Extrusion is the process of forcing molten material through an aperture in a die, producing an elongated component with a continuous profile. Because aluminum extrusion tends to involve malleable, ductile, and machinable aluminum grades like 6061 — grades that chip in a manageable way — the extruded parts can be cut in various ways using a CNC machine.
Combining aluminum extrusion and CNC machining is a great way to produce resilient parts with complex cross-sections and irregular geometries.
Many machinable aluminum alloys are suited to the age-old process of forging, which involves shaping metal through compressive force. (This often involves hitting the metal with a hammer.)
The forged pieces of aluminum can be post-machined with a CNC machining center, and this can be beneficial compared to machining alone since forged parts are generally stronger than fully cast or fully machined equivalents.
Investment casting is a metal casting process that uses wax patterns to create metal parts. It produces parts with an excellent surface finish and high dimensional accuracy and can be used to create intricate parts with no parting lines.
Aluminum alloys are a common material used for investment casting, and cast aluminum parts can be post-machined and given a coating for refinement.
Pressure die casting is a manufacturing process in which molten metal is forced into a mold cavity at high pressure. It is generally used when making parts in larger quantities, since the required tool steel dies are very expensive to make.
By die casting aluminum components then using a machining center fitted with the appropriate cutting tool, it is possible to create parts with an exceptional finish and more complex geometries than would be possible using either process on its own.
As the most versatile heat-treatable alloy, the highly machinable Aluminum 6061 is found in a wide range of new products, from laptops to large architectural features.
Aluminum 7075 is one of the strongest machinable aluminum alloys, and is consequently used in the aerospace industry and beyond.
A strong, hard and heat-treatable aluminum alloy, Aluminum 2014 is especially machinable when left untreated. It is regularly used in the aerospace industry.
Exhibiting an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and fatigue resistance, Aluminum 2024 is commonly found in vehicles.
Though not heat-treatable, Aluminum 5052 has a high strength and resistance to corrosion, making it suitable for underwater applications and more.
Used regularly in architecture, Aluminum 6063 is strong and corrosion resistant while offering an excellent finish.