UNDERSTANDING ALUMINUM EXTRUSION PROFILE TYPES

Parco’s American-made t-slot aluminum extrusions are 100% compatible with 80/20 aluminum, T-Slots, Faztek and many more.

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Understanding Aluminum Profiles Types

Profiles come in multiple sizes and types. At Parco, we provide both fractional and metric profiles.

Fractional: 10 and 15 Series (Smooth and Grooved) in stock lengths of 240 in, 120 in, 92in, or cut to length

Metric: 30, 40, and 45 Series (Smooth) 2300mm, 3048mm, 6000mm, or cut to length

Our structural aluminum extrusions for the 10 and 15 Series include 1”x 1”, 1”x 1” QR, 1”x 2”, 1”x 3”, 2”x 2”, and 2”x 4”. For the 10 Series, the t-slots have .255” slot widths and are modular to each other. They are compatible with slot 6. 

When utilizing our accessories, you will find that you can build a complete structure with the 10 Series and if needed, transition it to our 15 Series. The inside radius of the 10 Series t-slot design is .125”, making it easier to drop-in T-nuts. 

The 15 Series ranges from 1.5”x 1.5” to 3”x 6”. The 15 Series t-slots have .322” slot widths and are modular to each other. They are compatible with slot 8. Just like the 10 Series, the 15 Series accessories can be transitioned to a 10 Series if needed. For the 15 Series, the t-slot design has an inside radius of .187” 

For metric profiles, they are measured in millimeters: 30mm, 40mm, 45mm, and 60mm. The 30mm and 40mm have an 8mm slot, and the 45mm and 60 mm has a 10mm slot. 

Single Profiles

This profile is used often to configure machine guards, enclosures, carts, and workstations. These profiles have channels on all four sides offering multiple design capabilities. Unlike closed profiles, singles are open for various mounting options and components.

Double, Triple, and Quad Profiles 

Doubles are also used for solutions such as machine guards, enclosures, carts, etc. Doubles as well as triple, and quad profiles are used for large structural applications, such as beams and posts in enclosures. These profiles provide six to twelve open t-slots for connecting fittings, components, and accessories. 

Structural Extrusion Makeup

For most all structural or architectural aluminum extrusion, its makeup will be that of the 6000 series aluminum alloy. This alloy has: 

– Moderate strength 

– Extremely versatile 

– Highly formable 

– Corrosion resistant 

Parco’s aluminum alloy is the 6063 T6 aluminum alloy. This alloy’s major elements include the following: 

– Magnesium (Mg) .45-.9% 

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– Silicon (Si) .20-.6%

The “T” after a series designation of aluminum refers to the type of thermal treatment or tempering the aluminum extrusion has received. Tempering is the heating of the aluminum to change its characteristics, most commonly to increase strength. The T6 tempering process includes a solution treatment, quenching, and artificial aging.

The solution treatment will require heating to 1000 F for a few hours followed by quenching, or drastically cooling the part. From there, it is reheated to 300 to 400 F. The T6 tempering process will increase an alloys strength up to 30%.

Placing an Order with Parco

Placing an order with us is easily done once you know how to read our part numbers. 

When reading our part numbers you will see a letter at the beginning. This letter designates what type of part it is. If you look to the two columns to the left above, you will see all the letter designations for our parts.

The last number in the part number is the series to which the part belongs to. For profiles, 1 through 6 will be used. As for fasteners, they use the number 0. For the numbers 8 and 9, those will be for either a transition or universal part. For example, the part number H20302 is a hardware part that belongs to the 15 Series. 

Three Ways to Order

When ordering with Parco, you can submit an order one of three ways: 

– Send in Your Details: Fax 260-451-0843 or email sales@parco-inc.com

– SolidWorks Drawing: We can create a CAD drawing and send you a PDF. 3D drawings are available upon request.

– Finished Product: We will professionally assemble your solution upon design approval and send the product to you in kit for with a tag drawing.

Contact us today to learn more about structural aluminum extrusions and how we can help you design and build your next solution.

Aluminium is a very popular material for producing profiles due to its versatility. It is malleable, light weight, cost effective and at the same time adds durability to structures where they are used. Aluminium extrusion is a process by which an aluminium alloy billet is passed with force through a tooling die which has a specific profile as cross section. The extruded aluminium profile comes out of the die opening in the desired shape on being pushed inside the die. They can be small pieces or longer versions according to the need.
Aluminium profiles are distinguished according to their use which can be architectural, construction or industrial. They can be very different depending on the need or application of the profile. The thickness, shape and volume of the profiles vary too greatly.
Some of the commonly used profiles segregated according to shape, form or utility are:

Solid profiles: These are extruded profiles that are sold and filled fully. They do not incorporate enclosed or partially enclosed voids or openings. Solid profiles are usually found as rods, beams or angle extrusions.  

Hollow beam profiles: They are profiles with one or more voids and can come in various shapes like rectangular or square. These are used for architectural purposes as part of support framework for various structures and even for industrial purposes. When used horizontally it has high load bearing capacity.

Semi hollow profiles: Here we find two or less partially enclosed voids in which the area of the void(s) and the area of the surrounding wall thickness are symmetrical to the centerline of the gap feature of the profile. Semi hollow ones have the most variability but can still be considered as having good dimensional stability.

Sliding door (SD) profile: This is one of the traditional profile series being in use since early days. It is simple, affordable and widely used in homes and offices particularly for window frames. The lightness, flexibility, resistance to vagaries of weather and corrosion resistance makes these aluminium profiles suitable in SD and window frames.

Regular curtain walling (RCW) profiles: They are commonly applied to curtain walls in multi storey buildings. RCW profiles do not have so much structural role but used  to mainly prevent polluting substances entering inside buildings as well as preventing leakages.

ED or Door section profiles: These are used in heavy duty glass doors of buildings. They have a significant role in the mechanism of push doors used in buildings and offices. Form as well as function is key for this profile. The role of this profile is to support the glass and secure it safely without letting it slip or fall.

Louvre profile: Aluminium Louvre profiles are mainly used for decorative purposes and architectural elegance. The slats are attached at horizontal intervals at an angle. Louvre is available as window blinds or shutters of doors. The purpose of the louvre is to allow the ambient lighting inside and the aluminium profile helps in keeping the pollution, moisture and unwanted particles in.  The angled stats also help in maintaining privacy of space covered with louvre.

T-Section Profiles: These are popular choices for structural and architectural applications and give support in different directions. T-sections contain components like vertical webs, span and horizontal flanges. These profiles are mainly used in corners and as part of truss network. It works well when fitted with hollow beam or square profiles too. T-section brings in durability by increasing the support offered.
KMC aluminium is among the leading aluminium extrusion manufacturers in india. They would feature as a company with the widest range of products in the list of aluminium profile manufacturers of the country.

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