Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

Stock forms for metals

Metals are available in a number of common forms, usually in standard thicknesses, lengths or diameters:

• Round rods
• Square rods
• Hexagonal rods
• Strips
• Sheets
• Round tubes
• Square tubes
• Angle and channel

Stock forms of timber

Natural timber is available in:

• Different sectional forms (plank, board, strip, square, dowel)
• Various standard sizes (lengths)
• Sawn or planed finish
• PSE (planed with squared edge)
• A range of shaped mouldings (e.g. Torus skirting board)

Manufactured boards

Manufactured boards are available in sheet form in standard sizes and thicknesses:

Standard sheet size: 2440mm × 1220mm (or half size: 1220mm × 610mm)

Polymers

Polymers come in a range of standard stock forms:

• Sheets, rods, tubes — standard stock sizes
• Granules, pellets and powder — melted and formed into shapes
• Foam — blown into shape
• Film — heated and rolled

Papers and boards

Papers and boards are generally available by the sheet, roll, or ply:

• Sheets come in standard sizes — A0 is largest, halving in size each time down to A10
• Weight measured in gsm (grams per square metre)
• Board thickness measured in microns
• Ply refers to the number of layers

Knock down (KD) fittings

Standard components used to assemble products come in standard forms and sizes:

• Screws, nails, nuts and bolts
• Hinges and handles
• Cam lock fittings
• Corner blocks and brackets
• Scan fittings
• Dowels

Paper and board fittings

Standard components used with papers and boards:

• Drawing pins
• Velcro (pads/dots) for mounting
• Treasury tags
• Staples and fasteners
• Book bindings

Calculating costs

When estimating costs, designers and manufacturers must consider:

• The design and features included in the product
• The processes used to manufacture the product
• Material costs, fixtures, fittings and finishes required
• Energy, labour, machinery and intellectual property costs