Earing
Wavy height variation around a drawn cup caused by planar anisotropy of the sheet.
What it means on the floor
Ears are the peaks and valleys that form around the rim of a deep-drawn cup. They result from directional differences in the sheet’s mechanical properties (planar anisotropy) inherited from rolling.
Earing wastes material (the cup must be trimmed to the lowest valley) and is managed by material selection and blank orientation.
Category: Defects
Applying the term
Interpret Earing in the context of the drawing, governing standard, and customer requirement in front of you — the same word can carry different limits in design, quality, and production documents. Check whether a stated value is nominal, minimum, maximum, or reference-only, and whether it applies before forming, after forming, or after heat treatment.