Manifold Quality Extruded Bar
Howard Precision Metals stocks extruded 6061 aluminum in a wide range of sizes. What you may not know is that a large portion of our square and rectangle aluminum extrusion inventory is filled with manifold quality bar.
What Exactly Is Manifold Quality Bar?
All manifold quality aluminum extrusions stocked by Howard Precision Metals are extruded to ½ the Aluminum Association published tolerances to the plus side, rather than to the plus or minus AA Standards, which gives you extra stock for machining. The size range available for manifold quality extruded bar sizes begins at .875” square and up through 6” square and in rectangles, is 1.00” x 1.25” and available up through 6.0” x 8.0”. (Note that extruded aluminum rectangles and squares outside of these size ranges are typically produced to AA standards with +/- tolerances.) The tolerance does change with the extrusion size. For example, a 2” square produced as manifold quality bar will have a tolerance of +.012”/-0”, compared to the Aluminum Association standard +/-.012” tolerance. By offering the plus-side only tolerances on these bars, customers find that in some cases they no longer have to order the next available bar size. This saves machine time, lowers purchased weight, and decreases material costs. Being extruded on the plus side is only one of the many advantages of purchasing manifold quality extruded aluminum bar.
Not Just Beefier. Better.
In addition to the beefier, plus-side only extruded dimensions, manifold quality 6061 extrusions also offer improved twist, straightness, and flatness tolerances along with increased mechanical strength and improved machinability. Customers who produce hydraulic and pneumatic manifolds, telecommunications electronics, machinery, equipment, and fixtures find manifold quality extrusions to be a great fit for their applications. Our mill partners have also dedicated their resources to further enhancing these aluminum extrusions by improving lot-to-lot performance, producing products that form smaller chips during the machining process, and promising bars that will create less burring. Because of these improvements, manifold quality aluminum extrusions are able to withstand complex machining and removal of large voids. With all of these improvements, it is no wonder why so many customers ask for manifold quality bar products.
Custom Manifold Quality Sizes Improve Profits
We are going to let you in on a little secret. Did you know that you can get a custom size rectangle produced right to the size you need? With ½ AA tolerances all on the plus side, we can help you further maximize your profits by minimizing your machine time and lessening your pounds purchased. Custom aluminum extrusion tooling charges are very inexpensive when compared to other tooling costs. The average price to produce a new, custom solid rectangle, square, or round, is typically between $700 and $1000. If you amortize that cost against the savings incurred, you will pay for that die fee in just a few runs. Consider custom aluminum extrusion dies for repetitive and repeating jobs as the press minimums start at 1,000 pounds. Custom extrusions put more profits in your pockets and keep your work in house. Consider the advantages of custom aluminum extrusions before your competitor does.
Follow the links for more information regarding Hydro’s (formerly SAPA) Acc-U-Bar®, Kaiser Select Manifold Bar®, and HPM aluminum extrusion stock list.
Find our downloadable line card on rectangular bar here.
