Metal extrusion is the manufacturing process of choice when producing high volumes of material with a constant cross-section. Below you will find the answers to the most common questions we get about the metal extrusion process. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? No worries, you can reach us by email at support@xometry.com, and we will do our best to promptly address any additional questions you may have!
How do I get a quote for metal extrusion?
To get a metal extrusion quote, start by uploading a supported 3D CAD file of your part to the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine. From the quoting interface, you can modify the parameters of your quote and select "Metal Extrusion" from the manufacturing process drop-down menu. Be sure to specify the amount of extrusion you need and any additional requirements such as post-machining, finishing, etc. Don’t forget to add any 2D drawings you have to accompany your part.
Once you have specified your requirements, you can submit your quote request, and one of our experts will begin reviewing the request. Please expect to be contacted by our team, who will work with you to learn more about your project, iron out the details, and provide you with a finalized quote. Please provide our team 24-72 hours to follow up on new metal extrusion requests.
Is there a minimum quantity requirement?
Yes, since metal extrusion is designed as a high-volume process requiring the production of special tools, we have set a minimum quantity requirement for this process. The minimum quantity is represented by the total weight of material to be extruded. Please refer to the following breakdown:
- Minimum Weight for Parts Less Than 7 Feet: 500 lbs.
- Minimum Weight for Parts Greater Than 7 Feet: 1000 lbs.
What material do you offer for extrusion?
At this time Xometry specializes in the extrusion of aluminum alloys which make up roughly 80% of all metal extruded parts. If your project requires stainless steel extrusions or other metal extrusions, we have a “custom material” option within our quoting interface. This option enables you to submit custom requests which we will be happy to review and explore further with you. Please refer to the list below of our standard aluminum alloys available for extrusion:
- Aluminum Alloys
- Alloy 1100
- Alloy 2024
- Alloy 6061
- Alloy 6063
- Alloy 7075
To learn more about the differences between each alloy, see the comparison chart on our metal extrusion page here.
What types of extrusion does Xometry offer?
We support the two most common methods of metal extrusion; direct and indirect extrusion. Direct extrusion, also known as forward extrusion, allows for larger profile designs and a higher quality surface finish at the cost of some dimensional consistency due to the heat and friction generated during the process. Indirect extrusion, or backward extrusion, is better at cold and warm extrusion techniques and typically has better dimensional stability, material property retention, and grain size. However, indirect extrusion is more limited in terms of overall die profile size and material surface impurities can make their way into the extruded product unless the material is processed beforehand.
Can you post-machine extruded parts?
Yes! At Xometry, we offer the option to add post-machining to your extrusions as long as they are short enough to fit within the travel bounds (typically up to 80") of our CNC equipment. This option is often chosen when there are features such as holes that are perpendicular to the extrusion plane that cannot be fabricated during the extrusion process itself. You can find this option as a selectable feature during the initial quoting process.
Can tapped holes be added to extruded parts?
Yes, we offer tapped holes as a selectable feature for metal extrusion! Be sure to specify how many holes need to be added and tapped, as well as provide a drawing with the appropriate callouts.
What are lead times like for metal extrusion?
Lead time for metal extrusion correlates to the complexity of the dies used for fabrication. Once your order is placed, it typically takes several weeks until T1 samples are ready for review. Once samples are approved, it usually takes a few more weeks to complete the run.
Our team of experts will be working with you closely throughout the process and offer suggestions and options to provide you with the best possible turnaround while working to meet your unique needs.
What are the tolerances for metal extrusion?
Please visit our manufacturing standards page for more information about our tolerances and standards.