Buying aluminum square bar in bulk or volume quantities or for smaller projects is easy to do thanks to online purchasing options. Gone are the days when you had to spend hours phoning around to different metal suppliers, now you can simply complete a quick search or click your bookmarks and have access to all the information you need.
However, not all aluminum square bar sold online is the same high-quality material. This is why it is important to consider several different factors based on the company reputation as well as the years the company has been in business.
Extruded Aluminum
Virtually all aluminum square bar sold online, or through a metal specialty company, is going to be extruded aluminum. This process allows for tight tolerances, many which are =/- .008 for the smaller dimension of square bar sold.
Top companies also provide a wide range of specialized types of aluminum square bar. This can include Acc-u-bar, which is specially designed for high-speed machining. This type of bar provides significant benefits including amazingly tight tolerances, reduced twist and industry leading straightness for demanding jobs.
Uses to Consider
There are many possible uses of aluminum square bar and the tolerances, as well as the dimensions required, will all be a factor of what it is being used for. Common uses include in framework where lightweight, durability and corrosion resistance is essential.
Different alloys are associated with specific types of uses. For example, 6061 is often used in the aerospace industry as well as in the construction of aircraft because of its strength-to-weight ratio and high levels of corrosion resistance. It is also used in marine boat building and marine construction and for a variety of different automotive parts.
It is also used for braces and supports, and it can be used for shafts and for all types of machined parts. It is easy to weld, cut and machine, depending on the specific alloy. The various alloys can also be certified to different standards, including to federal, military and Aluminum Association specifications.
Cutting
Depending on the type of project you are completing and the size of the order you may wish to look carefully at the ability of the company to provide custom cutting for your order of aluminum square bar.
Custom cutting either by extrusion saw or band saw can provide close tolerances and highly accurate cuts, limiting waste and ensuring all pieces of aluminum square bar arrive to your specifications.
At Howard Precision Metals, we carry an extensive inventory of aluminum square bar by top manufacturers. To learn more about our products see us at Howardprecision.com.
