When it comes to defining a versatile metal, you have no choice but to consider aluminum. Aluminum exhibits supreme durability, machinability and usability all at lower costs than most other metals out there. You may be asking yourself, “What type of aluminum bar do I need for my application?” or “What is the best type of aluminum bar to ensure the long-term benefits of my application?” This blog is here to answer those questions. First, we’ll identify the benefits of aluminum bar. Then, we will further expand on each available profile shape. Finally, we will explore our precision sawing capabilities. Hopefully, all this information will be helpful in sourcing your aluminum needs from Howard Precision Metals.
What Are the Benefits of Aluminum?
Aluminum is one of the most readily available metals. In addition, this metal exhibits properties that make it an excellent choice for producing extruded aluminum bar. Here’s why:
- Strength-to-weight ratio: Aluminum is considered to have one of the best strength-to-weight ratios out there because even though it is extremely light it can also be counted on for its durability. This fact is why the automotive industry relies on aluminum to keep their passengers safe in the event of a crash.
- Machinability: Because of how light it is, aluminum is easily machined and formed into almost any shape imaginable. The drawback is that you need to ensure you’re working with a company who has experienced machinists working with this precious metal as inexperienced workers can lead to inaccurate cuts or poor handling. Because of its ability to be shaped so effectively and its cost-effectiveness, industries like medical, food, beverage and marine rely on this metal for their products.
- Corrosion resistance: There’s a reason why aluminum is chosen over steel in a variety of industrial applications. It is highly resistant to corrosion because of its natural oxidizing coating that forms on its surface. The boating industry uses aluminum in their hulls for this very reason. The versatility doesn’t stop there however. It can also be treated with lacquering, anodizing, painting or other treatments to lower the corrosion potential even more so.
- Availability: Aluminum is the third most abundant element on Earth, right behind Oxygen and Silicon. Not only is it readily available but it has a rare ability to be recycled into itself infinitely, without losing any of its properties. Because of this, aluminum is seen, by many, as a “green” metal.
What Types of Aluminum Bar Shapes Can You Get?
Aluminum bar shapes are available in a wide variety of standard shapes, including round bar, rectangle bar, manifold bar, hex bars and even tubing and pipe. If that isn’t enough, custom shapes, hollows, and profiles can be made. The possibilities are nearly limitless! When you consider available tolerances, dimensions and pounds per feet, this product line can seem overwhelming. And, without a helpful guide, it might be easy to get a little lost. That’s where we can help. At Howard Precision Metals, aluminum is all we do. Since we are known for our outstanding customer service, rest assured that we will help you find the best aluminum shape to fit your application.
Our available aluminum bar products include:
Aluminum Round Bar
We supply only the highest quality aluminum at Howard Precision Metals because we work with the most knowledgeable aluminum extrusion mills in the industry. Our precision aluminum round bar reflects our dedication to providing quality services and products. Our stock is often ready to ship the same day or the following day. Our aluminum round bar is primarily sourced from two domestic mills: Kaiser’s Select Precision Rod® and Hydro’s ACC-U-ROD™. Because of these mills’ strict quality control standards, our clients receive only the best aluminum round bar. Some industries that purchase our precision round bars are the railroad industry, aerospace industry, and trucking industry.
Aluminum Square Bar
Our on-hand inventory of aluminum bar products includes aluminum square bar. We carry sizes as small as .25″ and as large as 6.0″ square. All of our stock that is .875″ and larger is produced to plus side only tolerances, and to manifold quality specifications. If you’re in the aerospace, construction, medical or automotive industry and need aluminum square bar, then look no further. Let one of our talented sales professionals assist you in your aluminum square sourcing.
Aluminum Rectangle Bar
Also known as flat bar, the rectangular bar that we stock is made from alloy 6061. Considered by many as the ‘general purpose” alloy, 6061 is used in a multitude of industries like industrial, aerospace, medical, automotive, marine and more. Our aluminum rectangle bar availability consists of sizes as small as .250″ x .500″ and up through 6.0″ x 8.0″. Like the square bar items previously mentioned, nearly all rectangular sizes with a dimension over 1.0″ are produced to the manifold quality specifications and extruded on the plus side only. Not only can we fill a multitude of stock orders from our robust, on-hand inventory, but we can also order specialty lengths, large quantities, alternate alloys and tempers, and even supply custom designed profiles.
What is ACC-U-BAR™ or Manifold Aluminum Bar?
If you’re looking for consistency, a low setup time, and improved machinability, this bar is the type for you. Produced in sizes beginning in .875″ square and up to 6.0″ x 8.0″ rectangles, these bars are on the beefier end of our inventory. For a bar to be considered “manifold quality”, the flatness, twist, and straightness tolerances exceed Aluminum Association tolerances. Though manifold quality aluminum bars are available in plus or minus dimensional tolerances, it is the standard practice of Howard Precision Metals to offer our manifold quality aluminum bar items as extruded to the plus side only. Here at HPM, we stock primarily two domestic mill sources. First, we inventory Hydro’s (formerly SAPA) ACC-U-BAR™ products, which are their trademarked name for manifold quality bar. In addition, we stock Kaiser’s non-trademarked manifold quality bar. Because of the previously mentioned tolerance improvements, both ACC-U-BAR™ and manifold bar are used in many applications. These products can be found in fixturing devices, hydraulic and pneumatic devices, machinery, and so much more.
Precision Sawing of Aluminum Bar
Our state-of-the-art facility is recognized as one of the best in the Midwest and we’ve been in business 90+ years. We achieve tolerances as close as +/-.005″ on our extrusion sawing and as close as +.030/-000 for our band saw cuts. Because we use only the highest quality aluminum and custom-built saws, we yield precision results. Every time. If you need cut-to-length aluminum bar pieces, we have you covered.
Why choose Howard Precision Metals
We haven’t been in business for over 90 years by accident. We’ve consistently gone above and beyond for our clients providing only the highest quality goods and services. Have you seen what we saw? ® If you haven’t, then maybe you should consider giving us a call today at 888.944.9400. To learn about how our aluminum can best serve your application or leave us a message fill out our contact form.
