Extrusion Services Specifications

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Services


	Services
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	Design Assistance / Review		Suppliers can assist with concepts, manufacturing costs, manufacturing techniques and material considerations. Suppliers 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 computer aided design (CAD) modeling.
	Die / Tool Fabrication		Suppliers design and produce tooling to facilitate part fabrication. Typically, extrusion uses dies through which the material is extruded or pultruded.
	Prototype / Short Run		Suppliers can create prototypes or perform small production runs for concept definition, market testing, or product introduction.
	High Volume Production		Suppliers are capable of performing high-volume production runs. Equipment dedication and run time depends upon part and order specifications.
	Assembly Services		Suppliers perform secondary operations and assembly services such as electro-mechanical assembly, ultrasonic and heat welding, printing, painting, bonding, and machining.
	Specialty Packaging		Suppliers provide part packaging such as tape, reel, or tray packaging for specific client requirements.
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Materials


	Materials		Material selection considerations include tensile or impact strength, magnetic and electric properties, and corrosion resistance. Material flow during the stamping or forming process is another significant consideration when deep draws or especially thin or thick parts are desired.
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	Aluminum		Aluminum exhibits many qualities useful for extrusion: material formability, high specific strength, versatility in custom profiles, and corrosion-resistant properties. Aluminum is used for many structural and industrial part extrusions.
	Bronze / Brass		Bronze and brass extrusions are used in applications as diverse as architectural finish details, plumbing fittings and components, and the manufacture of musical instruments.
	Ceramics		Extrusion of ceramics is typically a hot and/or vacuum process. Ceramic extrusions are used in high-technology electronics and physics applications, high heat energy production, and artistic and architectural products.
	Composites		Composite materials incorporate two or more materials in configurations designed to exploit the advantages of each; fiber-reinforced plastics such as Fiberglas® and Kevlar® are well-known examples of composite materials.
	Copper		Copper is an important material in the plumbing, electrical, electronic, and architectural industries. It is known for its good electrical conductivity for electrical wire and contacts, its formability, and its architecturally aesthetic properties.
	Exotic Metals and Alloys		Metals and their alloys with special properties and applications; include such materials as beryllium copper, beryllium nickel, niobium, tantalum, and titanium.
	Precious Metals		Specialty extrusion of precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, etc. Industrial applications include electronic connection terminals; other applications include gold foil for the printing industry and other specialty services.
	Plastics / Polymers		Broad category including all thermoplastic materials and their extrusion. A short list of commonly extruded plastics includes ABS, PVC, Polyethylene, Polyurethane, and Nylon. Many other plastics are well suited for extrusion and plastic and polymer compounds can be custom-designed for the application in special cases.
	Rubber / Silicone		Includes extrusion of synthetic and natural rubber materials such as silicone rubber. Often specified for tubing or sealing applications.
	Steel / Stainless Steel		Broad category of steel for which iron is the primary constituent, including carbon and cold-rolled steels, stainless steel, etc.
	Other		Unlisted or unusual application-specific materials.
	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
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	Co-Extrusion		Co-extrusion is a technique in which multiple layers are extruded together. It is used widely in sheet, film, and tubular extrusion applications.
	Cold Extrusion		Cold-working extrusion processes are performed at or near room temperature. High stresses require robust tooling. Because cold-working is a strengthening process, the worked material is not subject to the same levels of oxidation inherent in the thermal cycling associated with hot extrusion. Cold extrusion is suitable for tubing, gear blanks, etc.
	Cross Head Extrusion		Cross head extrusion is used to coat solid materials with plastic. Base material can be wire, glass, aluminum, etc.
	Dual / Multi-durometer Extrusion		Dual extrusion and multi-durometer extrusion are techniques in which materials of different hardnesses are combined in a single extrusion. A common application is the combination of a rigid material with a flexible material in one cross-section. The rigid component adds 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 processes uses the good deformability of heated metallic or thermoplastic materials for shaping. 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 can also offer 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 process suitable for relatively soft materials such as aluminum, lead, or tin. One application of impact extrusion is for collapsible tubular sections or cans.
	Pultrusion		Pultrusion is a manufacturing process where resin-impregnated reinforcement fibers are pulled though a heated steel die. Typically, the fibers are pulled from rolls through a resin impregnator and then through the die, where the die heat initiates curing into a solid, constant cross-section of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). After additional curing steps, the pultruded shape is cut to length.
	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. This process is used for cans or collapsible tubes.
	Wire Drawing		Wire drawing processes force a material through successively smaller dies, thereby reducing the cross-section.
	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.

	Size Capabilities		This is the maximum cross section of the extrusion a supplier is capable of producing. It is often referred to as circle or diameter capabilities.
	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-resistance 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) patterns on the extrusion.
	Grinding		Grinding provides smooth and precise material finishes. It can also be used to finish high-hardness wear surfaces.
	Heat Treating / Stress Relieving		Heat treating is a broad category of processes for treating metals. Processes include annealing, passivation, hardening, etc. Stress relieving may be important to relieve residual stresses imposed during the extrusion process.
	Machining		Suppliers can perform machining operations such as turning, milling and boring on extruded parts.
	Painting / Powder Coating		Painting and powder coating apply decorative and/or protective finishes. Coatings are usually thicker than plating or anodizing finishes.
	Printing / Labeling		Printing and labeling techniques are used for inventory management and identification purposes, and include processes such as etching, stamping and screen printing.
	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		Welding joins metals and metal-extruded parts by melting and re-forming a metal bond between materials, with or without additional filler metal.
	Other		Other unlisted or specialized secondary operations.
	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.

Location



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	North America		Companies are located in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
	United States Only		Companies are located in the United States.
	Northeast US Only		Companies are located in the Northeast United States, namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
	Southern US Only		Companies are located in the Southern United States, 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		Companies are located in the Southwest United States, namely Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
	Northwest US Only		Companies are located in the Northwest United States, namely Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
	Midwest US Only		Companies are located in the Midwest United States, namely Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
	Canada Only		Companies are located in Canada.
	South / Central America Only		Companies have facilities in South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, or Chile; or in Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, etc.
	Europe Only		Companies are located in Europe, namely Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, etc.
	South Asia Only		Companies are located in South Asia, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.
	Near East Only		Companies are located in the Near East, namely Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.
	East Asia / Pacific Only		Companies are 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.

Extrusion Services Specifications

Services:

Materials:

Processes:

Size Capabilities:

Secondary Operations:

Location:

Help with Extrusion Services specifications: