Aluminum Extrusion: Effective Use Of An Abundant Metal

Author: Admin  |  Category: Structures

By Patrick T. Tremblay

Aluminum extrusion marries the abundance of aluminum to manufacturing methods that take into account the metals special features. Guided by the aluminum extrusion process, the designer feels free to coordinate his or her design with five considerations. Those are the five factors that determine the specifics of each extrusion process.

Before commencing an aluminum extrusion process, the designer must first ascertain the function of the aluminum part that needs to be made. Then the designer must define the size and shape of an aluminum part that could perform that specific function.

Often the designer chooses at this point to make a sketch of the proposed part. The designer normally includes in a drawing his or her visualization of the various elements in the proposed part. The drawing shows how the part would be situated in some pre-determined space. The drawing gives the precise dimensions for each section of whatever needs to be created by the extrusion process.

The designer then examines the drawing, and ponders the degree to which it agrees with the factors desired by the part requestor. Does the designers proposed part have the eye appeal or functionality that the requestor demands? Has the part been shaped so as to fit well into the total of assembled parts?

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Aluminum excursion yields a part in which the cross section is a constant diameter. Does the part suggested by the design concept agree with the known tolerance of aluminum? Does the proposed design call for any finish on the aluminum? Does it require that the aluminum be alloyed with another metal? What is the circumference of the area that would surround the proposed design?

Those are the factors that a good designer must take into consideration. Those are the factors that guide the specifics of the aluminum extrusion process. During that process, an extrusion die lets a molten metal flow through a shaped aperture.

Aluminum extrusion bears a strong resemblance to the process used by the baker when he or she uses a special cone to put icing on a cake. The baker applies force to the icing. The cone must hold back the icing that is at the edges of the cones aperture. In the same way, the extrusion die must prevent leakage of molten aluminum from the sides of the die opening.

Aluminum extrusion gives the manufacturer a low cost and easy way to create multiple parts with the same design. At times some of those parts need to be joined to other metal parts. Aluminum extrusion can aid the uniting of two metal parts.

Aluminum extrusion can be used to put engraved guides into the extruded aluminum. Those guides can show where rivets should be placed, if the aluminum piece is to be joined to another metal piece. Aluminum extrusion also gives a manufacturer a way to put a vee groove in the extruded metal. Such a vee groove can assist the welder, the worker who must prepare the equipment that can bond the aluminum to another metal piece.

About the Author: Alfiniti provides

aluminum tubing

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Tiffany Style And Stained Glass Lamps Are Collectible

Author:  |  Category: Structures

By Mike O’Brien

Considered one of the great contributions to the Art Nouveau movement, stained glass lamps have remained very popular. With a characteristic stained glass shade, Tiffany lamps became the standard for these beautiful light fixtures. Taking full advantage of the widening availability electricity, stained glass lamps are a great example of form following function.

Following the success of the original Tiffany designs, many other styles of stained glass lamps were produced. Though the term Tiffany is often used to describe stained glass lamps, there is only one Tiffany. The concept of a table lamp was not new in the late eighteen hundreds. Oil and gas table lamps had been in wide use by the time Thomas Edison and other inventors began marketing electric light bulbs.

The first Tiffany lamps appeared at the turn of the twenty century. Each lamp was made by hand and reflected the work of the individual artist. The base of the lamp was typically made of brass or bronze. It should be pointed out that several copies of a particular design were made but the lamps were never mass produced. Even though several copies of a pattern were produced, each lamp shade has a one of a kind feel imparted by the individual artist. Louis Tiffany gained experience in working with glass as a maker of stained glass windows. Working with pieces of scrap, he began to design lamp shades. He utilized standard methods of production that were used in creating stained glass windows.

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Leaded stained glass is typically made from cut pieces of colored glass. A pattern would be drawn and cut then used to score and cut the individual pieces of the glass puzzle. The edges of each piece of glass would be covered in copper metal foil than soldered together. In the days of Louis Tiffany and until recently, lead based solders were used, hence the basis for the term leaded glass. Lead has been removed from most solders since lead is now considered a hazardous material. Once the soldering is completed, the joints would be cleaned and given a treatment. The treatment would involve applying a patina to the solder.

Tiffany lamps are characterized by several distinctive patterns. Some tiffany designs were based in the use of geometric shapes ranging from squares and rectangles to triangles and ovals. Tiffany also created beautiful floral patterns in a variety of shapes. Florals were often combined with some type of geometric pattern.

Cone shaped lamp shades are more difficult to produce. The pieces of glass were generally smaller than the glass used to make geometric shapes. The difficult task of creating a cone shape shade makes this class of Tiffany lamp more expensive and highly collectible. Not all of the shades produced by Tiffany featured a flat edge. The irregular patterns often came in a globe shape with edges that were irregularly shaped. The patterns were less geometric and more free flowing in design.

Regardless of which pattern it is, a genuine Tiffany lamp can fetch quite a high price. The highest price ever paid for a Tiffany lamp at auction is reported to be over eight million dollars.

For those of us who can not afford the high price of genuine Tiffany, there are some reasonable alternatives. There are lamp makers who offer reproductions of Tiffany patterns for a fraction of the cost you might expect to pay for the genuine article. There are some very high quality reproductions and original designs done in the Tiffany style by modern artists. It is common to see glass mosaic designs on some of the lamp bases.

If you fancy the idea of owning a genuine Tiffany lamp, it pays to do your homework. As with any type of collectible, there are many fakes and knockoffs of the genuine article. There are Tiffany knockoffs are very well made and will certainly fool an untrained buyer. Be certain to educate yourself about the unique qualities of genuine Tiffany before you commit to a purchase.

About the Author: Mike O’Brien is a staff writer for the quality online store

FineWebStores.com

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