LIGHT WEIGHT METAL FRAMING MEMBER

摘要

The present invention provides for a lightweight metal framing member having a plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surface thereof, the depressions and ribs both being inwardly oriented and cooperati ng to aid in stiffening of the metal stud. The present invention also provides a method o f manufacturing a metal framing member having a plurality of depressions and a plurality of reinforcing ribs on the surface thereof, the depressions and ri bs both being inwardly oriented and cooperating to aid in stiffening of the metal stud. Th e method utilizes a cold roll forming apparatus having a first roller with a pluralit y of projections on its surface and a second roller having a surface provided with holes aligned with the projections on the surface of the first roller to form the depressions in th e surface of the material having clearly defined edges generally aligned with the plane of th e metal sheet. A second roll forming apparatus is used having a first roller with projections on its surface to form the reinforcing ribs in the surface of the sheet materia l and a second roller to allow for a softer transition between the surface of the sheet material and the edges of the reinforcing ribs and so as not to unduly deform the depressions formed in the first roll forming step. A third roll forming apparatus is used having rollers to form the metal stud or track.