The process flow of cutting stainless steel coils into stainless steel bars

2025-06-23

Stainless steel coils are widely used in modern industry, from construction to automobile manufacturing and even household appliances, almost everywhere. However, in most application scenarios, what we need is not whole rolls of stainless steel, but stainless steel bars of specific sizes. So, how are stainless steel coils divided into stainless steel bars of different sizes? This article will reveal this mysterious technological process to you.

1. Preparations

Before starting the division, a comprehensive inspection of the stainless steel coil is required first. This includes inspecting the thickness, width and surface quality of the rolls to ensure they meet the production requirements. In addition, the size specifications of the final product need to be determined based on the customer's order requirements.

2. Selection of shearing machines

The cutting of stainless steel coils mainly relies on shearing machines. Different types of shearing machines can be selected based on the thickness and hardness of the rolls. For instance, thin stainless steel coils can be sheared with a rotary shearing machine, while thicker materials may require heavy-duty shearing machines. Choosing the appropriate equipment is the key to ensuring the segmentation accuracy and efficiency.

3. Slitting process flow

- Unrolling and leveling
Uncoiling: Fix the stainless steel coil on the uncoiler and slowly unfold it.
Straightening: The bending stress of the coil is eliminated through a straightening machine (multi-roll straightening machine) to ensure the flatness of the sheet and facilitate subsequent cutting.
- Longitudinal slitting (main process)
Slitting machine: A slitting machine (slitting machine) is used to cut wide stainless steel coils along their length into multiple narrow strips.
Disc knife cutting: Adjust the distance between the upper and lower disc knives according to the target size and continuously shear and slitt.
Precision control: The tool clearance and overlap amount need to be precisely set to avoid burrs or dimensional deviations.
Slitting width: Generally, strips with a width ranging from 20mm to 2000mm can be cut, with an error controlled within ±0.1mm.
- Cross-cutting to fixed length (optional)
If fixed-length stainless steel bars are required, a cross-cutting process needs to be added:
Flying shears or hydraulic shears: They are used to cut the slitted steel strips laterally to obtain the required length (such as 1m, 2m, etc.).
Laser/plasma cutting: Adopted when high precision is required, it is suitable for complex shapes or special materials.
-Edge processing
Deburring: Remove burrs from the cutting edges through edge grinding machines or polishing equipment to enhance safety and aesthetic appeal.
Chamfering: Some applications require edge chamfering to reduce stress concentration.
- Rewinding or stacking
Winding: The narrow strips that have been slit are rewound into small rolls for convenient transportation (such as for subsequent stamping).
Stacking: The straight strips that have been cross-cut are neatly stacked by a stacker and then packaged for shipment.
-Key equipment and technical parameters
Equipment: uncoiler, leveling machine, slitting machine, flying shears, laser cutting machine, etc.
Material thickness: Commonly 0.3mm to 6mm. Special tools are required for ultra-thin or thick plates.
Speed: The longitudinal shearing line speed can reach 10 to 200 meters per minute, depending on the performance of the equipment.

4. Quality Control

During the entire segmentation process, quality control is a very important link. By using high-precision measuring instruments to inspect the width, thickness and surface quality of stainless steel bars, it is ensured that the finished products meet the customer's requirements.

5. Summary

The process flow of cutting stainless steel coils into stainless steel bars involves multiple steps, from preparatory work to final quality control, each step requires meticulous operation and strict management. With the development of technology, the application of automated equipment and intelligent control systems has made this process more efficient and precise. Understanding these technological processes not only helps us better comprehend the production process of stainless steel products, but also provides useful references for practitioners in related industries.