Aluminum Fabrication - Which Fabrication Process is Best for your Project?
- Master Steel
- May 11, 2022
- 2 min read
Choosing the best aluminum fabrication process for your project is equally important as choosing the base material. Please note that there are various methods to fabricate aluminum, and each process affects the physical properties of the material and the production costs for quality steel fabrication.
In this article, you will learn about the commonly used aluminum fabrication methods, and which fabrication process works the best for your project.
Before understanding the types of fabrication methods, let’s understand what aluminum fabrication is.
Aluminum fabrication is the method of giving a specific shape to aluminum. The fabrication process includes various physical and chemical procedures.
Types of Aluminum Fabrication Process
There are four common types of aluminum and steel design and fabrication process, and each holds a different technique and possesses unique properties. Hence, product designers use them for different parts and applications.
Aluminum Extrusion
Under this process, a heavy ram pushes the heated aluminum billet through a die with a final cross-section form. This process is quite similar to the children playing with play-dough, creating a long strand by pushing it under a plastic die, or the way you push toothpaste out of a tube.
The aluminum extrusion provides a vast assortment of forms, including solid, hollow, and semi-hollow shapes. These assortments can be cut at any length, making extrusion a perfect method to create complex cross-sections at a low production cost. Additionally, extrusion provides a smooth surface finish which is perfect for processing it further and preventing corrosion.
Aluminum Casting
If you want to get complex aluminum shapes, you should try casting. The casting process involves melting the ingots of aluminum alloys and injecting liquid metal into a mold during on-site welding.
The poured metal fills the empty mold’s cavities and solidifies to create a perfect duplicate of the mold’s internal shape to get the quality steel fabrication.
The prime advantage of casting is the complexity of the parts, though it gives you options for different textures but no size limitations.
Aluminum Rolling
The rolling process includes passing the billets of aluminum alloys through different sets of rolls to reduce the thickness. Then, the process is repeated till the aluminum reaches its final form and forms a piece that resembles a plate, sheet, or foil, as per the thickness.
These aluminum parts hold great versatility, and fabricators can process them easily for bending, forming, or machining operations.
Aluminum Forging
The process of forging includes forming the metal by pressing and pounding to achieve the desired shape. Aluminum is forged using an open or closed die. Manufacturers generally use open die forging for large pieces for better steel design and fabrication.
Ending Note
Now that you know the complete aluminum fabrication process, it is time to be aware of the best aluminum fabrication services. MasterSteel offers the best aluminum and steel fabrication services at affordable prices.
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