Standard Metal Thickness & Pin Diameter Combinations
Hinges can be manufactured using a variety of metal thicknesses and pin diameters. See the chart on the right to see the standard curling tools Midlake owns and maintains.
Don’t see what you need?
Sometimes custom hinges require custom curling tools. If you do not see a combination you need in the above chart, speak with a member of our sales team to discuss custom tooling.
General Rules of thumb when considering developing alternative combinations:
- Metal Thickness (x) 2 = The minimum pin diameter we will consider
- Pin diameters larger than twice metal thickness make for rounder curl
- Always consider standard mill thickness and pin diameters
- Typical lead time for custom curling tools is 8-10 weeks
Nominal Material Thickness |
Nominal Pin Diameter |
| .035″ | .125″ |
| .048″ | .125″ |
| .060″ | .125″ |
| .060″ | .156″ |
| .060″ | .187″ |
| .074″ | .156″ |
| .074″ | .187″ |
| .074″ | .250″ |
| .090″ | .187″ |
| .090″ | .250″ |
| .120″ | .250″ |
| .120″ | .375″ |
| .179″ | .375″ |
| .179″ | .500″ |
Materials
| Metal Type | Grade | What it is. | Advantages | Typical Uses |
| Aluminum | 5052 | Standard aluminum for sheet metal fabrication | Exceptional corrosion resistance. Especially when it comes to sea water and salt spray. | Marine and aircraft applications. Also used for general sheet metal fabrication when aluminum is a requirement. |
| Cold Rolled Steel | 1008 | 1008 is considered “commercial quality” and is the most common type of cold rolled sheet metal. | Cold rolled steel has a surface finish that is superior to hot rolled steel. | Any kind of sheet metal fabrication where tolerances, surface condition, and straightness are a major factor. |
| Hot Rolled Steel | Metal that is rolled at a very high temperature | Hot rolled steel is more malleable than cold rolled steel so it can more easily be fabricated into different shapes. | Sheet metal fabrication when tolerances and surface condition do not play a crucial factor. | |
| Galvanized Steel | Galvanized steel is steel that is pretreated with a zinc coating that forms a protective layer to prevent corrosion when the steel comes in contact with water without additional finishes. | Galvanized steel can be a cheaper option in corrosion resistance than stainless steel and aluminum. Galvanized steel loses its corrosion resistance when it comes in contact with acids. | Typically used in agriculture and industrial applications | |
| Stainless Steel | 304 | 304 SS is the most common stainless alloy. Stainless steel has a dose of chromium to give it corrosion resistance. | High resilience to corrosion. Great corrosion resistance to oxidizing acids. More economical than 316 stainless. | Is used in the food industry and kitchen applications. |
| 316 | 316 SS has a higher corrosion resistance than 304 SS. | 316 has the highest corrosion resistance. Also resilient against chloride solutions. | Typically used in the medical industry. Also typically used in high-saline environments, such as coastal environments and places that typically experience de-icing. | |
| Carbon Fiber | Strands of fibers composed mostly out of carbon atoms. | Low weight, high tensile strength, high stiffness, and high chemical resistance | Used in 3D printing to make rapid prototypes. |