Blog - Aluminum Extrusion Articles
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10 Effective Ways of Joining Aluminum Extrusions: A Guide for Product Designers
Extruding aluminum offers the ability to create a wide array of profiles to meet your needs, ranging from simple to complex. While experienced designers can incorporate a variety of features into a single extruded profile, it may not be possible or practical to...
5 Important Factors That Impact the Cost of Custom Aluminum Extrusions
Ordering a custom aluminum extrusion can often be the right choice when there is nothing in regular inventory that meets your needs. Whether you need a specific profile, an unusual alloy, or a particular surface finish, knowing more about how much custom aluminum...
What is T-Slot Aluminum Framing, and How do Engineers Use It?
A solid and sturdy structural frame is essential for many engineering projects, from 3D printer frames and translation axes to custom workbenches and machinery enclosures. T-slot aluminum is a material that offers high durability, maximum versatility, and a reasonable...
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.
What is Mill Finish Aluminum, and How Does it Compare to Other Options?
Material selection is one of the most important considerations for an engineer designing a new product or system. There are many different materials to choose from, and aluminum is an increasingly popular choice for many applications, from building construction and...
9 Types of Aluminum Finishes That Will Enhance Your Product
The excellent properties of aluminum make it a regular choice for extrusion designers in a wide range of industries. It has a fantastic strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, good thermal and electrical conductivity, and more. While this may be enough...
Anodizing vs. Powder Coat: How to Choose the Right Aluminum Finish
If you are producing an aluminum part or product, you likely want it to have a protective and attractive surface treatment. And with all the options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This article compares two of the most popular aluminum surface finishing...
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 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...
Which Aluminum Alloys are Best for Welding, and Can You Weld Your Product?
Aluminum and its alloys are extremely popular for a wide range of applications. Nevertheless, there is a common misconception that aluminum cannot be effectively joined through normal welding processes the way steel alloys can. Many people think they have no choice...
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.
Which Aluminum Alloys are Best for Extruded Heat Sinks?
Heat sinks are used in CPUs and graphics processors. They're found in everything from lighting equipment to automotive equipment. When you're designing a heat sink, there are compromises you need to make. You need to find the right balance between factors that...
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. You...
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...