Aluminum Extrusion Services Specifications

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Services



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	Design Assistance / Review		Supplier can assist with concepts, manufacturing costs, manufacturing techniques and material considerations. Supplier may also be able to assist in upgrading or redesigning, re-evaluating or modernizing existing products to increase performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs. Some suppliers offer material sourcing and CAD modeling as well.
	Tool Making		Design and production of tooling to facilitate part fabrication.
	Prototype / Short Run		Supplier can create prototypes or perform small production runs for concept or market testing or product introduction cycles.
	High Volume Production		Supplier is capable of performing high volume production runs; equipment dedication and run time will depend on part and order specifications.
	Assembly Services		Supplier provides secondary operations and assembly services such as electro-mechanical assemblies, ultrasonic and heat welding, printing, painting, bonding, and machining.
	Specialty Packaging		Supplier provides part packaging specific to client requirements such as tape, reel, or tray packaging.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Materials



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	Series 1xxx		Primarily unalloyed, having a minimum of 99% Aluminum.
	Series 2xxx		The major alloying element of 2xxx series aluminum is copper.
	Series 3xxx		The major alloying element of 3xxx series aluminum is manganese.
	Series 4xxx		The major alloying element of 4xxx series aluminum is silicon.
	Series 5xxx		The major alloying element of 5xxx series aluminum is magnesium.
	Series 6xxx		The major alloying element of 6xxx series aluminum is magnesium and silicon.
	Series 7xxx		The major alloying element of 7xxx series aluminum is zinc.
	Other Specialty Aluminum Series
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Capabilities


	Processes
	Your choices are...
	Co-Extrusion		Co-extrusion is a technique in which multiple layers are extruded together; most widely used in sheet, film, and tubular extrusion applications.
	Cold Extrusion		The cold working extrusion process is performed at or near room temperature. High stresses dictate robust tooling for this process. The material undergoes significant cold working, and thus strengthening, and is usually not susceptible to the same levels of oxidation inherent in the thermal cycling associated with hot extrusion. Suitable for tubing, gear blanks, etc.
	Dual Extrusion		Dual extrusion and multi-durometer extrusion are techniques wherein materials of different hardness are combined in a single extrusion. One common application is a rigid material being combined with a flexible material in one cross section; the rigid component can add strength and structural alignment, while the flexible component may have a function such as sealing. Variations can include combining materials of different colors and laminates with varying layer properties.
	Hot Extrusion		Hot-working extrusion process that uses the good deformability of heated metallic or thermoplastic materials for shaping them. Extrusion at elevated temperatures enables considerable changes of shape to be achieved in a single operation where otherwise shaping them is impractical. Very complex sections can be produced that are not achievable with other shaping techniques. Extrusion also offers economic advantages in that the dies are relatively inexpensive and are interchangeable, so that one extrusion machine can be used for the production of a wide variety of sections. In hot extrusion, a metal billet heated to the appropriate temperature is fed into the cylindrical container of the extrusion press and is forced by the action of a ram through a steel die whose orifice has the desired shape to produce the solid or hollow section. The metal emerges from the die as a continuous bar, which is cut to the required lengths. Extrusion products are therefore essentially “linear” in character, in the sense that shaping is confined to the cross section only.
	Hydrostatic Extrusion		Similar to impact extrusion, hydrostatic extrusion relies on a more gradual ram application than the impact extrusion technique.
	Impact Extrusion		Impact extrusion is a technique in which a small amount of material is forced through a die by a ram, often in a tubular or similar cross section. Very significant material deformation makes this suitable for relatively soft materials such as aluminum, lead, or tin. One application of impact extrusion is for collapsible tubular sections or cans.
	Reverse / Backwards Extrusion		Reverse or backwards extrusion is a technique in which the material blank is forced to flow in the direction opposite the extruding pin, plunger, or ram. It may be combined with impact or hydrostatic extruding. Commonly used for cans or collapsible tubes.
	Wire Drawing		Rod or wire forming process wherein a material is forced through successively smaller dies, thereby reducing the cross section. "Drawing" refers to the wire or rod being assisted in being pulled through the die.
	Other		Unlisted, specialized, or proprietary extrusion technique.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

	Circle / Diameter Capabilities:		The cross section of the extrusion a supplier is capable of producing.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.

