When selecting an Aluminum Extrusion Manufacturer, consider their background and years of experience across multiple industries. They should be able to provide you with a list of references and reviews from past customers.
Indirect extrusion starts with a malleable billet that is preheated in the oven. Machinists then mechanically move the billet into the extrusion press. They apply lubrication to prevent the ram and the billet from sticking together.
1. Know Your Material
When it comes to aluminum extrusion companies, you can’t just pick the first one that seems to have great rates. This could lead to a subpar finished product that will end up costing you more in the long run.
Look for a manufacturer that can work with a variety of materials and designs. This will help you find the company that is best suited to your needs and budget.
You should also be sure to look at the types of equipment and technology that they use. The best aluminum extrusion manufacturers will be using cutting-edge machinery and quality materials to create your product. This ensures a high-quality finished product that meets your specifications. This is essential for meeting your business goals. This will ultimately save you money and reduce your stress.
2. Know Your Design
When looking for an aluminum extrusion company, it is important to find one with a broad range of capabilities. This will ensure that they can meet your needs now and in the future. This includes capabilities such as plastic and rubber extrusions, metal fabrication, finishing, and injection molding.
The aluminum is pushed through the die using a powerful ram, similar to squeezing a tube of toothpaste. The resulting shape is then pulled out along a runout table. This process produces heat, so it is important to be aware of tolerances and dimensions when designing a profile.
Tolerances are affected by wall thicknesses, dimension size, location on the profile, alloy used, cross section and the parts application. For example, a small opening or t-slot can affect the tongue ratio.
3. Know Your Tolerances
When it comes to choosing the right aluminum extrusion manufacturer, tolerances are critical. The aluminum extrusion process heats and forces softened metal through a shaped opening in a die to create the desired profile. This allows designers to produce complex shapes that are both functional and attractive.
Industry standard tolerances are published regularly and take into consideration the capabilities of extruders, incoming materials and end users needs. Extrusions can be made to tighter dimensional tolerances but this will increase setup time, inspection requirements and will often lead to requests for print deviations or reruns.
Tight tolerances on non-critical dimensions are a major source of hidden costs in the extrusion process. This is because they require additional inspections, increases in die trials and unnecessary tooling alterations which all add to the cost of the extrusion.
4. Know Your Process
Aluminum extrusion is a manufacturing process that uses a powerful ram to push the metal through a die to form it into a specific shape. The force is similar to squeezing a tube of toothpaste, and the result is a long, solid extrusion that can be cut into smaller pieces as needed.
The aluminum can be shaped into a wide range of channels, angles and frames. It can also be made into close-tolerance shapes for medical and electronics applications.
When choosing an extrusion manufacturer, it is important to know your project’s specifications and tolerances well. Specifying incorrect dimensions or tolerances can lead to costly mistakes in fabrication. To avoid this, make sure your drawings are finalized before sending them to the manufacturer. This will save you time and money in the long run.
5. Know Your Supplier
When selecting a company, it is important to find out their background and years of experience. It also helps to know the different industries they service. This way, they will be able to meet your specific needs and provide you with the best quality extrusions.
Aluminum extrusion is a manufacturing process that involves heating aluminum until it becomes soft and then forcing it through a shaped opening in a die to create a new cross-sectional profile. This process allows companies to make long lengths of aluminum profiles in a variety of sizes and shapes.
To get the most accurate results, it is critical to correctly specify the dimensions and tolerances of the desired profile. This can be done through written details, CAD drawings, or blueprints.
