Plate Stock Sizes and Mild Steel Grades by Thickness
When a drawing says only “mild steel”, the thickness decides the grade we cut it from. These are the grades, the sheet sizes our plate lasers run, the thickness each process handles and how a flat-part job is priced, so the quote you get matches the part you modeled.
| Plate thickness | Mild steel grade we cut | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 0.125 in | A1008 cold rolled | Typical thin sheet is 0.120 in |
| Over 0.125 in to 0.375 in | A1011 hot rolled, pickled and oiled | |
| Over 0.375 in | A36 hot rolled |
Need a specific grade, such as a different carbon steel or a stainless or aluminum alloy? Call it out on the drawing and we quote to it.
Plate stock sizes
| Sheet size | When we use it |
|---|---|
| 48 × 120 in | Standard plate stock; most jobs nest on it |
| 60 × 120 in | Oversize parts |
| 72 × 120 in | Oversize parts |
| 96 × 240 in | Oversize parts |
Two 3 kW fiber lasers with 76 × 150 in beds cut steel, stainless and aluminum from this stock. Larger material and thicker plate run on the waterjet.
Thickness limits by process
| Material | Fiber laser, 76 × 150 in bed | Waterjet |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | Up to 0.75 in | Up to 4.00 in |
| Aluminum | Up to 0.25 in | Up to 8.00 in |
| Stainless | Up to 0.25 in | Up to 3.00 in |
If the part will be bent afterwards, the press brake forms steel to 0.5 in and stainless and aluminum to 0.25 in, up to 10 ft and 188 tons. Model the flat pattern with the values on the k-factor and bend radius chart.
How flat parts are quoted
- Flat parts are quoted by the sheet. Cutting, piercing and material scale with quantity; setups are charged once per unique part per run, so the per-piece price falls as quantity rises.
- Parts nest only within the file you upload. Send every part of one material as a single multibody file and they share stock and setups; parts uploaded one at a time each get their own sheet and setup and price high.
- A DXF alone cannot be quoted because it carries no thickness. Import it into a sketch, extrude it to the plate thickness, and save it as a SolidWorks part or STEP file.
- The automated quote measures geometry only. Tight tolerances, surface finishes and a grade other than the default go on a PDF drawing attached to the upload; we review it with the quote and confirm pricing before any order.
- ITAR or export-controlled files should not go through the instant quote. Email them to sales@calwestmfg.com.
Common questions
What grade of mild steel will my part be cut from?
It follows the thickness: A1008 cold rolled up to 0.125 inch, A1011 hot rolled pickled and oiled over 0.125 to 0.375 inch, and A36 hot rolled above 0.375 inch. Call out a different grade on the drawing if your part needs one.
What sheet sizes do you stock?
Standard plate stock is 48 by 120 inches. Oversize parts go on 60 by 120, 72 by 120 or 96 by 240 inch sheets.
How thick can you cut?
Steel to 0.75 inch, aluminum and stainless to 0.25 inch on the fiber lasers. Thicker material runs on the waterjet: steel to 4 inches, aluminum to 8 inches, stainless to 3 inches.
Why does one multibody file quote lower than the same parts sent separately?
Parts nest only within the file they arrive in and are quoted by the sheet. One multibody file per material lets every part share stock and setups; parts sent one at a time each carry their own sheet and setup.