Extrusion is a common manufacturing process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile. It is one type of forming process. Although this process is widely used and with many advantages, it also comes with some disadvantages too which we will be discussing here.
Advantages of the extrusion process:
- Extrusion is a continuous high production volume process.
- It can easily create complex shapes too.
- This process can be used for both brittle and ductile materials.
- Lower cost per parts manufacturing.
- This process working operation is easy and flexible.
- Good mechanical properties and surface finish obtained especially in cold extrusion.
- Good compounding and efficient melting are achieved by this process.
- No oxidation takes place in this process.
- Superior dimension control.
- Uniform product produced by this process.
- Better grain structure and accuracy achieved in this metal forming process.
- Less wastage of material in the extrusion process.
- Required low deformation energy.
- Economical for mass production.
Disadvantages of the extrusion process:
- For deformation high compressive force required.
- High set up cost.
- Only one type of cross-section can be obtained at a time thus product limitation.
- Sometimes the product expands more due to unequal force applied thus variations in the size of the product.
- Close tolerance can not be held.
- High temperatures may promote undesirable cause thus heat resistant tools are required which are expensive.
- Extrusion dies easily wear out.
- Thermoset plastic is not suitable.
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