difference between extruded aluminum and sheet aluminum

Thanks Guys ... It's a lot of helpful information.

I've had some spare time this winter so have been breaking down hard drives and some other electronics. Haven't done copper and aluminum in awhile so it's a bit of a puzzle on how to sort everything. Any feedback or opinions are greatly appreciated.

My best understanding so far:

Hard drive bodies painted: 6061

Unpainted older hard drives: 5052

Spacer rings: 6061 - T1 ... but some are stainless ?

Platters: 6061 extruded sheet ?

Hard drive motors: Electric motors aka copper bearing ?

Hard drive front covers: Can be sheet aluminum or stainless. Chuck the cover if a magnet sticks to it ?

Most processor heat sinks: 6063 ?

Most regular heat sinks that you pick off a power board: Clean extruded ?

Marine electronics shells like fish finders, radar, location plotters : Oxidized cast ? Old cast ?



Electric motors ends: Maybe oxidized cast -or- magnesium ?

Originally Posted by hills

Thanks Guys ... It's a lot of helpful information.

I've had some spare time this winter so have been breaking down hard drives and some other electronics. Haven't done copper and aluminum in awhile so it's a bit of a puzzle on how to sort everything. Any feedback or opinions are greatly appreciated.

My best understanding so far:

Hard drive bodies painted: 6061

Unpainted older hard drives: 5052

Spacer rings: 6061 - T1 ... but some are stainless ?

Platters: 6061 extruded sheet ?

Hard drive motors: Electric motors aka copper bearing ?

Hard drive front covers: Can be sheet aluminum or stainless. Chuck the cover if a magnet sticks to it ?

Most processor heat sinks: 6063 ?

Most regular heat sinks that you pick off a power board: Clean extruded ?

Marine electronics shells like fish finders, radar, location plotters : Oxidized cast ? Old cast ?

Electric motors ends: Maybe oxidized cast -or- magnesium ?

here by me, it seems that the yards accept only window & shower door frames as extrusion without a fuss..everything else, they seem to have something to say about it even though the item was bought/sold as extruded alum .

the guy at the yard said something about the stuff i brought in having the wrong profile...