Blog - Aluminum Extrusion Articles
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Custom Aluminum Extrusions: 5 Important Tips for Engineering Design Success
Aluminum extrusions are versatile, finding use in a wide range of industries and applications. But that diversity of applications also means your supplier’s inventory of standard profiles won’t cover every need. Many product designers encounter unique situations. They...
What are Aluminum Extrusions Used For? Are They a Good Choice for Your Product?
To those who aren’t familiar with aluminum production and manufacturing, aluminum extrusion may seem like a specialized industrial process. Something that isn’t very relatable to the average person. But we are surrounded by aluminum extrusions every day, at home, at...
Aluminum Extrusion Bending: An Overview for Design Engineers
From rails for industrial equipment to automotive applications to bold artistic sculptures and architectural designs, there are plenty of reasons you may want to create curved aluminum extrusions. While the ductility of aluminum makes it well-suited to bending for...
Category: Aluminum Finishing
Extrusions can be finished in a variety of ways, including by anodization, powder coating, painting, sublimation, and so on. This series of articles takes a look at the different options available as well as their benefits and drawbacks.
Wood Grain Aluminum: Giving Your Extrusions or Sheet a Natural Look
Humans have used wood as a building material for thousands of years. While many newer building materials exist in modern times, people still value wood for its warmth, elegance, and timeless appeal. In recent decades, we’ve seen the increased use of aluminum and new...
Can You Powder Coat Aluminum? Is it the Best Finish for Your Product?
Yes, you can powder coat aluminum! In fact, powder coating is one of the most popular aluminum surface finishes for a wide range of products. It provides additional durability to bare aluminum surfaces and comes in a wide range of eye-catching colors. Here we...
What is Alodine Finish, and How Does it Compare to Anodizing?
Aluminum is naturally corrosion-resistant, but when that’s not enough, designers will need to choose a protective aluminum surface finish. Alodining is a popular finishing option for preventing corrosion while still allowing electrical conductivity through the...
Category: Aluminum Alloys
Profiles can be produced in a variety of alloys and some of the most common include 6061, 6063, 2024, and 7075. This series of articles takes a look at some different alloys, focusing on their properties and applications.
Heat Treating Aluminum: How Does it Work, and What are the Options?
Every aluminum alloy has unique physical properties that make it suitable for specific applications. And heat treatment is a tool you can use to fine-tune those properties even further. Heat treatment involves the controlled heating and cooling of a product, in whole...
Aluminum Extrusion Alloys: Which One Should You Choose for Your Project?
There’s a lot to consider during the aluminum extrusion design process, from the desired profile shape to procurement costs and even options for special surface finishing. But one of the first considerations is typically deciding which aluminum alloy is the best for...
Aluminum Die Casting Alloys: Which One is Best for Your Project?
Once you have decided that the aluminum die casting process is suitable for your project, a crucial next step is deciding on the most appropriate alloy. The aluminum alloy you choose will substantially impact both the casting process and the properties of the final...
Category: Aluminum Heatsinks
Heatsinks are important in electronics manufacturing because they dissipate the high heat that is sometimes generated. Extrusion is the most common method of heatsink manufacturing. Here are some important considerations.
6 Heat Sink Types: Which One is Best for Your Project?
Whether you’re designing computers, LED lighting, or other electronics, you need to think about heat sinks. Heat sinks absorb and dissipate the heat from these devices, helping to keep them cool. Today we'll talk about some different types of heat sinks, how...
Copper vs. Aluminum Heatsinks: What You Need to Know
Electronic devices can generate a lot of heat. So, heatsinks play an important role in helping to cool them. You may be aware that aluminum is the most popular metal for heatsinks, but that copper is also sometimes used. You may also realize that copper has...
Anodized Aluminum Heatsinks: What You Need to Know
Heat sinks play an important role in electronic and mechanical devices. They act as passive heat exchangers, transferring heat from hot components to a fluid medium (usually air). There are different types of heat sinks. Some are made from copper and some are...
Category: Why Aluminum Extrusions?
Extrusions have played an increasingly important role in modern product design. These articles explore some of the reasons why and provide tips for designers who may be considering their use.
Custom Aluminum Extrusions: 5 Important Tips for Engineering Design Success
Aluminum extrusions are versatile, finding use in a wide range of industries and applications. But that diversity of applications also means your supplier’s inventory of standard profiles won’t cover every need. Many product designers encounter unique situations. They...
Wood Grain Aluminum: Giving Your Extrusions or Sheet a Natural Look
Humans have used wood as a building material for thousands of years. While many newer building materials exist in modern times, people still value wood for its warmth, elegance, and timeless appeal. In recent decades, we’ve seen the increased use of aluminum and new...
Heat Treating Aluminum: How Does it Work, and What are the Options?
Every aluminum alloy has unique physical properties that make it suitable for specific applications. And heat treatment is a tool you can use to fine-tune those properties even further. Heat treatment involves the controlled heating and cooling of a product, in whole...