Angle Plates and Angle Brackets – Overview & Fields of Application

Different forces occur on corner or edge connections of structures, which can lead to bending or even failure of the construction if there is insufficient support or dissipation. Angular connections can help here and provide stability. They are used to distribute effectively the forces and loads in frame structures and load-bearing structures. The following article explains different types of mounting brackets and angle brackets that are used in many industrial applications to stabilize angular joints.

Angle Plates and Reinforcing Angles - Similarities and Differences

MISUMI is the world's largest provider of standardized and configurable components for the manufacturing industry and it offers a wide range of mounting brackets, including angle plates and angle brackets as well as reinforcement angles or strengthening angles. Both types of angles are used in construction and mechanical engineering to connect components at right angles and to provide additional stability. Angle plates are also used as stopper and positioning elements in positioning devices. A characteristic feature of angle plates is that they are often not isosceles. This means that the two legs of the plate are different in length, which makes a flexible adaptation to different designs possible. In the case of angle plates, two plates are connected with a brace or stiffener, which is similar in design to a reinforcing angle. The purpose of the stiffening is to increase the torsional rigidity and the flexural strength while using less material. While reinforcing angles are lighter and more compact than angle plates, the latter offer a larger mounting surface and thus more options for configuring drill holes.

Right Angularity of Angle Plates and Reinforcement Angles

Mounting angle brackets are used to distribute loads and thus ensure the structural stability of rectangular structures. To ensure this, the angles must have a low perpendicularity tolerance. This is the only way the angles can fit flush and ensure stability. If the angles are not flush, the loads that occur are not evenly distributed and components can bend or even break.

A precise perpendicularity in structure is therefore decisive for the fit and function of components in larger systems. The perpendicularity tolerance describes the maximum permissible deviation from the ideal 90-degee orientation between two planes or surfaces in manufacturing and mechanical engineering. If two levels are to be perpendicular to each other, then the perpendicularity tolerance defines how much the actual alignment may deviate from this perfect perpendicularity. The tolerance value is therefore a measure of how far one plane can deviate from the exact perpendicular position to the other plane.

In order to meet the different requirements of industrial applications in terms of functionality and stability, MISUMI’s reinforcement angles and angle plates have a very narrowly designed perpendicularity tolerance. In particular, reinforcement angles of the precision class ensure optimal structural integrity with a perpendicularity of 0.02 per 100 mm.

Angle Bracket and Reinforcement Angle Designs

With regard to the manufacturing process, a distinction can be made between cast and machined reinforcement angles. Both types of reinforcement angles serve the purpose of connecting and stabilizing components, but have specific properties and are therefore suitable for different applications. Cast reinforcement angles are produced by casting a metal alloy into a mold. Through the casting process, it is possible to produce reinforcement angles with integrated ribs or complex profiles, which are intended for structural reinforcement. Machined stiffening angles are formed from raw materials such as metal plates by mechanical processes such as milling, turning or drilling. This method enables a high precision and compliance with narrow tolerances.

A further distinction can be made with regard to weight and shape. MISUMI offers weight-reduced reinforcement angles and those in the form of a strut angle. Both models are ideally suited for lightweight applications, but due to their small profile they cannot carry the same loads as conventional machined reinforcement angles.

The angle plates or angle brackets from MISUMI are manufactured by casting or welding. Since the casting process allows the creation of complex shapes, cast angle plates can be customized to meet the requirements of a specific application, for example by incorporating reinforcement ribs or special mounting openings directly into the design. Welded angle plates consist of several metal components, which are connected to each other by welding processes. This method is particularly flexible since it makes it possible to use standard metal profiles and to combine them according to the requirements of the specific application.

Material of Angle Brackets and Stiffening Angles

When selecting reinforcement angles and angle plates, the material is of crucial, as it influences the strength, durability and the field of application of the components. Each material has its own special advantages and can be further optimized through various surface treatments in order to achieve specific properties such as corrosion resistance or additional strength. Reinforcement angles made of carbon steel 1018 (EN 1.0038 Equiv.), for example, are characterized by its good strength and toughness. As a surface treatment, among other things, chemical nickel plating is available, which in turn ensures excellent corrosion resistance. Depending on requirements and ambient conditions, MISUMI offers a variety of materials and surface treatments:

Configurability of angle brackets and reinforcement angles

Each project and each application has very specific requirements. Therefore, flexibility and adaptability play a key role in the selection of mounting brackets for the respective application.

Angle Made to Measure

Depending on the type and design of the angle, MISUMI offers the possibility of selecting different dimensions such as length, height, width and the perpendicularity tolerance from fixed ranges or freely configurable. This flexibility allows custom solutions for applications where standard sizes are not suitable. In practice, for the stability of corner joints in connection with the support of large weights, it is important to ensure that the height of the angle plate is always greater than the width so that the acting force can be distributed correctly.

Bore Hole Configuration

Another aspect in terms of adaptability is the design and position of the bore holes. These can also be tailored to the special mounting requirements to ensure an optimal connection and stability in the corresponding application. For reinforcement angles, the option is provided for counterbores, through-holes, and tapped holes. The advantage of counter bores is, for example, that screw heads are completely countersunk into the material and thus the risk of damage or snagging is reduced. Through-holes are an ideal solution for applications that require a particularly robust and solid connection. This type of hole is perfect for structures that must withstand high loads and stresses, as the fasteners run completely through the material and are accessible from both sides of the angle. The tapped hole offers a practical and space-saving fastening solution, in particular where access to the rear side of the workpiece is restricted. For the cast reinforcement angles of MISUMI, only through-holes at specified positions are available, while the type, number and positions of the bore holes for machined strengthening angles can be freely configured within the framework of the production limits.

For angle plates or angle brackets, the individual configurability of the dimensions results in a larger mounting surface compared to reinforcement angles, which in turn offers even more options for defining the number and position of the bore holes. For angle plates, there is even the option without bore holes. This enables absolute control and adaptability in the event that angles are required that lie outside the specifications of MISUMI. Slotted holes, in turn, allow readjustment and precise alignment within the clearance provided by the slotted hole, in particular if the exact position is to be adjusted later. In addition to these options, there are also numerous other variants of angle brackets for bore holes, which can be found in the MISUMI product catalogs and shop pages.

In addition to angle plates and reinforcement angles, MISUMI offers a comprehensive range of additional fastening angles, such as mounting angles and angle profiles, which can also be configured depending on the application and operating conditions.

You will find further information on the machining limits and accuracy standards of the angle plates and angle brackets made of sheet metal in our blog about processing limits in sheet metal parts.