Meshes, whether woven or welded, are generally made by starting with metal that's drawn into a thin wire and then formed into the desired mesh structure.
Here's a breakdown of the general process:
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Wire Production: The process typically begins with a metal rod, tube, or wire. This material is then drawn (extruded) through progressively smaller dies. This process reduces the diameter of the metal, creating a thinner, longer wire. The wire is then wound onto a spool.
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Preparation: The spooled wire may be run through a straightening machine to ensure uniformity. It's then cut into the desired lengths needed for the next stage of mesh production.
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Mesh Creation: How the mesh is created depends on the type of mesh being produced:
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Woven Mesh: This involves interlacing the wires, similar to weaving fabric. Specialized looms are used to automate this process, creating various weave patterns like plain weave, twill weave, or Dutch weave.
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Welded Mesh: Wires are arranged in a grid pattern, and the intersecting points are then welded together, creating a strong and rigid mesh. This is often done using automated welding machines.
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In summary, mesh creation involves drawing metal into thin wires, preparing those wires, and then weaving or welding them together to form the desired mesh structure.