One of the most commons mistakes individuals make when ordering structural steel rings or steel sections is caused by the confusion of radius and diameter. When an individual is ordering the service of curving steel and has successfully communicated the orientation of the part (e.g. hard way or easy way), it is always wise to ask again, Is this a radius or diameter?
Prints can also have challenging abbreviations that can lead to confusion. CLR indicates center-line radius. CLD indicates center-line diameter. ID can indicate either inside dimension or inside diameter. And IRD indicates inside radius dimension.
What’s most important, of course, is that the customer’s intention is clearly communicated to the person responsible for curving the steel. When in doubt, clarify, clarify, clarify.
