Aluminium extrusions are increasingly being used for a variety of applications in so many industries that advancements in different aspects of the technique continue to be developed. The initial extrusion process involves heating a mill finish aluminium billet until it becomes pliable enough to force it, by the use of a ramming device within a hydraulic press, through a die or mould cut to the desired shape. The resulting component will have a complex cross-sectional profile and the extrusion can then be cut or sliced to produce large batches of fabrications.
Quenching Technique
One of the main areas of the process to be developed significantly is in quenching or cooling the hot extrusion when it has emerged from the die. When the aluminium extrusion is quenched factors such as the length of time it takes the metal to cool combined with the precise fall in temperature both contribute to the eventual density and strength of the metal. Precise quenching temperatures can be achieved with the use of a quenching machine to produce components that are ideally matched to the purpose for which they are intended.
Quality and Control
A superior quenching machine can provide an enormous amount of control over the exact form of aluminium extrusion that is produced. Programmable capabilities ensure that precise measurements for the temperature of both the surrounding air and the water used to quench the metal can be achieved. As a result there is a choice of strengths or hardness for each batch of aluminium extrusion.
Different Alloys
When aluminium is combined with other metals it produces an aluminium alloy with different strengths and properties. When aluminium is combined with other metals it gains in strength. A small quantity of zinc is most commonly used to produce a versatile variant of aluminium that can be extruded for a variety of purposes which include components for rifles, rock climbing equipment and car parts.
The Ageing Process
Aluminium extrusions are aged following quenching which can be achieved through being heated at a high temperature in a curing oven. The length of time and the exact amount of heat can be controlled through sophisticated machinery to produce an aluminium extrusion to an exact standard and strength. The versatility of being able to select a particular hardness of aluminium extrusion is a result of the advancements in technique and machinery. For the latest in aluminium extrusion techniques visit Edmo.