Flat wire and trapezoidal wire serve different functions in industrial filtration assemblies. Their cross-sectional geometry affects bending stiffness, slot formation, open area, weldability, wear, and cleaning performance. Selection starts with the wire’s role: surface wire defines the opening, while support wire transfers load.
Cross-Sectional Geometry and Functional Roles
Flat Wire: Directional Stiffness and Contact Area
Flat wire has a rectangular or near-rectangular cross-section. Width, thickness, edge radius, and temper determine its directional stiffness. The profile resists bending more strongly across its width than through its thickness. This behavior suits reinforcement, backing structures, spacers, and bearing surfaces.
We manufacture round-edge and square-edge flat profiles from 1 × 0.25 mm to 10 × 2 mm. A controlled drawing defines the working face, edge geometry, dimensions, and tolerances. It also separates flat wire from a flat panel made with V-shaped profiles.
Trapezoidal Wire: Controlled Slot and Downstream Relief
Trapezoidal wire has a wide face, a narrow face, and angled flanks. Top width, bottom width, height, flank angle, and corner radius determine slot formation. When adjacent narrow edges face the incoming flow, the opening widens downstream. This relief geometry reduces sidewall contact and improves backwashing.
We develop triangular and wedge profiles from CAD drawings or physical samples. Our development range extends from 2 × 1 mm to 12 × 5 mm. Alloy, section size, width-to-height ratio, temper, and edge geometry influence tolerance.
Screen Construction and Filtration Performance
Surface Wire and Support Wire
A wedge wire screen combines parallel surface profiles with support members at controlled intervals. Surface-wire edges establish the nominal slot. Support-wire geometry and pitch determine load transfer, rigidity, and welding stability. The same profile may serve as surface wire or support wire, so the production drawing identifies orientation, flow direction, support pitch, and weld locations.
Slot Size, Open Area, and Available Parameters
Slot opening uses millimeters or micrometers rather than mesh count. For parallel slots, theoretical open area equals slot width divided by slot width plus working-face width. Frames, blocked ends, supports, wear, and fouling reduce the effective value. Actual flow also depends on slot length, viscosity, pressure differential, solids loading, and downstream geometry.
Key Product Parameters
| Parameter | Available Range or Option |
| Flat wire profiles | 1 × 0.25 mm to 10 × 2 mm |
| Triangular/wedge profiles | 2 × 1 mm to 12 × 5 mm |
| Profile-wire dimensional tolerance | Up to ±0.01 mm, subject to section and alloy review |
| Wedge screen slot opening | 0.02 to 5 mm |
| Wedge screen width | 25 to 1,200 mm |
| Standard screen length | Up to 6,000 mm |
| Common stainless steel grades | 304, 304L, 316, 316L, and 321; other alloys by review |
Manufacturing and Quality Control
Profile Forming Route
Our process starts with wire rod and cold drawing to reduce the section and improve dimensional control. Annealing then relieves cold-work stress and restores ductility. Shaped rolling forms the profile, and a second annealing stage manages work hardening. Fine drawing calibrates final dimensions and surface finish. We perform these operations and tooling maintenance in-house, linking die correction with sample verification.
Dimensional and Material Verification
Infrared monitoring tracks dimensional variation along the coil. Optical projectors verify width, height, flank angle, and corner radius. Spectrometer analysis confirms alloy composition, while tensile testing checks the specified mechanical condition. In-process checks cover straightness, twist, angular deviation, and surface defects.
Surface Finish and Surface Treatment
Surface finish describes brightness, texture, and measured roughness such as Ra or Rz. Surface treatment describes a manufacturing process. Specifications distinguish as-drawn, bright, matte, or roughness-controlled finishes from processes that pickle, passivate, or electropolish the wire. Product descriptions use the adjectives pickled, passivated, or electropolished.
Profile Selection and Jingzhou Metal Capability
Selection by Operating Conditions
Flat wire provides broad contact and predictable directional stiffness. Trapezoidal wire creates a controlled slot with downstream relief when the assembly uses the correct orientation. Selection depends on particle shape, fluid chemistry, temperature, pressure differential, wear, cleaning method, and service life. Grade 316 gains improved chloride resistance from molybdenum, while 316L reduces sensitization risk around welded areas through its lower carbon content.
Integrated Development and Repeat Production
Since 2009, Jingzhou Metal has developed and produced stainless steel profile wire for precision applications. Our three production bases cover approximately 18,000 square meters. We combine CAD- or sample-based development, tooling, forming, heat treatment, and optical inspection within one system. A typical new-product development cycle takes 7–15 days, keeping tooling adjustments and dimensional verification in one workflow.
FAQ
How Does a Specification Define Twist?
A complete specification states the maximum angular rotation over a defined gauge length, such as degrees per 1,000 mm. A degree value without a gauge length does not establish a repeatable inspection criterion.
Which Dimensions Require the Tightest Control?
Working-face width, profile height, flank angle, corner radius, straightness, and twist directly affect slot consistency and welding stability. The approved drawing identifies each critical-to-quality characteristic and inspection method.
When Does Sample-Based Development Add Value?
A physical sample helps when tooling data, flank transitions, edge radii, or orientation remain unclear. We use optical measurements to convert the verified geometry into a controlled production drawing.
Which Inspection Documents Can Accompany an Order?
Available records may include material certificates, chemical-composition results, dimensional inspection reports, and tensile-test results. The purchase specification defines the required document set before production.