	Secondary Operations
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	Anodizing		Anodizing is a galvanic finishing process well suited to aluminum and its alloys. Anodize finishes can be hard for wear applications, or can include corrosion-resistant properties or a wide variety of colors.
	Bending/Forming		Secondary process to further shape the extrusion by bending or forming.
	Cutting		Secondary operation cuts holes, notches, etc. into the extrusion.
	Drilling/Punching		If required, holes can be placed in the extruded profile using drilling or punching techniques.
	EDM Cutting		Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) cuts metal via discharge from an electrode. The two primary types are wire EDM, in which the electrode is a thin wire typically made of brass or other alloys, and ram EDM, in which the electrode is a specially shaped piece of graphite or copper alloy. EDM is noted for tight dimensional tolerances and high finish quality without secondary operations such as lapping or grinding.
	Electroplating		Electroplating is a finishing process often used for materials such as brass, bronze, and copper. A wide variety of colors and textures can be achieved.
	Embossing		Secondary process places three dimensional (lowered or raised) pattern on the extrusion.
	Grinding		Grinding capability can provide very smooth and precise material finishes, and can be used to finish high-hardness wear surfaces.
	Heat Treating / Stress Relieving		Broad category of processes used to treat metals such as annealing, passivation, hardening, etc. Stress relieving may be important to relieve residual stresses imposed during the extrusion process.
	Machining		Facilities to provide machining operations on extruded parts such as turning, milling, boring, etc.
	Painting / Powder Coating		Application of decorative and/or protective finishes; coatings are typically thicker than plating or anodizing operations.
	Printing / Labeling		Printing and labeling techniques can include etching, stamping, screen-printing, etc. for inventory and identification purposes.
	Tape/Adhesive Application		Secondary process applies adhesive or tape.
	Water / Abrasive Jet Cutting		Water jets and water abrasive jets rely on highly pressurized water (20,000 - 60,000 psi) flowing through a nozzle or "jewel" approximately 0.010" in diameter. Advantages include almost no material heating during cutting, low side loads, and ability to achieve complex shapes and tight inside radii. Low fixturing costs and fast setup and programming times make this process very suitable for prototypes or short runs. It is most widely used for two-dimensional cutting; three-dimensional machining is possible in specialty applications. Pure water jets are typically used to cut very soft material such as fabrics or rubber; metals usually require abrasives in the stream. "Water Jet" is a generic term that is sometimes used to cover both processes.
	Welding		Joining of metals and metal extruded parts by melting and re-forming a metal bond between materials, with or without additional filler metal.
	Other		Unlisted or specialized secondary operation.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

	Applications
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	Construction / Building Products		Extruded shapes can frequently be used in architectural or construction applications. Examples include structural members, door and window frames, decorative features, etc.
	Custom Profiles / Cross Sections		Long extrusions with a constant cross-section specified by the extrusion customer. Used in a wide variety of industrial, commercial and structural applications. Advantages can include high strength-to-weight ratio, minimizing material waste resulting from part machining, maximizing material use for expensive materials, and decorative and appearance considerations.
	Heat Sinks		Extruded shapes specifically meant for heat dissipation of electronics products, power supplies, processors, etc.
	Pipe		Rigid pipe extrusion applications can include custom chemical or fluid media transport and unusual strength or dimensional properties.
	Rod / Wire		Circular cross-section rod and wire for a variety of applications.
	Sheet		Flat sheets are extruded to customer-specified thickness and dimensions.
	Tubing / Hose		Flexible tubing and hose can be extruded with customer-specified dimensions, wall thickness, and mechanical and chemical properties. Tubing can often be made in multi-layer and special compound configurations.
	Other		Unlisted, specialized, or proprietary extrusion application.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Regional Preference



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	North America		This selection will only return companies located in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
	United States Only		This selection will return only companies located within the United States.
	Northeast US Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Northeast US; namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
	Southern US Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Southern US; namely Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
	Southwest US Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Southwest US; namely Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
	Northwest US Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Northwest US; namely Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
	Midwest US Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Midwest US; namely Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
	Canada Only		This selection will return only companies located in Canada.
	South / Central America Only		This selection will return only companies with facilities in South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, or in Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, etc.
	Europe Only		This selection will return only companies located in Europe; namely Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, etc.
	South Asia Only		This selection will return only companies located in South Asia; namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.
	Near East Only		This selection will return only companies located in the Near East; namely Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.
	East Asia / Pacific Only		This selection will return only companies located in East Asia; namely China, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
	Oceania Only		Companies are located in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and a large group of South Pacific islands that include Micronesia, Polynesia, Guam, Fiji, Tonga, etc.
	Africa Only		Companies are located in sub-Saharan Africa.
	Other		Any unlisted country or region.
	Search Logic:		Products with the selected attribute will be returned as matches. Leaving or selecting "No Preference" will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Aluminum Extrusion Services Specifications

Services:

Materials:

Processes:

Circle / Diameter Capabilities:

Secondary Operations:

Applications:

Regional Preference:

Help with Aluminum Extrusion Services specifications: