Woven-wire and punched plate sieves

Sieve cloth is woven from wire and the cloth is soldered and clamped to the bottom of cylindrical containers [10,13]. Although the apertures are described as square, they deviate from this shape due to the three-dimensional structure of the weave. In the weaving process, the weft wires are crimped on to the warp wires for added strength vigorous cleaning, for example with a wire brush, can separate the wires leading to oversize apertures. Fine sieves are usually woven with phosphor bronze wire, medium with brass, and coarse with mild steel. 

Heavy-duty sieves are often made of perforated plate giving rise to circular holes [12]. Various other shapes, such as slots for sieving fibers, are also available. Special purpose sieves are available in stainless steel and the flour industiy uses nylon or silk. 

Bates discusses screen mesh fabric selection and how the material should be fixed to the frame, particularly with regard to stretching the material and adjusting the tension [32]. 

Wahl [33] describes the production of highly wear resistant sieves in soft annealed plates of chromium steel by punching, plasma cutting or mechanical working followed by heating and strain hardening. 

A method of preparing a metal sieve cloth holder has been described in which parallel grooves were cut on a metal mandrel [34]. These were 

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Figure 9 Illustration of woven wire and punched plate sieves.

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