Sifting Solutions

12 Mesh to Micron Conversion

12 mesh corresponds to a nominal opening of 1700 microns (1.70 mm). In botanical screening, this is generally treated as a coarse separation step for dry sift, pollen, and powder handling lines.

Mesh Count

12

Openings per linear inch

Opening

1700 microns

1.70 mm

Opening Inch

0.06693

Nominal clear opening

Open Area

64.5%

Wire diameter 0.417 mm

Technical Data

Mesh count12
Nominal opening (micron)1700 microns
Nominal opening (millimeter)1.70 mm
Nominal opening (inch)0.06693 in
Nominal wire diameter0.417 mm
Nominal open area64.5%

Engineering Definition

A 12 mesh screen is built with 12 openings per linear inch. For this reference, the clear opening is listed at 1700 microns, with a nominal wire diameter of 0.417 mm and an open area near 64.5%. These values are used for engineering comparison, not as a substitute for final supplier drawings.

At 1700 microns, this screen size tends to favor high throughput and bulk removal of stems, fibers, and oversized leaf material. In production terms, it sits in the coarse part of the screening range and is usually selected after operators define the target fraction, feed dryness, and deck loading rate.

Conversion Formulas

These formulas explain the unit relationship shown in the table.

Micron from mm

micron = mm x 1000

1.70 mm x 1000 = 1700 microns

mm from micron

mm = micron / 1000

1700 / 1000 = 1.70 mm

Inch conversion

inch = micron / 25400

1700 / 25400 = 0.06693 in

Application Guidance

Process notes are assembled directly from the selected opening value so each page stays consistent with the table above.

Pollen Collection

When a 12 mesh screen is used for pollen collection, the nominal opening is 1700 microns. This is usually chosen early in the process to clear large botanical fragments before a finer finishing screen is introduced.

Dry Sift Separation

For dry sift separation, 12 mesh gives a nominal clear opening of 1700 microns. The larger aperture helps with initial break-up and front-end sizing before tighter screening stages are stacked downstream.

Powder Grading

In powder grading work, 12 mesh is roughly equivalent to 1700 microns. In powder grading, this opening is suited to separating coarse granules from a broader botanical grind.

Botanical Pre-Screening

For botanical pre-screening, a 12 mesh cloth opens at about 1700 microns. The screen functions mainly as a pre-screen, removing oversized feed and stabilizing the load sent to the finer mesh train.

Data Note

Nominal opening values were curated from commonly referenced industrial wire cloth and U.S. sieve conversion charts. Actual clear opening can vary by weave style, wire diameter, and manufacturing tolerance.

Nominal opening values may vary slightly by weave and wire diameter. For purchase approval, always confirm the actual cloth specification issued by the manufacturer.