A Batch of Aluminium Flange Plates, Bolt-Pattern Matched

Simple Part, Strict Requirement

Flange and mounting plates connect things — pipes, motors, actuators, housings — so their whole purpose is to line up with something else. The bolt circle, the hole positions, the centre bore and the flatness all have to match the mating component, and across a batch they all have to match each other. A plate whose holes are 0.3 mm off won't drop onto the studs; a face that isn't flat won't seal. Ordinary part, unforgiving requirement.

How It Was Made

1 — Face flat, then drill from a datum

Each plate was faced flat, then the bolt holes and centre bore machined from a common datum so the pattern is true and repeatable. Working from a datum — rather than marking out each plate — is what keeps the whole batch interchangeable.

2 — Hold the pattern across the batch

Fixturing and a consistent program meant every plate saw the same operations in the same order, so hole position and bore size stayed put from the first plate to the last. Position and flatness were verified on inspection; see tolerance & inspection.

3 — Deburr, edge-break and finish

Holes and edges were deburred and broken so the plates are safe to handle and seat cleanly. Made from 6061 aluminium for a light, corrosion-resistant plate, with anodizing available where needed.

Where Plate Accuracy Pays Off

Interchangeable plates save the customer real time downstream: assembly crews bolt them on without reaming or shimming, spares drop in years later, and a replacement ordered from the same drawing fits exactly. That repeatability is the quiet value of proper batch machining — and it scales from a handful to a recurring order through our low-volume production.

The Workflow

Outcome

A batch of flange plates that all bolt onto the mating part — and onto each other's place — without on-site fettling. Plates, brackets and mounting hardware in repeatable batches are everyday industrial equipment work for us.