates may have sheared edges only when the sheared edge is dressed with carbide cutters to remove any carbon steel contamination. This is to be done by the rolling Vendor. Allowable cutting methods are plasma flame, water jet, and laser or carbide cutters. Grinding is allowed if all grinding rea is finally cleaned with a carbide tool.
  • Final bevels are to be made with carbide-cutting tools only.
  • Moving of stainless steel plates shall be performed so as not to contaminate the plate with carbon steel. Covering carbon steel forks, hooks, and lifting mechanisms with SST or heavy paper or carpet shall be done. Moving plates with suction cups are permissive as long as they are carbon and oil-free.

Machining of Parts of Stainless Steel Plate Rolling Work-piece

  • O-Ring Groove and Sealing Surfaces (32 RMS) Requirements
    All flange o-ring and sealing surfaces shall meet the following requirements:
    Basic finish required: 32 RMS, concentric lay (finish tolerance +/- 8 RMS).
    The following processes are not allowed: grinding, honing, lapping, polishing, buffing, sanding, blasting, or any other process that disturbs the concentric machining lay, embeds material into the surface, or smears the surface.
    In addition to out-of-tolerance dimensions, the following machining problems will be the cause of piece rejection: ridges, chatter, waviness, scratches or marks along or across the concentric lay, tool marks, dents, gouges, burrs, sharp edges.
  • Machining Fluids
    No iron, carbon steel, or other contaminants (such as grease, oil, or hydrocarbons) are to come in with Machined Parts during material handling and fabrication. Machining, cleaning fluids, or any other materials or fluids contacting the raw material or finish component shall be water-soluble.
Contaminant Limit
Water Leachable Chlorides 100 PPM
Total Halogens (including Water Leachable Chlorides) 1000 PPM
Total Sulfur 1000 PPM
Hydrocarbons None Allowed
Maximum Concentration Limits

Cleanliness

No grinding with abrasive wheels, cloth or stones is allowed on the internal vacuum surface unless specified. If this Stainless steel plate rolling workpiece material is intended for use in a high vacuum application. Potential hydrocarbon contamination shall be prevented. Also, the material shall be wrapped and covered at all times if the material is not being processed to minimize possible exposure to contaminants. The components shall be cleaned (per 10.0) prior to shipment.

Welding

Welding to the interior component surface is NOT allowed. TIG welding of fixtures to the exterior repads is acceptable. All other welding to the component shall be approved by the Buyer prior to welding. Shells shall not be tacked after rolling – ship to THE FABRICATION SHOP un-tacked.

Cleaning

Before shipment of the stainless steel plate rolling workpiece to the Fabrication shop, cleaning shall be per the standard detergent steam cleaning procedure. The water quality shall be checked before use in the steam cleaner.

Storage and Shipping

Shipping covers or Wooden Crates shall be used on all flanges of stainless steel plate rolling workpiece for shipment. The use of tape or plastic sheet alone as a shipping cover is not acceptable.
The vacuum components shall be covered with a tarp immediately after cleaning operations have been completed to minimize contamination.
Finished flange surfaces and rolled stainless steel plate workpieces must be covered and protected during all fabrication steps and during shipment to the fabrication shop.
Stainless steel plate rolling workpiece roll-ups will be shipped with no tacks (long seam) on a new wood pallet or shipping frame, shrink-wrapped, and covered with waterproof tarps during shipment on the truck.

Conclusion

In the manufacturing process of stainless steel plate rolling workpieces, adhering to mechanical design requirements and machining standards is absolutely essential. This not only guarantees the quality and performance of the final product but also instills confidence in meeting the demands of ultra-high vacuum applications. By following the methods and guidelines outlined in this article, you can rest assured that your materials will be fit for purpose and dependable. Should you have any specific queries regarding particular applications or machining processes, don’t hesitate to consult professionals for further assistance.