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Aluminum extrusions are drawn through dies to produce aluminum parts with fixed cross-sectional profiles. With hot extrusion, a cylindrical billet of aluminum alloy is heated, forced through a die, and then cooled for subsequent straightening, work hardening, and sawing. Cold extrusions are produced at or near room temperature for closer tolerances and higher strength due to cold working. Both extrusion methods produce aluminum parts with complex cross-sections, but that require surface improvement.
Radiusing and Deburring Aluminum
Aluminum extruders who supply the automotive, electronics, and appliance industries require aluminum shapes that are burr-free and slightly radiused. From air conditioner condenser tubes to fans and heat sinks for electronics applications, aluminum extrusions must be free of loose, torn, or folded metal that could cause flaking and interfere with heat dissipation. Extruded aluminum parts such as metal tracks, rails, frames, and mullions also require deburring to remove raised edges (burrs) or unwanted material.
Flexible Honing for Extruded Aluminum Parts
Flexible honing tools and industrial abrasive brushes are used by aluminum manufacturers who serve these and other industries. With its soft-cutting action and low-temperature abrading process, a flexible hone exposes the base metal structure of aluminum to produce a smooth, long-wearing surface. For surface conditioning, abrasive nylon brushes are ideal for surface finish improvement after hot or cold aluminum extrusion.
Industrial Brushes for Surface Finishing
Aluminum extruders and fabricators use industrial brush tools for surface finishing and the blending of tool marks after machining or grinding. Composed of flexible abrasive nylon filaments manufacture to a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic base, these high-performance brushing tools can be integrated with automated machinery, CNC machining centers, transfer lines, and robotic cells. Applications for nylon abrasive brushes include the deburring and resurfacing of aluminum auto parts.
What's Your Aluminum Extrusion Application?
From aluminum heat sink extrusions to aluminum angles, boxes, cases, tees, and flexible honing tools and industrial brushes offer superior surface finishing. So what's your aluminum extrusion industry application? Let us know by commenting on this blog entry, or "talk to us" on these social media channels.
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Author's Note: This CR4 blog entry appeared originally in the Flex-Hone Blog.
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