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  1. #1
    THEDANIMAL started this thread.
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    difference between extruded aluminum and sheet aluminum

    hey guys can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction in how i could identify extruded aluminum and sheet aluminum? For example, crutches, bigger umbrellas, heater cores, window screens, etc? thanks.


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  3. #2
    Otto's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by THEDANIMAL View Post
    hey guys can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction in how i could identify extruded aluminum and sheet aluminum? For example, crutches, bigger umbrellas, heater cores, window screens, etc? thanks.
    Just look at the profile. If it was formed by being pushed through a die, it's extruded. If it was folded or creased to its shape, it's sheet.

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    Think of extruded as Play Do being pushed through a form, then sliced.

    Sometimes it is machined further after the extrusion. These marks should be visible.

    Everything you listed is sheet. Some heavy duty screens might have extruded. Older windows should be framed in extruded.

    If you can break it with a hammer, Its cast.
    Last edited by ParkerFlyer4; 12-02-2014 at 09:08 PM. Reason: added info

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  7. #4
    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    Check out the similar threads down below, there might be further answers there.
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  9. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4 View Post
    Think of extruded as Play Do being pushed through a form, then sliced.

    Sometimes it is machined further after the extrusion. These marks should be visible.

    Everything you listed is sheet. Some heavy duty screens might have extruded. Older windows should be framed in extruded.

    If you can break it with a hammer, Its cast.
    Parker,

    I would disagree with you. Most of the crutches that I get are extrusions (if cleaned properly). Large umbrellas (yard type), the pole is usually extrusions (have to clean) and the upper parts can also be. Window screens can go either way. Glass windows are almost always extrusions.

    Danimal,

    You need to keep in mind that for extrusions to go as extrusions, they can have no screws, no putty, no weather stripping, etc.. On the window screens and glass windows, most times there is some cast aluminum holding the 4 pieces together and maybe 2 pieces of cast to remove the screen or glass. The cast parts need to be removed.

    The other thing that you need to remember is if the yard can find a reason to buy something at a lower price, they make more money when they upgrade it. Meaning you bring in something that should go as extrusions, but you didn't clean it properly, they will buy it as sheet or worse yet, maybe dirty aluminum. They then spend a few minutes doing what you should have done and then they sell it as extrusions. Your loss, their gain.
    Last edited by mthomasdev; 12-03-2014 at 07:02 PM.

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  11. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by mthomasdev View Post
    Parker,

    I would disagree with you. Most of the crutches that I get are extrusions (if cleaned properly). Large umbrellas (yard type), the pole is usually extrusions (have to clean) and the upper parts can also be. Window screens can go either way. Glass windows are almost always extrusions.
    I Personally have always known crutches as sheet. Ill inspect them closer if I get some more.
    You might be right about some yard umbrellas. My yard would take em as sheet or mixed, I wont spend the time to clean the paint off of them.

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    difference between extruded aluminum and sheet aluminum

    Some aluminum tubing is welded, some is rolled sheet and crimped, and some is extruded. Crimped is obvious....example: old style tv and radio antennas. Welded tubing is usually a lot less obvious. Ever look at those old style aluminum patio chairs? There's no sign of welds, but all the ends of the tubes are capped and welded. Pretty safe bet that the tubing is too. Extruded aluminum tubing usually has tiny, hair thin lines, running the length of the tubing. You have to look extremely close to notice this.

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    all sheet by me as well. Extruded can be window frames, some heavy alum patio chairs and such.

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    Heat sinks are extruded no matter what your yard tries to tell you. they are 6061 I believe, the heavy ones are aqlu/cu
    "anyone who thinks scrappin is easy money ain't doin it right!"

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  18. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by olddude View Post
    Heat sinks are extruded no matter what your yard tries to tell you. they are 6061 I believe, the heavy ones are aqlu/cu
    I have to tell the scale guy that they are extruded every time. But they still don't believe me, even after inspecting them. They are happy to pay me a few more cents per lbs. in the end though.

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  20. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4 View Post
    I Personally have always known crutches as sheet. Ill inspect them closer if I get some more.
    You might be right about some yard umbrellas. My yard would take em as sheet or mixed, I wont spend the time to clean the paint off of them.
    All the yards that I use that have an extrusion category, you don't need to clean paint for them to go as extrusions.

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  22. #12
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    I've never known crutches to be anything other than old sheet. If its cleaned it *may* go as what I know as ''clip.''

    Umbrellas are bought as old sheet and then we upgrade them to painted extrusion or #3 extrusion
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  24. #13
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    many aluminum heat sinks are extruded, for sure not all. Buying at my scale I have seen more than a few heat sinks that are aluminum plate with fins in them like this:
    Progressive Stamped Heat Sink Project Highlights

    Product Description This Aluminum Heat Sink Fin Assembly was
    developed for a Projection Television application
    Capabilities Applied/Processes
    Development
    • Develop a Cost Effective Heat Sink for
    Maximum Heat Dissipation
    Stamping
    Custom Mechanical Assembly
    Equipment Used to Manufacture Part
    Minster
    • 150 Ton

