In the industrial markets spread out over a variety of states, extrusion tooling in Minneapolis is extremely important. Extrusion tooling is a process used to create tools and objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile. A material is pushed or pulled through a dye of the desired cross-section. The two main reasons for this is (1) the ability to create very complex cross-sections and (2) to work materials that are brittle, since the material only encounters compressive and shear stresses. Plus, it forms parts with an excellent surface finish. Extrusion tooling can be either continuous or semi-continuous, just as it can be done with hot or cold material.
The materials that are typically used in extrusion tooling include, but are not limited to: metals, polymers, ceramics, concrete, and foodstuffs. The products created by extrusion tooling processes are called “extrudates.” Drawing metal is the primary way of producing wire and sheet, though bar and tubes is also drawn.
Hollow cavities which lie within extruded material cannot be produced by using a simple flat extrusion die, since it’s impossible to support the center mass of it. Instead, the die assumes the shape of a block with depth, beginning first with a shape profile that supports the center. The malleable shape is then internally molded to change shape along the length, with the suspended center parts supported from the back. The extrusion tooling process in metals may also increase the strength of the material, as an added bonus.
As previously mentioned, extrusion tooling can be done with hot or cold material. Cold extrusion is the process done at room temperature, or slightly elevated temperatures. The process can be used for most materials, with examples being: lead, tin, aluminum alloys, copper, and steel. Parts that are cold extruded include: collapsible tubes, aluminum cans, and gear blanks.
The reason that cold extrusion is so useful is that:
1. No oxidation takes place
2. Good mechanical properties are produced in the cold working
3. There is a good finish produced when proper lubricants are used as part of the cold extrusion tooling process
Hot extrusion is done at fairly high temperatures, with a very wide pressure range of 35 to 700 MPa. As a result of the high temperatures and pressures, good lubrication is essential. Oil and graphite work great at lower temperatures, whereas glass powder is most effective at higher temperatures.
When it comes to finding a manufacturer experienced in the complexity of extrusion tooling in Minneapolis, you would be hard pressed to find better than Rother Machine. They have over 45 years of experience meeting the needs of a wide variety of customers. They offer complete design and engineering services, fabrication, assembly, and even industrial controls. When it comes to finding a manufacturing company to do extrusion tooling in Minneapolis, with honed experience and sill in a diverse range of industries from food and material handling to automotive, Rother Machine is second to none.
