Steady Tension Extrusion
The concept of steady tension extrusion (STE) is an important industrial technique used to tensile-extrude products such as fins, spokes and other metal components. STE is based on the principle of introducing constant tension into the extruded metal during the process of metal forming and resulted in improved product quality with some remarkable reported mechanical property improvements.
The application of tension extrusion enables complex shapes to be produced from metal. The process begins with a flat strip of metal which is then pulled through an extrusion die of a particular shape at a constant rate, alternately under a constant tension. While going through the die system, the metal is extruded through the die resulting in a fin, spoke or other desired profile.
The advantages of STE over other metal extrusion processes include improved strength and elongation of the metal product as well as a better surface finish. Additionally, STE ensures improved fatigue strength and resilience of the metal due to its ability to apply the same amount of tension throughout the metal extrusion process.
STE can be used with a variety of metal alloys to create a range of different shapes, some with complex geometries. Typically the metal is heated to temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius prior to passing through the die. This is to facilitate the extrusion process to ensure the metal becomes malleable and can be formed into the desired shape as it passes through the die.
The equipment used in STE technology is designed to keep the metal under constant tension throughout the entire extrusion process while being pulled through the die. The tension applied is designed to achieve a certain pressure level to ensure consistent product quality throughout the process.
The nature flexible nature of STE makes it a great choice for producing a variety of intricate and complex components. The process can be used to form metal into components that are a fraction of a millimeter in size, or to pieces as large as millimeters or even centimeters.
The STE process also offers designers and engineers the ability to produce components with complex geometries, such as parts with hollow cores, or that have several transitions between two different profiles. This is possible because of its flexibility and the ability to vary the tension and speed throughout the process.
Overall, STE technology has enabled highly efficient metal extrusion with decreased production costs, improved product quality and consistent mechanical properties. It has opened the doors to industries such as aerospace, medical and automotive that are dependent on precise and complex components.
