Aluminum Profile forming process

The design process starts the whole aluminium profile extruding process as the die is the key that determine many of the final production parameters.The factors regarding machinability,finishing choice,and environment of use are critical to the choice of aluminium alloy. 

Profile design offer the very basic prototype of the extrusion and related a lot to the complexity of real production.Once the design questions have been answered,the extrusion process starts with the billet,form of material from which the aluminium profile are extruded.The metal is heated to soft state and being pressed by hydraulic device through the die,a highly precision opening made of H13 STEEL.To make it simple,the process is always likened to squeezing toothpaste out of the tube,the shape of the tube opening is like the die,determine the shape of the aluminium profile coming out.

 Several key steps are as follows: 

Billet

The cylindrical solid billet(for direct extrusion),as a cast product from melting aluminium, is cut to length into the extruding press container.It could be of different alloys,with small amount of various metalic elements composed in aluminum,such as copper,manganese,silicon,magnesium or zinc,enhancing the natural properties of aluminuium profiles.

Billet need to be preheated,as well as the die tooling.During extrusion,the billet is still solid but soft enough like flour,under the pressure from the moving ram in the press,the metal is crushed against the die and get through the opening when no place else to go.The tonnage of the press has determine the size of the billet applied as well as how large an aluminium profile could be produced.The profile finally come out on the runout table and form the long profile with high temperature.

 Stretching

A stretcher is necessary to straighten the extruded aluminium profile to correct any twisting that may have occurred subsequent to extrusion.

 Cutting

The long aluminium profile come out from the die need to be cut into specific commercial length.Circular saws are the most common in use today that cuts across the profile. 

Aging

Alloy determine the composition while temper determine the hardness and strength of the aluminium profile.When it leave the press,the profile is in a semi-solid state,but rapidly solidifies as it cools or is quenched.To reach optimal strength,aging need to be applied,in way of natural or artificial.Artificial aging take place through controlled heating in an oven for heat-treatable alloys,such as 6*** alloys.they are further strengthened or hardened to affect the metallurgical structure of the alloys. 

When the aluminium profile come out from the aging oven,the mill finish profile is ready for any type of finish according to the application requirement.