Stock Forms, Types and Sizes

• Stock Forms, Types and Sizes

  • Paper and Board
  • Timber based materials
  • Metal based materials
  • Polymers
  • Textiles based materials
  • Electrical and mechanical components
• Standard sizes


  • Enables materials to be easily used across industries
  • Makes designing, buying and tooling easier
• Standard components


  • Parts added to the materials such as bolts, screws and bindings
  • They are a standard size so they can be bought in from other specialist factories saving money and time
• Paper and Board


  • Sheets
  • Rolls
  • Ply
• Sheet sizes


  A0, A1, A2, A3 to A6 (each size is half the previous)
• Paper and Board weights

  • GSM (grams per square metre)
  • Over 200gsm becomes board
  • Example: Cartridge paper around 150 gsm
• Standard components for paper and board

  • Drawing pins
  • Velcro for mounting displays
  • Treasury tags
  • Staples
  • Paper fasteners
  • Book bindings (spiral, comb, hard backs)
  • Seal
  • Tape
  • Glue
• Timber based materials


  • Planks (standard widths, lengths, diameters, thicknesses)
  • Rough sawn wood
  • Planed Square Edge (PSE)
  • Manufactured board
• Manufactured board


  • Available in much bigger sheets than planks of wood
  • Usually 2440mm x 1220mm sheets in a variety of thicknesses
• Standard components for timber based materials

  • Hinges
  • Screws
  • Bolts
  • Handles
  • KD (Knock Down) fittings
• KD (Knock Down) fittings

  • Allow wood or board to be joined together quickly and accurately, particularly used in flat pack furniture
  • Examples: blocks, dowels, scan fittings, CAM locks
• Metal based materials


  • Sheet
  • Tubular
• Metal


  • Available in standard thickness, length or diameter
  • Difficult and expensive to reform, so ordering the right sized tube, angle, bar or rod is a good starting point for production
• Standard components for metal

  • Nuts
  • Bolts
  • Rivets
  • Screws
• Polymers


  • Rod
  • Sheet
  • Tubes
  • Foam
  • Film
  • Granules
  • Powders
• Standard components for polymers

  • Screws
  • Nuts
  • Bolts
  • Rivets
  • Adhesives
• Textiles based materials


  • Fabrics (standard widths: 90, 115 and 150cms)
  • Different weights (based on tightness of knit/weave or thickness of fibres)
  • Ply (rolled together to increase thickness)
• Standard components for textiles


  • Buttons
  • Zips
  • Velcro
  • Press studs
  • Hooks and eyes
  • Rivets
  • Embroidered patches
  • Sequins
• Electrical and mechanical components

  • Resistors
  • Dual in line integrated circuit packages (DIL)
  • Micro controllers
  • Chains
  • Gears
  • Sprockets
  • Springs
• Resistors


  • Most common in the E12 series (12 values of resistance)
  • Coloured bands identify the different values, there are always 4 coloured bands on E12 resistors
• Dual in line integrated circuit packages (DIL)


  • Tiny circuits within a single component
  • The circuit is inside a plastic or ceramic case with pin legs which attach it to the circuit board
  • Each pin has a number to be able to pinpoint which pin does which function
• Micro controllers


  • Programmable integrated circuits (PICS)
  • Some can only be programmed once and are bought in by manufacturers pre-programmed
  • Others can be reprogrammed as advancements are made
  • The more information on a PIC the more it would cost