Mesh Count is the number of openings or apertures (Figure 1. O) which can be counted per every linear inch of wire mesh. This is typically designated for both directions of the mesh. Therefore, a wire mesh which has ten openings per inch as measured across both its width and length would be designated a 10 x 10 mesh or Number 10 mesh.
An Off-Count Mesh would describe a wire mesh which has a different number of openings per inch in one direction than the other. Thus, a mesh with ten opening per inch measured in the length direction and seventeen openings per inch measured across its width would be designated a 10 x 17 mesh.
Pitch (Figure 1. M) is the sum of the aperture or opening size (Figure 1. O) and the wire’s diameter or gauge size (Figure 1. D). Details concerning wire gauges and the wire sizes IWM offers can be found in the Technical section concerning Wire Sizes.
The Warp Wire in wire mesh is the wire running parallel to direction of the wire mesh length or its roll length. The Weft or Shute Wire runs parallel to the width of the wire mesh or the roll’s width.
Weave Types
There are several different general weave types of wire mesh. Twill Weaves refer to woven mesh which has two or more warp wires passing over and under two or more weft wires. This weaving method is typically used for wire mesh used for filtration media. Crimp Mesh refers to wire mesh which has been pre-crimped prior to the final weaving process. Such styles include an Intermediate Crimp mesh where the wire is crimped at each aperture of the mesh, typically in both directions.
A Locking Crimp mesh utilizes a crimp on its wires to interlock both with warp and weft wires. This type of mesh is typically utilized for applications requiring very rigid mesh.
By far the most common type of mesh weave is a Plain Weave or plain crimp wire mesh, which is the weave type IWM predominately offers. A plain weave mesh is where the warp wires and weft wires weave over and under each individual wire strand in each direction. This is depicted in Figure 2.
Additionally, IWM offers a Lockstitch Weave. Similar to a plain weave, the weft wires and warp wires are woven over and under one another. However, a lockstitch is achieved when placing two warp wires closer together when setting up the comb or reed, which separates the warp wires. These lockstitches can be positioned along the width of the mesh roll to prevent the fraying of edges when trimming or slitting the mesh to narrower widths.