Those aluminum square hollow sections provide adaptable solutions across tons of construction and manufacturing projects, whether structural builds, custom enclosures, or equipment framing. But unless you appreciate the potential locked inside these specialized structural forms, it’s easy to overlook square hollow section advantages like dust-welded pipe frames or basic angle stock.
Let’s explore what aluminum square hollow sections offer over standard round tubing or basic L-profile. Consider this your primer on harnessing often underestimated sections for bigger projects once you glimpse the incredible strength within.
Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Square Hollow Section
It takes calculated aluminum alloys to generate exceptional mechanical readings from square structural hollow sections, like:
6063 Alloy
Corrosion resistance is well-suited for exposed architectural applications. Plus 215 MPa ultimate tensile strength rivaling low carbon square steel strength values once factoring in the 35% density savings benefit. Approved across North America and Europe for structural usage in seismic activity zones and high wind low regions.
6082 Alloy
Elevated manganese boosts tensile hardness closer to 270 MPa maximum limitations. The material maintains lightness for equipment lifting leverage yet adds environmental resilience to boot. Squareness consistency aids manufacturing fixtures and automation alignments over time as well.
6061 Alloy
When basic precipitation strengthening limits prove insufficient to sustain expected structural loading stresses without excessive deflection issues, 6061 aluminum square tube sections offer a 300 Mpa strength capability after implementing proper solution heat treatment plus multi-stage aging temper cycles. Demonstrates shear and torque capacities rivaling rolled low-carbon steel shapes.
Global Verification and Consistency
Major quality approval helps source reliable aluminum squares worldwide fast:
ASTM B221: North American spec explicitly defining consistent dimensional ratio accuracy and 90-degree corner precision for fuss-free fit-up builds.
EN 755-9: Euro-based standard demanding higher fabrication tolerances for visually seamless alignments across successive finishing.
Bottomline, credible builders check for credible materials specs and reputable supplier testing reports before dropping major coins on structural aluminum sections holding up multi-million dollar designs.
Common Aluminum Square Hollow Dimensions
Aluminum square dimensions cover all needs from 15mm minimalist balusters or rail infills, right on top to robust 200mm chassis and equipment frames moving some serious mass and equipment payloads across installed square feet. Alongside 1.5mm through 8mm thickness variants for shelving. Any custom needs? Custom sizing also remains possible working directly with vendors offering value-added fabrication services.
Fabrication Methods
The actual manufacturing methods for making aluminum square hollow sections determine lasting quality:
Extruding
Extrusion is hydraulically squirting heated aluminum into steel molds to make solid, seamless insides sustaining extremely tight build precision and consistency, so joints line up perfectly.
Rolling/Welding
Squaring cut sheet coils into C-channel frames needs balanced heat control during rewelding to minimize distortions in aligned parts demand down the finishing road.
Cast and Precision Machined
Starts as near-net-shaped ingots forging into exceptionally true platforms. By meticulously controlled cutting rates and directions before peak aging treatments ensure dimensional stability holding insane symmetric accuracy as incredibly essential manufacturing inspection reference points across industries.
That’s why professional builders qualify supplier processes upfront, ensuring aluminum squares uphold promises holding form and function far into future lifetimes when clients demand enduring performance.
Cutting and Machining Techniques
Preserving baseline aluminum mechanical strengths through finishing operations means avoiding common workshop pitfalls. Clamp them wisely by securing sections to resist distortion yet enable adequate chip evacuation. Monitor heat and allow intermediate cooling cycles preventing dangerous controlled jams. Gently reheat slightly warped parts stabilizing consistency if overzealous cutting pushes limits.
With reasonable precautions followed by strategic reheating applied only on a minimal basis when catching warpage early enough, builders rework aluminum squares back to flat and square specifications avoiding unnecessary scrap.
Assembly Tips and Tricks
From sneakily strong adhesives to elegantly fused welds, great options exist for joining aluminum squares. Melt similar or compatible alloys between walls achieving solid intermetallic bonds with proper filler and settings dialed in. Torque fasteners speedily to spec limits with calibrated impact guns. Consider threadlockers or locking washers for permanence avoiding vibrational loose. Industrial-strength methacrylates or marine-grade polyurethanes bond invisibly with incredible strength resisting shearing, tensions, and movements over long working equipment lifetimes. Subtle but mighty structural connections.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully, you’ve now got to appreciate the exceptional strength-to-weight aluminum square hollow section structure provides. By matching quality manufacturing techniques against mechanical property needs before calculating adequate safety margins into the mix, builders universally praise aluminum squares as fundamental metallic puzzle pieces enabling bigger support.