7075-T651 Aluminum: Properties and Applications

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Agency Jet

If you are in the market for 7075-T651 aluminum, or another grade aluminum alloy, it is essential to purchase from an aluminum supplier with extensive knowledge and experience in the industry. At Howard Precision Metals, we have formed relationships with mills who have a reputation for quality and consistency to ensure you receive nothing less than exceptional aluminum products. By holding these premier aluminum suppliers to the same scrupulous quality standards as we hold ourselves, we are able to deliver top-notch quality 7075-T651 aluminum plate products to our customers.

7075 Properties & Availability

As an alloy that offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio than that of steel, 7075 is an aluminum alloy that contains zinc as the primary alloying element. Although it can be purchased in a number of different tempers, including 7075-T651 aluminum, 7075-T7351 aluminum, and 7075-0, each temper displays a unique set of properties. At Howard Precision Metals, we stock 7075-T651 aluminum plate stock in thicknesses beginning with .25” thick and up through 8.0” thick. This temper, -T651, is solution heat-treated, artificially aged, and stretched for stress relief.

Industry Applications

The 7000 series aluminum alloys are usable in a variety of applications. The light weight and toughness characteristics of grade 7075 are valued highly by manufacturers and end users. As a strong, machinable aluminum alloy, it is highly used in the automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries. Highly stressed parts, such as gears, fuse parts, structural components, and bows are often comprised of 7075 aluminum alloy. You can purchase high quality 7075-T651 aluminum from our inventory at Howard Precision Metals.

Machining and Welding Operations

Grade 7075 is easy to work with and machinable. General welding is not recommended with 7075 aluminum alloy. However, you may achieve desirable results when applying resistance welding to the alloy. The application of arc or gas welding may lower the alloy’s natural anti-corrosion properties.

For more than 90 years, Howard Precision Metals has served industrial customers with their high-quality metal requirements. Regardless of your specific needs pertain to custom aluminum extrusions or aluminum stock, we have you covered. To find out how we can serve your aluminum supply needs, call us today at (800) 444-0311 or request a free quote on our site.

Cast Aluminum Tooling Plate – Characteristics and Applications

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Agency Jet

High-grade, critical machine applications are able to make use of cast aluminum tooling plate. It is highly viable for machining operations due to its surface smoothness, dimensional stability and precision machined plate thickness. A number of services can be applied to cast plate, including, anodizing, powder coating, and painting to match specific project requirements. At Howard Precision Metals, we offer an extensive range of cast aluminum plate in stock and can precision cut to your finished dimensions.

A tooling jig plate made by the cast process is produced with a thickness tolerance of +/-.005, PVC plastic protection on both sides, and a machined surface for superior flatness. From our stock selection, we are able to provide both PCP’s ALCA 5® cast plate and Alcoa’s Mic 6®, with certified mill test reports and nominal certs available with these respectively.

These cast aluminum tooling plate products are usually stocked in master plate sizes of 48.5 and 60.5 wide x 144.5. Per your requirements, we can special order custom sizes of ALCA 5® in master plate sizes as wide as 96” x and as long as 288”. For extra-large cast aluminum tooling plate requirements, ALCA 5 has cornered the market with their enormous milling head that can cover the 96” width in one pass. Howard Precision Metals’ other cast aluminum tooling plate option, MIC 6® is also available in custom plate sizes. Due to the continuous casting production method of MIC 6®, the maximum available width of this product is 60.5”. Notably, we also inventory sizes of MIC 6® in standard metric thicknesses, which include: 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mm thicknesses. For any custom or standard size cast aluminum tooling plate requirement that you may have, Howard Precision Metals can deliver.

Applications

The various industry applications suitable for our cast aluminum tooling plate include:

CNC Routing tables
Aircraft tooling
Electronics
Automotive Tooling
Food Machinery

Chip Printers
Vacuum Chucks
Robotics
Packaging machinery
Printing machinery

At Howard Precision Metals, we have developed into a top supplier of aluminum products. We provide the product solutions our customers need in various industries, including pneumatic, hydraulic, machinery manufacturing, and aerospace. HPM also has a significant presence in the packaging and paper production industries in Wisconsin. By stocking an impressive variety sizes of extruded aluminum bar and rod and by achieving saw finishes exceeding the level of machine finishes, the aluminum professionals at Howard Precision are sure to deliver quality aluminum products and services on time. Every time.

We have your aluminum requirements covered through our extensive selection aluminum stock and aluminum extrusion capabilities. To learn how we can serve your project needs, call us today at (800) 444-0311 or request a quote through our website.

Aluminum Rectangular Bar – Brands, Equipment, and the Right Supplier

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Agency Jet

At Howard Precision Metals Inc., we stock a comprehensive and inclusive selection of extruded 6061 aluminum bar sizes, which includes a vast number of aluminum rectangular bar sizes. Our commitment is to provide you with optimum products, precisely fulfill your project applications, and help you deliver completed parts on time.

Aluminum Rectangular Bar & Premium Mill Product Lines

We offer a considerable selection of stock extruded 6061 aluminum bar, to a large degree, under the Hydro (formerly SAPA) product line known as ACC-U-LINE™. Included in this suite of products, you will find the two main sub-categories of ACC-U-ROD™, for all extruded 6061 aluminum rounds, and ACC-U-BAR™, which encompasses all manifold quality extruded 6061 aluminum rectangle bar and extruded 6061 aluminum square bar inventory. All ACC-U-BAR™ products offer ultra-tight, plus-side only extruded tolerances and, most notably, guarantee improved transverse flatness, straightness, and twist tolerances. In addition to offering improved tolerances, this extruded aluminum rectangle bar product line offers proven machining superiority and lower total processing costs than that of standard AA tolerance material. For a tough job, ACC-U-BAR™ will give you’re the results you need at a price you can afford.

