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Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight

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especially the stronger alloys in the group (such as 5083). These come<br />

out slowly from the die, <strong>and</strong> cannot be used with bridge dies.<br />

2.3.7 Size <strong>and</strong> thickness limits<br />

Precise data on the limiting geometry for extruded profiles is impossible<br />

in a book such as this, <strong>and</strong> we can only give general guidance. It is<br />

obviously essential to confer with the extruder if there is any chance<br />

that a proposed section may cause problems.<br />

(a) Length<br />

For material that is unsuitable for spray quenching, such as 2xxx or<br />

7xxxseries material, the maximum length is governed by the heat-treatment<br />

set-up. Typical rough figures might be 6 m for vertical quenching, <strong>and</strong><br />

10 m for horizontal. This restriction does not apply with 6xxx-series<br />

material quenched at the press, for which the probable limitation is<br />

transport. With a very thick section, the available length may be restricted<br />

by the amount of metal in the billet.<br />

(b) Width<br />

There is no difficulty in obtaining extrusions up to 300 mm wide, for<br />

which there are many presses with a large enough container. Twice this<br />

width is possible from the largest presses, 600 mm or more, but these<br />

exist in only a few countries.<br />

(c) Thickness<br />

A designer will often want to make a section as thin as possible, for<br />

economy. The minimum thickness depends partly on what can be<br />

extruded, depending on the alloy, <strong>and</strong> partly on the control of distortion.<br />

It is generally a function of the overall size of the section. As a very<br />

rough guide, the minimum practicable thickness for a non-hollow in<br />

the weaker type of 6xxx-series alloy (such as 6063) is the greater of (a)<br />

1.2 mm; <strong>and</strong> (b) 1% of the section size.<br />

It is emphasized that these are approximate values, <strong>and</strong> that the<br />

minimum possible thickness for a given profile may sometimes turn<br />

out to be thicker <strong>and</strong> sometimes thinner. Value (b), which refers to<br />

general thickness rather than small ribs, etc., is more likely to be achieved<br />

when the T5 condition is specified (air quenched). For hollows, the<br />

minimum thickness will probably be some 25% higher than for nonhollows.<br />

For the stronger type of 6xxx material, the minimum available thickness<br />

tends to be slightly greater. For the weaker (weldable) type of 7xxx<br />

Copyright 1999 by Taylor & Francis Group. All Rights Reserved.

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