Extrusions

Extrusion is among the most widely used of the aluminum forming processes, affording designers almost unlimited creative latitude to design profiles to meet specific needs.

The process begins with the creation of a metal die that precisely matches the profile of the shape specified by the designer. Aluminum billets or logs, produced from ingots, are heated and forced under pressure through the die. The process is quite similar to squeezing toothpaste from a tube. The variety of shapes that are possible is virtually limitless. What's more, profiles are produced to exact specifications, with very close tolerances.

Once the profile is extruded, it can be further fabricated—cut to length, machined, drilled, punched, notched, bent, and assembled into a semi-finished product. An extruded tube can even be “stretched” to produce tubing of specific inner and outer dimensions. Profiles can be painted, anodized, brushed, or polished, depending on the desired finish.

2005 Aluminum Design Competition Winners (Adobe PDF File)
Photos

Lightweight Extrusions Shoulder Heavy Design Load
2005 Aluminum Design Competition