Georgia International Convention Center, College Park, Ga.
Flatness could have been chosen as the fi rst reason why MCM panel systems have become so popu- lar. When it comes to large, monolithic surfaces on building walls; MCM panel systems have no peer. This is no accident; these panel systems are designed to be that fl at.
Here is how:
The Metal Sheets First of all, the metal sheets themselves are selected and processed, with stretcher leveling and other techniques, specifi cally to make the sheets as fl at as possible.
The Production Process The continuous process by which the MCM sheets are produced is centered on making the sheets fl at and remaining fl at. They are produced under a tightly controlled combination of heat, pressure and tension.
Heat The thermoplastic core is extruded in a molten state, through a die, in order to maintain tight controls on the thickness of the material, which is an important component of the eventual fl atness of the sheet.
Pressure The extruded core is bonded to the sheets under pressure that is controlled to a close tolerance to further ensure the structural integrity of the sheets as well as maintain the surface fl atness.
Tension The front and rear sheets of metal are held in tension throughout the production process in tension so that the sheets are at a steady state across the sheets to ensure the MCM sheets are as fl at as possible.
The Fabrication of Panels MCM sheets are typically formed with computer controlled machining centers that utilize high-speed cutting devices. This type of fabrication does not induce “cold working” into the material unlike the shearing and folding that is used with solid metals. This fabrication method therefore further ensures that the very fl at MCM sheets will be formed into very fl at MCM panels. In addition, when necessary for structural
defl ection requirements, fabricators have developed stiffener systems that do not induce further stresses into the panel systems to maintain the fl atness. The projects featured demonstrate the fl atness
offered by MCM panel systems and these projects demonstrate visually one of the reasons MCM panel systems have become so popular. As we explore these benefi ts, please feel free to