Australian based aluminum extrusion - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: wigman27
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 12:35:48 am
content: Hi all,I have designed a new case and heat sink I would like made. Has anyone had any experience with Australian based custom aluminum extrusion companies? Any feedback would be awesome!ThanksLee

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 12:53:15 am
content: You could try talking to makers of aluminium windows and doors. They generally have their own proprietary extrusions done.I have a feeling you are going to get a massive shock with the tooling cost and minimum manufacture quantities.

author: wigman27
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 01:53:35 am
content: I have had a couple of quotes from a few but I was mainly interested to see if someone has used anyone within Australia. My plan is to sell this open source component after a Kickstarter campaign if I can get it off the ground.Thanks again

author: jwm_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 02:29:38 am
content: The OpenBeam creator has written a lot of great blog entries on running a kickstarter based on an aluminum extrusion. It was a very well done kickstarter as the guy knows his stuff, yet there were a lot of unforseen snags along the way he documents. Read it in reverse order to see the progression, he goes over creating accurate BOMs that contain hidden costs too (amortizing tooling, weights for international shipping etc.).It's a really interesting read, especially the random stuff that came up, any of which i could see killing a less well planned project that didn't factor in a large 'shit happens' buffer. like the shipping tubes being just the right length such that the ends got sheared off in the fedex trucks when they slammed the doors on them, and a well respected extrusion supplier basically lying about their production capacity, finding out only after tooling was implemented. losing 3km of extrusion to the mill changing the annodization process and not cleaning the tubes properly before shipping, and other fun stuff.Also, I highly recommend the product. I use it a fair bit. Much better thought out and quality than some of the other maker extrusions out there.http://openbeamusa.com/blogs/openbeam-blog

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 07:45:28 am
content: A couple of years ago, I had some extrusions made up, but unless a lot has changed... regardless of the gotchas - the Australian providers are just not going to be anywhere near the price of the Chinese for these products.And in some cases, the onshore seller will actually outsource your work to China anyway, and take the profit.CN ended up being about 30-50% of local supplier, after factoring in all the extras.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 12:48:28 pm
content: One of our close customers use capral aluminium. The cost of the die will change depending on the size and they normally charge for a minimum tonnage. If your case is only 100 grams, they might charge 5 grand for the die and x amount per tone so it can get very expensive if you are not putting the Aluminium through.Capral has mills in wa and qld that they use. I'm sure capral has other mills in other states too.I can't remember the names of the other companies they looked at or why they didn't use them.*edit - fixed auto correct from phone.

author: RobertBG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2016, 08:39:00 pm
content: Quote from: wigman27 on January 05, 2016, 01:53:35 amHow many pieces are you planning?Like others have said tooling is costly and volume is usually required to make it worthwhile.Its funny that capral aluminum was mentioned because we've used them here in the states because it was cheaper to use a marine product they make than it was to have it custom made here or China.