    Brown Boggs
    • 200 Ton
    Tooling
    • Progressive Dies
    • 8 Stations for Base Plates
    • 10 Stations for Fins
    Overall Part Dimensions
    Base Plate:
    Material Thickness: .065"
    Length: 6.5"
    Width: 3.5"
    Height: 1.0"
    Unfolded Fin
    Length: 18"
    Folded Fin:
    Material Thickness: .020"
    Length: 5.75"
    Width: 3.25"
    Height: 1.50"
    Tightest Tolerances Base Plate: ±.005"
    Folded Fin: ±.00075"
    Material Used Aluminum
    Estimated Part Weight .35 lbs
    Features/Benefits Custom Staking Method of Incompatible Material Thicknesses
    • Eliminates Glue Seal & More Expensive Techniques
    In Process Testing/Inspection Performed
    In-Process Real-time SPC of Critical Dimensions
    CMM Measurement
    Strength Testing on Stakes
    Cleanliness Sediment Testing
    Dimensional Results Reporting
    Control Plan
    Process Flow Diagram
    Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
    Gage Repeatability
    Reproducibility Variable Data Report
    Raw Material Chemical Composition Results
    MSDS - Material Safety & Data Report/Substances
    and Materials
    Industry for Use Consumer Electronics
    Volume 600,000 Pieces
    Packaging Special Pack Thermal-Formed Packing Trays
    • Anti-Static
    Lead Time Tooling: 14 Weeks
    Production Parts: 6 Weeks
    Delivery Location Tenessee
    Mexico
    Standards Met Customer supplied print, 2D CAD Drawing
    Product Name Heat Sink Fin Assembly
    I have also seen a lot of small heat sinks that are injection molded or cast.

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  26. #14
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    ^^My big yard I sell to buys those as old sheet but if I clean them they become extrusion and the fin part goes in old sheet.

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    Quote Originally Posted by newattitude View Post
    I've never known crutches to be anything other than old sheet. If its cleaned it *may* go as what I know as ''clip.''

    Umbrellas are bought as old sheet and then we upgrade them to painted extrusion or #3 extrusion
    I think this thread just shows everyone how different things are from one yard to the next and how important it is to now how each of your yards classify items and what they pay for them in order to maximize profits.

    I have 3 yards that get 99% of my material. One large multi location yard only has clean and dirty aluminum (and aluminum rims). My main yard closest to my house has many categories, but not Mixed Low Copper Clip, otherwise know as MLC or Clip. They do have a Solids category that may be the same a MLC. Another yard about 40 minutes away has numerous categories. I'm not up there enough to have a full understanding of how they grade every category. I have sold computer heat sinks there and most times gotten extrusions. I did get MLC once for them.

    As New has indicated, yards will purchase as one category and upgrade to another, as her umbrella explanation shows. My advice to everyone is to ask alot of questions at your yards. Learn the way they grade and what you need to do to upgrade these items yourself.
    Last edited by mthomasdev; 12-09-2014 at 06:38 AM. Reason: spelling

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  30. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by mthomasdev View Post
    I think this thread just shows everyone how different things are from one yard to the next and how important it is to now how each of your yards classify items and what they pay for them in order to maximize profits.

    I have 3 yards that get 99% of my material. One large multi location yard only has clean and dirty aluminum (and aluminum rims). My main yard closest to my house has many categories, but not Mixed Low Copper Clip, otherwise know as MLC or Clip. They do have a Solids category that may be the same a MLC. Another yard about 40 minutes away has numerous categories. I'm not up there enough to have a full understanding of how they grade every category. I have sold computer heat sinks there and most times gotten extrusions. I did get MLC once for them.

    As New has indicated, yards will purchase as one category and upgrade to another, as her umbrella explanation shows. My advice to everyone is to ask alot of questions at your yards. Learn the way they grade and what you need to do to upgrade these items yourself.
    Man iam lucky I guess. My yard only differentiate' s cans (higher price) everything else goes in same tub, same price.

    But having worked at that yard I know they separate it themselves.

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    Extrusion is defined as the following.

    The process of generating a surface by translating a plane curve parallel to some line is called extrusion, and surfaces that are generated by extrusion are called cylindrical surfaces . A familiar example of the surface of a right circular cylinder which can be generated by translating a circle parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The following theorem provides basic information about graphing equations in two variables in 3-space.
    Theorem: An equation that contains only two of the variables x, y, and z, represent a cylindrical surface in an xyz coordinate system. The surface can be obtained by graphing the equation in the coordinate plane of two variables that appear in the equation and then translating that graph parallel to the axis of the missing variable.

    I hope this clears things up.
    I only get to answer someone like this about every 5 years, so I could not resist

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  33. #18
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    the yards by me take heatsinks as old hard sheet- i know im being ripped off bcos they're def extrusion.
    i dont know whats their reason for this.

    i wont be surprised of they sell them as extrusion after buying it from us.

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    Quote Originally Posted by msmoorad View Post
    the yards by me take heatsinks as old hard sheet- i know im being ripped off bcos they're def extrusion.
    i dont know whats their reason for this.

    i wont be surprised of they sell them as extrusion after buying it from us.

    My yard refuses to accept that crutches are extruded. I guess because SOME are not extruded that means for them that NONE are extruded.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 520 View Post
    My yard refuses to accept that crutches are extruded. I guess because SOME are not extruded that means for them that NONE are extruded.
    If you cannot see the seam inside the tube where it is mended together, it should be considered extrusion. Sometimes you cannot see the mill lines on the outside of aluminum which identifies extrusion without the aid of a magnifying glass. If you share this with the yard they should appreciate your knowledge and might be acceptable to other questionable metal. It really helps when you have a sample of each to demonstrate your keen eye. At least they will be less likely to play games with you.
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