Entry end – the end of the gutter machine into which the material is fed, the end with the black curved guides; also called the front end or feed end.

Exit end – the end of the gutter machine from which the finished gutter profile emerges,  the end with the shear; also called the rear end or discharge end.

Forming rolls – the rotating contoured dies used to both drive the material through the gutter machine and form the finished gutter profile; also called forming dies, rolling dies, rollers. 

Left side – when viewing from the entry end of the gutter machine, the side located to the left. 

Right side – when viewing from the entry end of the gutter machine, the side located to the right. Also called the “Box Side”. 

Station # – forming stations are numbered sequentially from the entry end to the exit end of the gutter machine. 

Crash – a condition in which any of the following problems may exist: 

• metal will not move through the gutter machine
• metal is bent or crumpled against a fixed component in the gutter machine
• metal is bunching up between forming stations
• the drive train is seized

Profile Specific Terms

The profile is normally described as if it were being viewed from the entry end of the gutter machine as the material runs:

Away from the house – profile is horizontally level, but curves toward the front, or box side, of the gutter.

Downhill – the profile runs laterally strait, but curves downward as it exits the gutter machine; also referred to as having a crown in the profile.

Into the house – profile is horizontally level, but curves toward the backside of the gutter.

Left – the profile is horizontally level, but curves to the left as it exits the gutter machine.

Right – the profile is horizontally level, but curves to the right as it exits the gutter machine.

Twist – one end of the profile rotates away from the other end.

Uphill – the profile runs laterally strait, but curves upward as it exits the gutter machine.

Material / Coil Related Terms

Camber – lateral curvature in coil stock – camber may lead to an inconsistent profile.

Coil Set – longitudinal curvature induced in coil stock due to the winding or coiling process – excessive coil set may cause rippling in the gutter profile.

Edge wave – a ripple-like effect on the edge of the material – often caused by the slitting process.

Gauge – term used to reference the thickness of steel material per AISI thickness tolerance ranges – ex: 24

Ga = .0276″ thick

Long-centered – center of the coil stock strip slightly longer than the edges – often results from the heating and cooling process

Oil canning – a periodic pattern of buckling appearing on flat sections of a profile – often results from coil set.

Width – the lateral width of coil stock material – also called strip width or stretch-out.

Standard Units:

in – inches (unit of length)

lbs – pounds (unit of weight)