The blank produced from the cut list should be _______________.

• A. just big enough to make one part
• B. used only as a pattern
• C. notched immediately after each one is cut
• D. the last fabrication stage before assembly

Answer: (A)

In sheet metal work, a blank is the starting piece of stock from which a part is formed. The cut list should size that blank to be just big enough to make one part, because using exactly what’s needed minimizes waste and material cost, while still leaving enough stock for forming and finishing. Larger blanks create scrap and require more handling and trimming, increasing time and expense. Patterns are used for laying out shapes on stock, but the blank itself is the actual piece used to form the part, not just a pattern. Notching after each cut isn’t a universal rule for how blanks are sized, and the blank is not the last fabrication stage before assembly—it’s the starting point for forming the part.