Different Applications for Metal Bar Stock

 

Bar stock is one of the forms in which manufacturers purchase raw metal. Also known as blank, billet,

or slug, bar stock can be found in many different shapes and sizes, including round, square,

rectangular, hexagonal, and cored bar stock. Factories and machine shops process bar stock by

milling, cutting, or shaping it into the form required for their application. 

How Metal Bar Stock Is Manufactured

Before discussing applications for metal bar stock, it’s important to understand how metal bar stock is

manufactured. The three most common methods of manufacturing bar stock are:

• Continuous Cast – This process involves heating a metal until it liquefies, then letting it solidify into a semi-finished slab. This slab is then rolled in a finishing mill. Continuous cast manufacturing is also sometimes known as strand casting.

• Centrifugally Cast – Also known as rotocasting, centrifugal casting is a manufacturing method used to cast thin-walled cylinders.

• Sand Cast – Sand casting is an affordable metal casting technique that uses sand as a mold material. This is the most popular method for metal casting.

How Some Metal Bar Stock Is Processed

Metal bar stock is almost exclusively used in manufacturing. Some of the ways manufacturers process

bar stock include:

• Forging – Forging is a process that heats bar stock to extremely high temperatures, then uses a press to push the workpiece into a shape on a die to create the desired end-product. 

• Extrusion – While similar to forging, extrusion uses hydraulic force

to push the heated bar stock through a set of dies to create the desired shape.

• Machining – Machining bar stock is a subtractive process that involves a combination of sawing, turning, milling, drilling, and grinding. This method is ideal when small details are needed on a piece. 

Items That Are Made With Metal Bar Stock

Any product that is made with metal is likely to have required metal bar stock at some point in its

manufacturing process. Even the dies, bearings, and other components used in manufacturing often

start as bar stock. Some of the industries that rely upon metal bar stock for their applications include:

• Aerospace

• Architecture

• Manufacturing

• Machine Shops

• HVAC

• Automotive

• Medical Devices

• Naval and Marine

• Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

• Power Generation Plants

• Plumbing

Choosing the Right Bar Stock for Your Application

When selecting a bar stock for your application, there are a number of factors to consider. 

First and foremost, you will need to know the type of metal that best suits your needs. Stainless steel is

a common choice thanks to its versatility, but by no means is it the only option. You can purchase bar

stock made of bronze, copper, brass, sintered iron, nickel, aluminum, and titanium. Knowing the

qualities you need in your finished product will help you make your selection. Think about:

• Tensile Strength – This is a measure of the maximum amount of stress required to break a metal—in other words, how brittle is the material? If your end product will need to bear a great deal of load, you’ll need to choose a metal that rates highly for ultimate tensile strength at break.

• Yield Strength – Yield strength is the amount of stress a material can withstand before it

• becomes deformed. Essentially, this measures the ductility of a metal. Bar stock that is

• destined to be processed into wire, for example, will need to be ductile.

• Elongation – This number is the percent amount of deformation a material exhibits during a mechanical test. If a part will need to retain its shape under stress, as with many types of bearings, elongation is an important consideration.

• Tensile Modulus – Tensile modulus is a way of measuring the rigidity of a material by assessing the variation in strain created by an applied tensile load.

You’ll also need to consider the right shape and size of bar stock required for your application. If you’re uncertain, our team of experts at Atlas Bronze can help. Simply tell us about your end product and your manufacturing process and we can provide you with the best options for your needs, including whether you’re better off choosing bar stock vs. bearings.

Learn More About Metal Bar Stock

Are you trying to choose the right copper & bronze bar stock for your application? Our knowledgeable sales team is here to help you with all of your purchasing decisions. Contact us at 1-800-478-0887 to speak with one of our experts and get started.