We offer a wide variety of aluminum products to our customers, including aluminum extrusion billets. These shapes are ideal for a variety of applications across a wide range of industries.

The extrusion process actually strengthens aluminum. Extrusions can also be made from other materials, including stainless steel, other metals, ceramics, plastics, and concrete.

Now, let's look at direct aluminum extrusion and its advantages and disadvantages.

Direct Aluminum Extrusion

The most common method of extrusion is using a direct aluminum extrusion press. This method requires a heated aluminum billet to be placed in a walled container.

A ram is used to force the aluminum billet through a die (or die). This part of the process requires tremendous pressure, which can range from 100 tons to 15,000 tons or even higher. 

The size of the shape that can be produced through this process is directly proportional to the pressure capacity of the aluminum extrusion press used.

In this process step, a dummy block is placed between the heated aluminum billet and the ram to prevent them from contacting each other. 

Since the aluminum billet and the ram move forward in the same direction, this method is called a forward aluminum extrusion process.

The ram applies pressure to push the aluminum billet into the die hole. When manufacturing 6061-T6511 aluminum extrusion billets, the hot extruded aluminum profile needs to be water quenched. 

It is then stretched and cut to the required length. This is the most common method for producing aluminum extrusions.

Advantages of Direct Extrusion

Direct extrusion has many advantages, including:

Longer workpieces can be extruded

Flexibility in operations

Low cost per component

Continuous operation

Post-processing modifications are easy during hot extrusion due to the heated state of the product

A wide range of raw materials can be used

High production is achieved

Good surface finish

Good compounding (mixing)

Cold extrusion produces good mechanical properties

Direct extrusion is the most common method for producing aluminum extrusions. This direct extrusion method is simple to operate and can produce more complex shapes. 

Although this method requires more force, it is able to produce more complex shapes, which is why it is more favored in the manufacturing process.

Disadvantages of Direct Extrusion

One of the disadvantages of the direct extrusion process is that the force required to extrude the material (billet) is greater than that required for indirect extrusion. 

This is because friction is created as the billet moves across the length of the extrusion vessel. The highest force occurs in the initial stages of the direct extrusion process and tapers off after that. 

Since the billet is thinner at this stage and flows radially away from the die, the force at the end of the billet increases significantly, so the end of the billet is not used.

As mentioned above, friction is a problem with the direct extrusion process due to the type of movement between the barrel wall and the heated metal billet. 

Lubricants can be used to reduce friction. The direct extrusion process can be completed quickly, and the barrel is cooled before further extrusion occurs to reduce equipment damage.

A Reliable Source for Your Aluminum Needs

We have more precision high-speed saws than any of our competitors. No matter what size aluminum you need, we can meet your stock aluminum extrusion and aluminum sheet cutting needs. 

We serve customers from a wide range of industries with our team's superb aluminum technology, extensive resources, and extensive experience.

If you need aluminum extrusions, aluminum sheets or aluminum plates, we are here to help as a trusted aluminum extrusion supplier.