What is Extruded Aluminum?
Whether it be aluminium or another material, extrusion is the process of forcing a material through a die to produce a cross-sectional bar. Despite having several steps, the procedure is rather simple. A manufacturer or designer must first create the extruded bar's ultimate outer dimension using a die
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A billet of the desired alloy of aluminium is heated to the required temperature, making it malleable, and then placed into an extrusion press with the finished die. The aluminium is then forced through the die by the press, coming out the other side as a lineal length of precisely shaped aluminium.
After tension is released and the piece has cooled, it is cut to the necessary length. The metal can now be heat treated because it has undergone post-production procedures. Since the process takes place at a high temperature, up to 75% of the melting point of aluminium, less force is required to push the metal through the die. This suggests that it is more rapid than cold forming methods.
What Is Cold-Finished Aluminum?
Extrusion is usually used instead of cold finishing, which is done at ambient temperature, because aluminium is easier to form at higher temperatures. Cold finishing creates extremely small outside diameter tolerances. Drawing is the most common type of cold finishing.
Extrusion frequently occurs at higher temperatures as compared to cold finishing, which takes place at ambient temperatures, because aluminium is easier to form at these temperatures. Cold finishing results in incredibly small tolerances for the outside diameter. Drawing is the type of cold finishing that is most common.
What is the Difference between Extruded and Cold Finished Aluminum?
The main advantage of standard aluminium extrusions is that they are much easier to deal with at higher temperatures. Due to higher production rates, an extruded bar frequently costs less than a cold finished product. Shorter lead times to market result from faster production.
When using the close-fitting collets seen in contemporary high-speed precision CNC machining machines, the tighter dimensional tolerances created by cold finished production are beneficial. Additionally, it improves the material's mechanical and physical properties, increasing machinability and producing milling chips that are smaller and disappear more quickly.
Extruded and Cold Finished Aluminum are Used in What Applications?
Extruded aluminium is often utilised in a variety of applications, although not all of them are suitable for it. Any need for better qualities could lead to the usage of the cold finished product as a raw material. Automotive, aerospace, and defence industries that require high strength frequently employ cold polished bar. Among the alloys used in cold finished applications are 2011, 2024, 6061, and 7075. The aluminium alloys 1100, 3003, 6061, 6063, and 6101 are often used in extrusions. The most common is probably 6061, which is prized for its beneficial qualities.
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