Aluminum extrusion is a process that is widely used in the manufacturing industry for the purpose of creating components that have a cross-sectional Aluminum Profile that is consistent all the way through. The goal of this process is to create components that can be used in multiple applications. In many different contexts, aluminum is utilized as a material of choice due to its malleability, mechanical strength, and relative affordability. To form the desired cross-section in the aluminum, a die, which is a specialized tool used to shape material, is first used to shape the aluminum, and then the aluminum is forced through the die. The die was designed and manufactured to create the desired cross-section. Extrusion can be done at room temperature to improve surface finish and strength, or at high temperatures (above 350 degrees Celsius) to reduce the amount of work hardening that takes place. Either way, the extrusion process can be done at any temperature in between.

Aluminum extrusion is used extensively in the manufacturing industry to create components that have a cross-section that is consistent throughout the entirety of the component. Aluminum extrusions find common use in a variety of applications, including the following:

In what ways does the process of extruding aluminum differ from other methods?

The following steps make up the entirety of the process of extruding luminium, starting from the very beginning until the very end:

The die is initially fashioned from tool steel through the use of conventional computer numerical control (CNC) machining and/or electrical discharge milling in the first step of the process.

When loading the billet into the extrusion machine, lubricant is used, which helps to reduce the amount of friction that takes place throughout the process.

In order to get the aluminum billet into the die, the machine has a ram that is fitted with a high-pressure hydraulic system. This ram pushes the billet through the machine.

When nitrogen is allowed to flow through the die sections in a continuous manner, an inert atmosphere is produced. This is accomplished by introducing nitrogen into the system and allowing it to flow. This increases the amount of time that the die can be used before it needs to be replaced.

The extruded aluminum first travels to a runout table after leaving the die in the correct shape, and then it travels to a cooling table after completing its journey through the runout table.

- After being allowed to cool, the extrusion is then sawn to the desired length, which is typically accomplished through a process known as resawing

- After the extrusion has been sawn, it is then allowed to completely cool

- On the other hand, here at Get It Made, we favor using wire EDM because it ensures a clean cut

- This is one of the reasons why we use it

What are the advantages of having aluminum extrusions made specifically for your requirements, and how can you take advantage of these advantages?

Components that are difficult to understand without the use of cross-sectional views

The primary advantage of aluminum extrusions is that they can produce very complex cross-sections in a variety of lengths, which are typically either impossible to produce or extremely difficult to produce using alternative manufacturing methods. This is the case because aluminum extrusions have the ability to produce such cross-sections.

Various volumes of production, ranging from very few to many

1. There is flexibility with order volume once the die has been manufactured; extrusions can be produced economically in low, medium, or high volume depending on the requirements of the customer

2. We stand out from the competition in that there is no Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for the quantity of extrusion that must be purchased

3. Get It Made possesses the capability and flexibility to deliver for your project, regardless of the type of custom extrusion you require, whether it be a mass production or simply a one-off piece

4. This is the case regardless of whether or not you require a one-off piece or a mass production

Adjusting the wall thickness of an aluminum extrusion as well as the internal structural Aluminum Profile of the extrusion makes it possible to fine-tune the strength of the extrusion. This allows the extrusion to be used for a variety of applications. Because of this, the strength can be concentrated precisely where it is required, and this can be accomplished without the addition of any superfluous or unnecessary additional material.

Components that are simple to manufacture and low in cost

Extruding is a very efficient method of production because it enables the continuous production of parts, which, in comparison to other methods of production, results in a significant reduction in the cost per unit. Extrusion is a wonderful method for producing components on demand because, once the die has been created, it only takes a few days to go from raw material to finished product, which means that the process can be completed very quickly. This makes extrusion a fantastic method for producing components on demand.

Exceptionally high levels of durability for its size.



There is an initial startup cost associated with the manufacturing of the extrusion die, although this cost is not typically very high. However, there is still a cost associated with getting the manufacturing process started. This expense, on the other hand, is quickly made up for by the relatively low cost of producing aluminum extrusions.

Architectural limitations and restrictions

Because of the nature of the extrusion process, it is imperative that each component's cross-section be precisely identical to the others. Additionally, there are a couple of other design considerations that need to be taken into account; these will be discussed in greater detail in the section that is dedicated to the design guidelines for custom aluminum extrusions.