Engineering / Assistance
Involvement of AEC's team creates the freedom to design
Recognizing the unique consumer and regulatory demands of the marketplace, we have assembled an experienced team of engineers, manufacturing specialists and market experts to work each discreet market in which AEC has entered. Team members collaborate with you to optimize both design flexibility and feature functionality, creating solutions based on a part's essential functions and how it interacts and impacts other parts of the whole, as well as necessary aesthetic, durability and weight requirements.
You can rely on our experienced and accessible team to create solutions that not only meet or exceed marketplace expectations, but also deliver genuine cost savings through low initial tooling outlay, rapid and accurate prototyping, shortened manufacturing lead-times and a focus on continuous improvement and quality.
Three-dimensional modeling increases efficiency
Taking advantage of the latest three-dimensional modeling systems including Solidworks, our engineers utilize model geometry to trouble-shoot designs, create fabrication tooling fixtures, order custom extrusion die stacks and program machining and inspection equipment.
During the design cycle, the use of technology makes it possible for real-time changes to be made with a minimum investment of both time and resources, ensuring that the working model meets your required tolerance and dimension specifications while also maximizing the design and flexibility benefits of the extrusion process.
Once your design has been finalized, it is shared electronically with other key players in our manufacturing process including the in-house fabrication tooling department and die room, along with our certified machinists and quality control specialists.
Accepted file formats include (.fldprt), (.iges) and (.step) as well as (.dwg) and (.dfx).
Rapid prototype development speeds time-to-market
Our commitment to creating and then using flexible designs facilitates rapid prototyping. Three-dimensional models are generated in the design phase where any necessary improvements or changes can made quickly and cost effectively. Once a design has been finalized, we use the model to create production-ready tooling, thus producing a prototype more consistent with the actual end product than prototypes often generated using temporary or trial tooling.
Extrusion tooling has a considerably shorter lead-time than tooling required for other processes - generally one to three weeks as opposed to 20 weeks for castings and injection molding - meaning the prototype phase at AEC is compressed and your product can move more quickly and efficiently into the marketplace.
Samples showcase flexibility of processes
Few manufacturing processes offer the freedom to design available and achievable through the aluminum extrusion process. Extrusion supports complex configurations that can reduce fabrication steps and meet both assembly and fastening needs, yet is also ideal for seamless simple shapes such as tubes, bars, angles and bars.
We at Alexandria Extrusion Company have an extensive showcase of extruded and machined samples available to give you hands-on knowledge and understanding of the actual customer solutions we've achieved through our in-house processes. Contact a product team member for more information on how you can access this invaluable design resource.
On-site
extrusion seminar key to familiarization In the seminar, our experts cover everything from the hows and whys of heating billets and cooling extrusions to the technology behind our exclusive use custom die stacks. In-depth discussions follow on designing specifically for the extrusion process, including how to take advantage of mechanical properties and tempers available through proper alloy selection, and how our engineers can assist you in designing products for increased freedom, manufacturability and cost-effectiveness. We believe this extrusion seminar is a critical component in familiarizing key people within your organization with aluminum and the extrusion process, and affords a comprehensive, objective look at one of the most flexible manufacturing processes available. Attendees at over 100 AEC extrusion seminars agree. Click here to schedule a no-obligation presentation at your facility. |
