Cheap source of small run Al extrusions?

[LordBug]

Silly question, have you tried chucking in the term "prototyping aluminium extrusions Australia" into Google and having a weed through the results?
Not as favourable as a solid recommendation, but it's an option, if you haven't. One result sounded mildly promising: http://www.abra.net.au/extrusion/extru

[KBs PensNmore]

The way this sounds, is that they farm the work out to others, just being a middle man, probably to China, which is what Michael wanted to avoid.
Kryn

[Michael G]

I'll do a bit of a phone around this week and see what people can offer. It did occur to me that there would have to be a try out press somewhere - I can't imagine a company taking a new tool out of the box, putting it in a production machine and squirting 250kg of material through it, particularly if they are guaranteeing sizes as GRF suggests.
It may be possible to get a sample quantity made at the end of the try out process - even that may make some of "the team" feel like risk is being managed.

Michael

[electrosteam]

Michael,
In your search for a possible extrusion that could be modified, include heatsinks for power electronic devices.

For example:
http://catalog.chtechnology.com/view...nks?&plpver=10

John

[GRF]

I'll do a bit of a phone around this week and see what people can offer. It did occur to me that there would have to be a try out press somewhere - I can't imagine a company taking a new tool out of the box, putting it in a production machine and squirting 250kg of material through it, particularly if they are guaranteeing sizes as GRF suggests.
It may be possible to get a sample quantity made at the end of the try out process - even that may make some of "the team" feel like risk is being managed.

Michael

we do get what we call tool samples for approval and depending on the company you can get up to 12m or so.
it will not be aged (heat treated) or finished (just plain mill) but it means you only pay for the tool and not the 250KG
the tools have a 3-4week lead time on their own just for reference and that is before they are heat treated.