Aluminum is slowly and steadily becoming one of the most valuable materials in most manufacturing industries. In fact, the global consumption of aluminum reached a massive amount of 69 million metric tons in 2022, further cementing its position as one of the top materials in the world. Aluminum features not just ridiculous flexibility but also great workability, enabling it to be used in pretty much any industry.
When it comes to aluminum, there is a lot you will have to take into account before you can arrive at a full quote or a production strategy for this material. This guide will provide the necessary information that will help you navigate through this material.
Why Choose Customized Aluminum?
Aluminum is an extremely flexible material that mechanics love to work with. Its high malleability and flexibility mean that aluminum can take on many different shapes with ease, enabling manufacturers to use it in a vast array of products.
However, sometimes, aluminum in its original form might not be suitable for certain products. This is where customized aluminum production comes in. By customizing aluminum and using aluminum alloy, you will be able to gain the flexibility of aluminum as well as the durability or the anti-corrosive properties of the added materials.
Customized aluminum profiles also help you to get the best type of alloyed aluminum for the project, ensuring the best finished quality for your products.
The first thing you should do before committing to customized aluminum production is to choose your aluminum alloy first. This alloy will be your bread and butter for the first projects. It is possible to pivot towards another material down the line if you are planning to produce other parts, but it is recommended to stick with a reliable aluminum alloy during the first stages of your business.
For aluminum alloys, there are at least 5 factors you should take into consideration.
If you are using aluminum alloys to form sheet metal or similar products, this might be the most important factor to consider. Workability refers to the material’s reactions to being worked on through mechanical deformations such as rolling. Sheet metal production requires you to roll sheets of aluminum into huge rolls, so these kinds of projects would require aluminum alloys that permit a high level of workability.
In some projects, you might be required to weld aluminum alloys together to create new parts. This is where weldability comes into play, as an aluminum alloy with high weldability will stick much more easily, preventing the whole part from coming apart. Aluminum alloys with high weldability will also make it easier for the workers to start welding.
Metallic materials are prone to corrosion, which can easily cause serious damage to the material if there is no measure in place to prevent them. Some certain parts need to be resistant to corrosive factors, so you will have to choose aluminum alloys that are capable of resisting them.
Aluminum is quite strong, though not as strong as titanium or some steel alloys. In some use cases, the finished products need to be extra tough and rugged to handle environmental damage or other forms of damage. The best aluminum alloys that can withstand a beating include Alloy 7075 or Alloy 2024.
Finally, the end use case of the aluminum alloy will be the most important factor. In certain industries, like aircraft or military, for example, you will have to select the exact aluminum alloy in accordance with that industry’s standard for various reasons. If you are working with customers in these industries, it is a good idea to study the aluminum alloys used in them first.
What is Multi-Color Anodizing?
In researching the aluminum customizing process, you might come across the term Multi-Color Anodizing. This is a specialized treatment process that gives aluminum a tougher and anti-corrosive surface, enhancing your material’s overall durability. Multi-color anodizing will also add multiple colors to that surface, creating a visually stunning display of colors that will surely make your customized aluminum material stand out. This process is commonly used when creating high-value aluminum materials for luxury products or similar products.
How to Quote Customized Aluminum Materials?
Once you have figured out all the basic steps of the production process, it’s time to take a look at how you would quote your aluminum materials. Because customizing aluminum materials is a difficult process that would require a certain degree of familiarity and knowledge with regards to aluminum, you should aim for a higher quote compared to the usual aluminum products. Do remember to take into account the labor costs involved in the project as well since they tend to be higher if you have to work with skilled experts.
Another important factor in the equation is the material supplier. If you work with experienced and reliable suppliers, you are much more likely to gain incentives or discounts from them, thus driving down the overall cost of the project in increasing your profits. With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing industries, Art Tangent will be your trusted supplier! We provide the best materials as well as molding services to make sure that you can start your production project right away! We offer molds for control systems as well as custom molds depending on your needs. Call us now for more information about our services!
Producing customized aluminum is a great way to create aluminum products that fit certain needs. When you are about to take on one of these projects, be sure to take into account different factors such as workability, weldability, and the strength of the aluminum materials. If you need to add colors to your aluminum materials, try to add the multi-color anodizing process into your production process. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us at Art Tangent!
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