There are many different steps involved in the creation of custom extrusion profiles. It starts with quality aluminum alloy, which we purchase in billet form from several different suppliers to ensure that we have the right materials for our customers. The aluminum we use is made of 99.9 percent recyclable aluminum. We pre-cut the billets, pre-heat the materials, and then go to work to create the custom shape that our customers request at our one stop shop fabrication, extrusion, and finishing facility. Located in Southeastern Massachusetts, we provide our extrusion and fabrication solutions to customers throughout North America and all around the world. We can create standard hollow aluminum tubes or multi-shape custom profiles, depending on the needs of each client.
Pre-Heating and Extrusion
Once the billets have been pre-cut into the right size, based on the length and weight of the desired profile, we pre-heat them in one of our long ovens. Bringing the aluminum to the right temperature before extrusion helps to create higher quality results. The aluminum itself is quite malleable but becomes even easier to work with effectively when it is heated to the proper temperature. After the pre-heating process is complete, we can then move the materials to the area where they can be made into the profile shape that the customer requires.
The heated metal is pushed at approximately ten million pounds of pressure through the customer’s steel profile or die. Again, this can be a standard shape, such as an angle, bar, or hollow aluminum tubes, or it can be custom extrusion profiles. The hot metal flows through the steel die and comes out on the other side in the exact shape that the client has requested. The metal is cooled slightly as it moves to our 160-foot table. The aluminum can be stretched into the perfect dimension while it is still warm through the use of opposing stretchers. Once we achieve the right length, diameter, and size, the metal is the cut according to the client’s specifications.
More Heat and Fabrication
After the metal is cut, it is heat-treated in order to harden the aluminum to its maximum capacity. The aluminum alloy that is chosen will determine what the final hardness and characteristics the finished part, product, or component will possess. Quality control is an essential part of our one stop shop fabrication and extrusion facility, which is why we do everything in-house, from the initial design work with the customer all the way through extrusion, fabrication, finishing, inspections, and shipping. This attention to detail and on-site processing also helps us to have some of the best lead times in the industry. While the standard is 30-45 days from start to finish, we are able to ship out our products in three to four weeks on average. We can even accommodate expedited order requests as a special favor to our customers.
In some situations, additional fabrication may be required. We have a complete fabrication department on-site with a fully-equipped machine shop that includes a variety of advanced machinery, such as CNC machines capable of long-part and short-part fabrication, pneumatic and hydraulic punches, precision sawing, and machining, mitering, and much more. Secondary operations, such as de-burring, heli-coiling, and assembly, can also be provided upon request. We utilize these techniques to help our customers shorten their lead times for fabrication and secondary operations so they can get their products to market without delay. We de-burr all of our machined parts as a standard part of the process to ensure that there aren’t any aluminum burrs left behind. This is just another example of our attention to quality control at Silver City Aluminum.
Quality Extrusion and Fabrication Solutions
If you would like to learn more about our one stop shop fabrication and extrusion facility or would like to speak with one of our engineers about designing custom extrusion profiles, give us a call at 508-824-8631. We can answer any questions you might have about our extrusion and fabrication solutions for custom profiles, as well as standard options, such as hollow aluminum tubes and solid aluminum bars. Call today to get a FREE estimate for our services or place an order for quality custom aluminum extrusion.