White Papers
View the white papers below to gain insight on various trends and technologies in the industry.
Designers and engineers want the freedom to design innovative features that allow for manufacturability. They want to be worry-free when it comes to standard tolerances, industry standards, high tooling costs and long lead times. Some of our customers felt hindered by their other suppliers’ unwillingness, or inability, to offer them the freedom to design. When they discovered that…
Strength vs. weight vs. costs is an important comparison, with all pieces being very important. As you look at an aluminum extruded part from a cost standpoint, the alloy 6063 extruded in a solid shape is going to be the most cost effective way to approach an aluminum extruded part. A variation of 6063, 6060…
Engineering for Success with Aluminum Extrusions: Five Tips to Use Dimensioning and Tolerance in the Design Stage as a Competitive Advantage In today’s fast-paced manufacturing industry, it can be difficult to set aside time to define tolerances for a new aluminum extruded component design. Pressed for time, OEM design engineers often default to title block…
Design options for extrusions are something many don’t consider. Looking for new ideas? Looking for more freedom in your designs? Looking to reduce costs? Our Alex-Cube die drawing illustrates ideas that provide solutions for many of these questions. Consider the versatility of the aluminum extrusion process for your next new design or redesign project. Our other white papers delve deeper…
The purpose of this white paper is to show some of the advantages of using the aluminum extrusion process as illustrated by the Alex-Cube business card holder. Our papers address innovative ways to use aluminum extrusions while giving you the versatility necessary for your new project designs. The aluminum extrusion process provides design techniques and features…
This paper continues our series in showing some of the advantages of using the aluminum extrusion process as illustrated by the Alex-Cube business card holder. This paper will outline some of the benefits and costs of using various mechanical finishes for your new project designs. For many applications where profiles are used in a mill-finish…
Due to a large demand within your marketplace for technical information in regard to chemical finishing processes for aluminum extrusions, Alexandria Industries would like to take this opportunity to provide you with up to date information on the effects that chemical finishing can have on your products. The most commonly used types of chemical finishing are:…
There are two principle reasons to coat aluminum extrusions. The first one is to control the appearance for purposes of color coordination, uniformity, or visual appeal. Secondly, to protect the substrate from environmental damage due to acid rain, sulfur pollution, salt corrosion, or excess oxidation. The type of finish selected for aluminum extrusions depends upon…
Aluminum extrusion offers product design key advantages inherent in the flexibility of the process to reduce fastener and assembly costs as illustrated in the Alex-Cube business card holder. Snap Fit Assemblies A “snap-fit” joint (O) is one that is self-locking and requires no additional fasteners to hold the joint together. Several rolled shapes, riveted together, can be replaced by…
Precisely manufactured components are critical to helping OEM engineers bring their product designs to life. When those products involve bent and formed aluminum extrusions, [product designers need to consider factors, such as inside and outside diameters, critical surface areas and mechanical strength that can affect a part’s final fit and finish. Different types of bending…