Extrusion + CNC: The brief introduction and engineering guide

What is Extrusion?

Extrusion is the process which is used to manufacture long as well as straight metal parts. In other words, extrusion process is used for the development of such objects that have a cross-sectional profile, which is fixed. With the use of extrusion process, the cross-sections can be made in a number of shapes such as solid round, T shapes, rectangular, Tubes, L shapes, etc. Basically, in the extrusion process the metal is squeezed in a die with the use of hydraulic or mechanical press. Features And Benefits of Extrusion Process Extrusion process provides a number of benefits over the other production processes. One of these benefits is the ability of extrusion to create extremely complex cross-sections as well as work materials, which are frangible as the material encounters only the shear and compressive stresses. Its another benefit is that with the use of best Extrusion Equipments or Extrusion Machines, such parts can be created that have an exceptional surface finish.

Till date, many Extrusion Machines have been developed and used to create objects having cross-sectional profile. The features of the Extrusion Process are tabulated below:

Cost Effective	Minimizes the requirement of secondary machining process
Cross Section	Wide variety of cross-sections can be made
Surface Finish	For Steel is 3 µm; (125 µ in) For Aluminum and Magnesium -0.8 µm (30 µ in)
Minimum Thickness	For Steel 3 mm (0.120 in)  For Aluminum and Magnesium 1mm (0.040 in)
Minimum Cross Section	For Steel 250 mm (0.4 in)
Corner And Fillet Radii	For Aluminum and Magnesium 0.4 mm (0.015 in)  For Steel the minimum corner radius is 0.8mm (0.030 in) and fillet radius is 4 mm (0.120 in)

Some General Points Of Extrusion Process

• Extrusion can be semi-continuous (creating a number of pieces) or continuous (theoretically creating indefinitely long material)
• Extrusion process can be done with the hot material or cold material
• Metals, concrete, polymers, ceramics and foodstuffs are the material that can be commonly extruded
• Extrusion ratio may be extremely large along with the development of qualitative parts
• Extrusion process is of three types:
  • 　　Hot Extrusion
  • 　　Cold Extrusion
  • 　　Warm Extrusion
  • 　　Extrusion Defects

Surface cracking	It occurs when the surface of an extrusion splits. This is generally caused by the high values of extrusion temperature, speed or friction. The cracking may also occur at lower temperatures, in case the extruded product temporarily sticks to the die.
Pipe	A flow pattern that draws the surface oxides and impurities to the center of the product. Such a pattern is normally caused by high friction or cooling of the outer regions of billet.
Internal cracking	It occurs when the center of extrusion develops cracks or voids. These cracks are directly attributed to a state of hydrostatic tensile stress at the centerline in the deformation zone in the die.