Angle plates are metal supports used in precision machining operations. They are designed with flat surfaces and specific dimensions to hold metal stock. CNC machines are used to create instructions for machining parts, but angle plates are needed for upright fabrication. Manufacturers offer custom fabrication services and plates may include T-slots for securing parts. They vary in shape and size and can be made of steel or aluminum. They are used to prevent damage during drilling and allow for repeated precision holes.
Angle plates are metal supports used to support other metal parts for precision machining operations. Often constructed of steel or aluminum, corner plates are designed with very flat surfaces and specific dimensions needed to hold the metal stock. Careful preparation of these plates is required so that the final products have consistent size or hole placement.
Precision machining often uses computer numerical control (CNC) machines, which take computer-aided design (CAD) information and create a set of instructions for machining a part. CNC machines typically have a moving head that holds a variety of machine tools, including milling cutters, drills, and grinders. These tools are activated by computer instructions and involve a series of cutting or drilling operations that create a finished object.
Some parts need to be fabricated upright, rather than lying flat on a flat surface. The CNC machine can follow a specific set of instructions, but it cannot normally correct raw materials that are not flat or are held at an incorrect angle. The need for a strong and stable surface has led to the development of corner plates.
Angle plate manufacturers often provide custom fabrication services to their customers. This allows you to design plates to hold parts at unusual angles or to create large plate surfaces for large items. As the size of a metal angle plate gets bigger, so does the weight, so manufacturers can install cranes or lifting accessories to allow it to be moved.
In addition to supporting the weight of the items, it’s important for the angle plate to include ways to secure the part in place during machining. Plates may include special grooves, holes, or channels called T-slots that allow clamps or braces to slide into place. Customers can select generic corner plates, with channels placed at regular intervals, or they can specify custom locking points for unusual shapes or sizes.
Corner plates vary widely in shape and size, but typically contain a flat plate that serves as a base. A vertical or inclined surface with channels or holes for fixing the part is welded to the base. Backing plates, or gussets, are welded to the back of the upright plate and to the base to provide rigidity and support. The plates can be made of different metals, depending on whether you need the higher strength of steel or the corrosion resistance and lighter weight of aluminum.
Items that require holes to be drilled can be fixed to angle plates with a similar hole pattern. As the CNC machine executes the drilling instructions, the holes prevent the drill bits from hitting the angle plate, reducing the chance of damage. This allows for repeated precision holes to be made in successive parts, guided by computer programming in the CNC machine.
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