Grain Direction
The orientation of a rolled sheet’s grain, which affects bendability, springback, and earing.
What it means on the floor
Rolling elongates the grain in the rolling direction. Bending across (perpendicular to) the grain allows tighter radii without cracking, while bending parallel to it risks fracture. Grain direction also drives earing in deep drawing.
Prints often call out bend orientation relative to grain for exactly this reason.
Category: Materials
Applying the term
Interpret Grain Direction 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.