Keeping with the quality promise of providing only premium extruded aluminum rectangular bar products, Howard Precision Metals is also very proud to be a distributor of the Kaiser Select Manifold Bar®. A very similar product to the aforementioned ACC-U-BAR™ line, the Kaiser Select® extruded 6061 aluminum rectangle bars also are: extruded to the plus side only, have improved mechanical properties, and improved dimensional and straightness capabilities. In addition, the Kaiser Select Manifold Bar® also places a large emphasis on lot-to-lot consistency with its highly automated production process.

Proprietary Sawing Equipment

At Howard Precision Metals, we pride ourselves on not only providing superlative extruded aluminum rectangle bar, but also providing industry leading saw finishes and tolerances. In addition to providing the best products, we believe in investing heavily in our equipment and our operators. Our belief in quality products and services is the reason we have more high-speed, custom-built aluminum saws under one roof than any other distributor in the Mid-West. With a dedicated team of highly-skilled operators keeping our equipment humming, we can deliver even the most difficult aluminum sawing requirements on time and with ease. For your next aluminum rectangle bar job, let us serve you.

A Very Particular Distributor

At Howard Precision Metals, we have distributorships with only the highest quality and most consistently performing mill sources in the aluminum rectangle bar industry. We hold these mill sources accountable to the same stringent quality standards that we hold upon ourselves to ensure quality, above all else, is bar none. Our commitment to our customers is to be “A Cut Above the Rest” on every order we fulfill.

With over nine decades of experience in the metals industry, we have the experience and knowledge needed to supply prime aluminum rectangular bar and precision sawing services. As one of the most trusted aluminum suppliers in the industry, we are committed to delivering the only the best aluminum products, at fair prices, and on time.

To find out more about aluminum rectangular bar products or any other aluminum products that Howard Precision Metals offers, call us today at (800)444-0311 or request a free quote on our website.

Buy Aluminum Square Bar from the Best

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Agency Jet

Are you operating a machine shop that needs to have high quality aluminum square bar that’s Are you manufacturing equipment and require the best aluminum for the in-house machining that you do? If so, you want to work with a distributor and supplier who truly understands your needs and that has the ability to provide you with not only great aluminum products, but also fantastic customer service. Why choose any metals distributor when you can go to the specialists at Howard Precision Metals? Howard Precision Metals knows aluminum because aluminum is all they do.

What Makes Howard Precision Metals Inc. Different?

With so many choices for metals distributors, you may be wondering what makes this company different. Quite a few things help to distinguish Howard Precision Metals from other service centers. Since 1928, Howard Precision has prided itself on excellent service and top tier products provided by only the most elite mills. Having survived the Great Depression with some creative practices along with family support, the Company took the experience as a lesson. The decision to specialize in aluminum came naturally in the years after the Depression and has further allowed the company to provide stellar service. By stocking only aluminum, HPM can afford to carry a wider selection of many different aluminum alloys. Because of this, the staff has the knowledge and experience needed to provide the most accurate information coupled with the best service in the industry.

Howard Precision Metals has been working with aluminum for many decades, and knows how to cut, handle, package, and ship the products to protect against damage in transport. Not to mention, Howard Precision Metals has more high speed aluminum saws under one roof than any other metals distributor in the Mid-West. With proprietary designs and built with custom parts, these saws provide some of the tightest tolerances and smoothest saw finishes available industrywide. Doing this, and passing on fair prices to the customers, ensures that our customers meet deadlines and remain profitable.

If you need to know more about aluminum square bars, aluminum plates, cast tool and jig plates, or have other questions about aluminum contact the experts at Howard Precision Metals. With experience and dedication to customers, you will get exactly what you need the first time and every time.

Custom Extruded Aluminum Available at Howard Precision Metals

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Agency Jet

When it’s time to obtain an aluminum supplier for custom extruded aluminum, it is important to select a company that has the skill and expertise to deliver a quality product. While there are many aluminum suppliers, not all of them are capable of supplying high-quality custom extruded aluminum products. Howard Precision, an aluminum only distributor, has the knowledge and experience required to deliver a vast array of aluminum products, including custom aluminum extrusions.

Understanding the Extrusion Process

If you’re in the market for a custom aluminum extrusion, it’s important that you utilize a company that understands the intricacy of the aluminum extrusion manufacturing process. Aluminum extrusion is a method in which aluminum alloy is heated and then pressed through a die to mold aluminum into a specific shape. Through this procedure a custom extruded aluminum extrusion is created. Howard Precision is a 100% aluminum distributor that understands all steps required in the design and manufacture of custom aluminum extrusions. Partnering with only premier mill sources allows Howard Precision Metals to deliver only the highest quality custom aluminum extrusions.

Custom Aluminum for Your Needs

Why utilize the services of any metals distributor when you can trust the experts at Howard Precision Metals? There are many companies that sell aluminum but Howard Precision is unique. Because they stock, cut, and sell only aluminum, HPM offers a host of aluminum products and services, including custom extruded aluminum and precision aluminum sawing. Dedicated to providing only exceptional aluminum services, Howard Precision promises to deliver only the very best aluminum products and services.

Exceptional Quality and Service

When you need custom extruded aluminum, you need specific tolerances and dimensions. Why leave your custom aluminum services in hands of a company that doesn’t specialize in aluminum? Howard Precision is one of the few companies that can state that it is a 100% aluminum service center. With a solid reputation of providing aluminum products that customers can rely on time and time again, let the experts at HPM handle your next custom aluminum extrusion.

For assistance with your next aluminum project, visit the Howard Precision Metals website for more details.

Month: September 2018