Material Specifications?

[cadfreak]

As a Drafter I am given Redlines from the Engineers and asked to create and detail the part. One area where I struggle is finding the correct Specification for the Material being called out on the drawing.

My question is, are there any helpful websites that offer Specifications callouts for metals (i.e Aluminum 6061, CRES 303)?


EXAMPLE:
Steel Types 304 and 304L Stainless Steel
Steels are covered by the following
specifications:

Type 304 Type 304L

AMS 5513AMS 5511
ASTM A 240 ASTM A 240
ASTM A 666 ASTM A 666


Thank you.

 

[dbaird]

Check:

http://www.matweb.com

David Baird

Sr Controls Designer
EET degree.
Journeyman Electrician.

 

[JV1]

cadfreak,

The specification of the material on the drawing should fully define the requirements necessary for the design. For instance: 304L is more suitable for welding than 304. Thus, unless you are not welding or the low carbon requirement of 304L is not required, you may call out the two materials.

The next step is finding the standard that will meet your application. You can go to Matweb to match a material with a standard, but that is just the beginning. You may also use

http://products.asminternational.org.

The following step is to read the standard. Start by taking a look at the name of the standard:

ASTM A240:
Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, Molybdenum

ASTM A666:
Standard Specification for Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar

The two standards above make my point that places like Matweb are only a starting point. While ASTM A240 is meant for pressure vessel applications ASTM A666 is not. ASTM A666 explicitly says:
"1.2 The application of this specification, or the use of
material covered by this specification does not automatically allow usage in pressure vessel applications. Only annealed conditions of grades specifically approved by the ASME code are permitted for pressure vessel use."

My point is that the person responsible for the drawing should be fully familiar with the technical requirements and know the appropriate standards.

I hope this helps.

jv

 

[ewh]

A metal suppliers Stock List and Data book (i.e. Ryerson) is also an excellent reference. I've had one in my possesion as long as I've had a Machinery's Handbook.

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[wes616]

Get yourself a copy of Mil-Hdbk-5.

Wes C.
------------------------------
No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

 

[fcsuper]

One additional comment. Be as specific <em>as necessary</em>. If you are working in a field or on a project where exact material specification is not necessary, I would avoid being over specific. This allows the vendor to use what they have on hand, often reducing costs and delivery ARO to you. This is useful if you don't have significant loads to detail with or when breadboarding something for a proof of concept.


Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[MouseTrap]

I have been in your position before...

Get a hold of a couple of McMaster Carr catalogues...one for you, and maybe a couple others that you can use as 'handouts' if there seems to be anybody that 'has a need to know'.

Anyway, the McMaster Carr catalogues have pretty good descriptions of the materials they offer, along with relative pricing for the materials you are considering. Also important is whether or not the material you actually spec is available or not IN THE STOCK (UNMACHINED)SIZE THAT YOU NEED. (Don't assume that just because you have a name for a material, that it is available on the size that you need).

The material definitions as listed in McMaster Carr have always served me well in my twenty years of design work, but I've never taken my drawing specs to the MIL spec level or any other similar specification.


(As a slight aside, I've also used the McMaster Carr catalogue as a reference for different types and grades of fasteners)

I hate having purchasing come back to me as a designer saying 'we've looked all over for what you spec'd and can't find it'

(fyi - I have no interest in McMaster Carr)

 

[chancey]

If you want a McMaster Catalog you better know people because they are a bunch of nazis when it comes to giving them out but it's available on the web.

 

[ctopher]

Their site is down, but they have great lierature that you can request that has all of the info you need.
Keep checking for their web site, or search for their phone no.

http://www.frysteel.com/

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)

 

[TheTick]

This is a question that should be answered as a department. Engineers should be involved. It is a decision that should become a departmental standard to which all can refer.

 

[Heckler]

Get yourself a copy of Mil-Hdbk-5.

or get a copy of FAA - Metallic Materials Properties Development & Standardization document that has replaced Mil5.

When you're calling out material specs on your drawings do not put the revision of the spec in the callout. As an engineer I am responsible for interpreting the design requirements and flowing them down to designer and drafter.

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.

 

[11echo]

As a drafter it NOT your job to specify what the materials are! That's an engineer's job. BUT to be a "better" drafter/designer you'll need to understand the characteristics of the materials involved so you can understand what is trying to be accomplished. That way IF there is any mistake you could spot them and bring them to light for final judgment. My $0.02 anyway, Good Luck!