Aluminium extrusion products are everywhere even if a lot of people don’t notice them that often. They’re used for construction, manufacturing, interior and exterior design, and many more. As with anything, though, there are uses for aluminium extrusions that are more visible than others in both appearance and importance.
Examining these examples can provide the right context for their use with regard to any project you may have in the works.
It’s also worth noting that extrusions can be made of many different materials other than aluminium. These will differ greatly in terms of tensile strength, versatility, weight, and uses. Aluminium holds a huge advantage in many of these areas compared to other common materials, both synthetic and organic.
What Is An Aluminium Extrusion?
Aluminium extrusions are fabricated metallic formations that can take on many shapes and forms. Along with these shapes and forms are practical uses that are applied in many common items, constructs, and structures.
As items that are made using molten aluminium and tooling dies, extrusions can potentially be anything. This makes them highly versatile and easy to produce, especially with the right tools and manpower.
Fabrication processes will differ between manufacturers, which could then affect the quality and turnaround times. What remains constant is how widespread the use of aluminium extrusions can be.
How Are Aluminium Extrusions Made?
The process of making aluminium extrusions involves several stages that make use of heating and cooling. First, a billet of aluminium is heated to the point of melting. This liquified metal is then pushed through the tooling die with the corresponding required shape and dimensions. That last part is courtesy of the aluminium profiles cross-section.
This process is called bulk plastic deformation and is routinely used to produce extrusions made of many other materials. It has been compared to other similar shaping methods, including the making of fresh pasta.
What Are The Uses For Aluminium Extrusions?
The uses for aluminium extrusions are practically endless as long as you keep in mind what it was made for. These are essentially intended to be used in fields that involve building, manufacturing, modifications, and supporting.
A few examples of the industries that use aluminium extrusions in Perth are:
- Automotive
- Aeronautics
- Construction
- Architecture
- Signage manufacturing
- Transportation
- Home decor
As for the actual uses for the extrusions, they can include:
- Vehicular modifications
- Lighting placements
- Home remodelling
- Display cases, shelves, and cabinets
- Frames and housing for tech equipment
- Building robots
- Desks, chairs, cubicles, etc.
Those lists are far from complete and at the end of the day, if something needs to be held together, it likely requires an aluminium extrusion. With that said, different manufacturers focus on different extrusions.
Many specialize in smaller, specialized versions meant for electronics, for example. Others cater more toward larger, more industrial purposes that involve heavy machinery or large-scale construction.
This will then affect the types of extrusions that are produced for regular clientele.
Major Considerations When Choosing Aluminium Extrusions
Not all aluminium extrusions are the same as another and manufacturers can wildly differ, as well. As such, you need to take several things into account before you place an order. To start with, you need to consider the manufacturer’s specialization.
Some companies are better at handling some types of materials than others. With aluminium being considered a softer metal compared to steel, for example, it can require quite a bit of skill and specialized equipment. So, if you specifically need aluminium extrusions, you will want to get in touch with a company that specializes in aluminium products.
As for the other points of consideration when shopping for aluminium extrusions, you can refer to the following:
- Type
- Size
- Dimensions
- Intended uses
- Material composition
- Thickness
- Tensile strength
It’s worth noting that aluminium, while inherently more malleable than other, stronger types of metals, can still be incredibly tough. This is affected by its purity, its thickness, and the design of the end product it becomes. A well-made round bar of aluminium, for example, would be able to bear a considerable amount of weight and pressure.
As long as the manufacturer has the right equipment and skilled, trained, and experienced personnel, the aluminium extrusions they produce can be of excellent quality.
What Are The Limitations Of Aluminium Extrusions?
For all the wonders that come with aluminium extrusions, they do come with limitations. This isn’t surprising since the same can be said about any other extrusion that is made of different materials.
It’s not about finding a version that will have no disadvantages. Rather, it’s about finding the extrusion that will suit your needs the most. In this regard, aluminium is the most versatile and accessible.
With that said, it should still be noted that the process of fabricating aluminium extrusions or any extrusions still leads to the lack of uniformity in the flow of the metal. This is due to the fact that the molten material is being forced through a confined space while being pressured from three different directions.
As such, extrusions will inherently be less durable than other types of metallic products that are fabricated through methods that involve tempering. With well-maintained, cutting edge equipment, however, the difference can be reduced considerably.
A team of skilled technicians will also be able to limit the reduction of extrusion durability. They won’t be as strong as steel but will still be strong enough for what they are typically used for.
Conclusion
Aluminium extrusions can be a key part of any project and its requirements. They are strong, versatile, malleable, multi-purpose, and can be manufactured at low costs. They are also needed in multiple industries that require all of those qualities in order to create, build, extend, modify, or customize many other products. If you’re considering extrusions for your next project, reach out to us here.
Contact Custom Aluminium for all your Aluminium needs and we’ll make sure you get the highest quality materials for your projects.
