The Difference between Steel Sheet & Steel Plate

1.Definition

Sheet Metal

Sheet metal is any metal that is thicker than a foil and thinner than 6mm, the thickness of a metal plate. Sheet metal is often used for building structures that do not require durability. It is also often corrugated or diamonded for additional strength without increasing weight. Corrugation is the creasing of the metal at regular intervals to form ridges, and diamonding is the addition of diamond ridges that add structure to the metal.

Plate Metal

Plate metal is any sheet of metal with a thickness of 6mm or more. Plate metal is used in applications where durability is more important than saving weight. It is used in automobiles where durability is required to pass crash testing.

2. Sheet and Plate Thickness

Plate Metal:Any sheet of metal that is 6mm or thicker is a plate metal. Plate metals are known for their durability, so they’re used to build structures that require this property.With this type of metal, it doesn't matter if the overall mass is increased during the metal fabrication process. This makes it ideal to use in automobile manufacturing.

Sheet Metal:Sheet metal can be made from many different metals, such as:Aluminum,Steel,Copper,Brass,Titanium,Tin,Nickel

It’s always thinner than 6mm but thicker than foil. This kind of metal is somewhat thin and lacks durability, so it’s often corrugated to give it extra strength without increasing mass.

There is only one difference between plate metal and sheet metal, and that is the thickness (or gauge, as we say in the industry). A thicker metal will have a lower gauge number and likewise, a thinner metal will have a higher gauge number. The most frequently used gauges tend to range from 7 to 30

Although at a glance it may not seem like that big of a deal to a novice, it’s important to learn how to tell the difference between these two types of metal so that the correct metals are used for a specific application.

3.Sheet Metal Applications

Stainless steel sheet is used for both industrial and commercial applications. Its corrosion resistance makes it well suited for fasteners, machinery components, heat exchanges, and food service parts.

Steel sheet is well suited for railings, gates, and automotive components.

Aluminum sheet can be found in commercial applications like packaging as well as home appliances, building and construction, and automotive body panels.

Brass and copper sheet is useful for decorative components as well as mechanical applications.