The process of aluminum extrusion consists of the following steps:
● After designing and forming the shape of the die, a cylindrical billet of aluminum alloy is heated to 800°F-925°F.
● The aluminum billet is then transferred to a loader, where a lubricant is added to prevent it from sticking to the extrusion machine, the ram or the handle.
● Substantial pressure is applied to a dummy block using a ram, which pushes the aluminum billet into the container, forcing it through the die.
● To avoid the formation of oxides, nitrogen in liquid or gaseous form is introduced and allowed to flow through the sections of the die. This creates an inert atmosphere and increases the life of the die.
● The extruded part passes onto a run-out table as an elongated piece that is now the same shape as the die opening. It is then pulled to the cooling table where fans cool the newly created aluminum extrusion.
● When the cooling is completed, the extruded aluminum is moved to a stretcher, for straightening and work hardening.
● The hardened extrusions are brought to the saw table and cut according to the required lengths.
● The final step is to treat the extrusions with heat in age ovens, which hardens the aluminum by speeding the aging process.
Additional complexities may be applied during this process to further customize the extruded parts. For instance, to create hollow sections, pins or piercing mandrels are placed inside the die. After the extrusion process, a variety of options are available to adjust the color, texture and brightness of the aluminum’s finish. This may include aluminum anodizing or painting.
Today, aluminum extrusion is used for a wide range of purposes, including components of the International Space Station. These diverse applications are possible due to the advantageous attributes of aluminum, from its particular blend of strength and ductility to its conductivity, its non-magnetic properties and its ability to be recycled repeatedly without loss of integrity. All of these capabilities make aluminum extrusion a viable and adaptable solution for an growing number of manufacturing needs.
.jpg)
The advantage of this process is its flexibility of shape and efficient mass production. Extrusion process is used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile, a material either metal or plastic pushed through a die of the desired cross-section.
The aluminum extrusion process actually starts with design, for it is the design of the part–based on its intended use–that determines the production parameters. Questions regarding machinability, function, finishing and surrounding circumstances will lead to the choice of the alloy. The function of the profile will determine the design of its form and, thus, the design of the die that shapes it.
Extrusion processes begins with the billet, which is the alloy from which profiles are extruded. The billet must be softened by heat before the extruding. The heated billet is placed into the extrusion press, a powerful hydraulic device wherein a ram pushes a dummy block that forces the softened metal through a precision opening, known as a die, to produce your desired form.
The advantage of this process is its flexibility to create multiple cross-sections, such as T slot, U slot, I slot, L slot, circular slots, square slots etc. Another advantage of this process is it is relatively cost effective when mass production is needed as it shortens the lead time.
We provide excellent extrusion tooling along with the best extrusion profiles.
