Aluminum Properties:
- Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity and heat, making it extensively used in electrical products and for cooking utensils today. Yet, a little more than 100 years ago, aluminum cost over 500 dollars a pound and was considered more precious than gold.
- It is resistant to corrosion
- It is a good insulating material because it readily reflects heat and light.
- Our Aluminum Extrusions are certified by the Aluminum Association Tolerances Standard. For those interested in the actual aluminum tolerances, click to see the Aluminum Associates standards and tolerances.
6061 Aluminum
6061-T6 aluminum is one of the most commonly used aluminum alloys. It is widely specified for its strength, easy machining, and corrosion resistant properties. This aluminum grade can also be heat treated and is usually found in the T6 form. 6061 aluminum can be easily welded by all methods (i.e., gas, arc and spot weld) and anodizes easily. The 6061 alloy is available in a variety of extruded shapes including aluminum bar, angle, channels, rounds, sheets, tubes, pipes, and beams.
5052 Aluminum
5052 is a commercial grade aluminum that offers good strength, formability, and corrosion properties. Although it is not heat-treatable, it is fairly strong and can be easily welded. Although it is only available in sheet and some plate thickness, 5052 is one of our most popular grades of aluminum. Because 5052 is softer than the 6061-T6 or other aerospace aluminum grades, it does not machine well and only has a fair machinability rating.
Cast Tooling Plate
Cast tooling plate is technically not a grade of aluminum. It is a cast aluminum product that been machined so that it is really flat. As you can guess, it is primarily used when flatness is critical. Although there are many flavors of cast tooling plate (K-100, Mic-6, etc) we at M&K prefer a brand of cast tooling plate called ATP-5 because not only is it flat, but it can be readily machined, welded, and even anodized.
Contact M&K Metals Today
Request a quote on the aluminum bar, beam, channel, or other profiles your project requires, or
contact M&K Metal Co. for more information. You can also call us at
310-327-9011 to discuss your needs.