These days most of us know what extruded aluminum framing is-after all, many of the windows used in commercial and residential buildings are now encased in aluminum. This material is used because it offers superior corrosion-resistance and is strong enough to handle heavy loads and large amounts of stress. In fact, you might be surprised to know that many of today's airliners use extruded aluminum frames in their wings and throughout the rest of the aircraft. Dodge's little hot rod, the Prowler, was built on a frame made from extruded aluminum.
In this country the most common use for raw aluminum ore is in the creation of millions of feet of extruded aluminum framing. According to a recent study, some 14% of all the electricity generated in the US is used to process aluminum into a variety of different products, from soda cans to the framing used in the construction of large buildings and pieces of industrial equipment.
Extruded aluminum framing is made using round ingots of aluminum ore that are heated to a temperature that is just below their melting point.
Once the ingots have reached the right temperature they are pushed into dies that are used to create the final shaped product. This process is known as extrusion and can be used to create any number of different shapes. For those frames that need to have one or more hollows built into them, a floating die, known as a torpedo, is inserted in the fixed die and the aluminum will flow around it during the extrusion process. Once the newly extruded aluminum framing has come out of the die, it can be cut to length and straightened as necessary, being allowed to cool down to harden or sent on for further tempering. The choice of hardening process depends on what the frame is to be used for. The most commonly used cooling method is known as quenching and involves the rapid cooling of the extruded frame. For framing destined for heavy loads, the aluminum may be allowed to cool slowly at room temperature or it may be allowed to harden slowly in an oven for several days before being subjected to rapid cooling.
The industrial world has become a very popular place for the use of extruded aluminum framing where you will find it being used in the construction of the buildings and more often than steel in heavy duty machinery. Many of today's factory production machines now have bases and frames that are made from aluminum frames, as they are lighter weight and this metal will resist damage from water and other liquids that would ordinarily cause damage to a steel or cast iron frame. When you need extruded aluminum framing for one of your next projects, you should turn to a world leader in the development and design of aluminum products. At MK North America, you will find a company that was first recognized for its cutting edge aluminum framing system that was designed to offer an alternative solution to the standard steel weldments that have been in use for generations.
Once the ingots have reached the right temperature they are pushed into dies that are used to create the final shaped product. This process is known as extrusion and can be used to create any number of different shapes. For those frames that need to have one or more hollows built into them, a floating die, known as a torpedo, is inserted in the fixed die and the aluminum will flow around it during the extrusion process. Once the newly extruded aluminum framing has come out of the die, it can be cut to length and straightened as necessary, being allowed to cool down to harden or sent on for further tempering. The choice of hardening process depends on what the frame is to be used for. The most commonly used cooling method is known as quenching and involves the rapid cooling of the extruded frame. For framing destined for heavy loads, the aluminum may be allowed to cool slowly at room temperature or it may be allowed to harden slowly in an oven for several days before being subjected to rapid cooling.
The industrial world has become a very popular place for the use of extruded aluminum framing where you will find it being used in the construction of the buildings and more often than steel in heavy duty machinery. Many of today's factory production machines now have bases and frames that are made from aluminum frames, as they are lighter weight and this metal will resist damage from water and other liquids that would ordinarily cause damage to a steel or cast iron frame. When you need extruded aluminum framing for one of your next projects, you should turn to a world leader in the development and design of aluminum products. At MK North America, you will find a company that was first recognized for its cutting edge aluminum framing system that was designed to offer an alternative solution to the standard steel weldments that have been in use for generations.