# CharMax Aluminum

> CharMax Aluminum is an aluminum extrusion manufacturer in Tangxia, Dongguan, China, founded in 1996, that casts its own billets from primary aluminum, designs dies and extrudes custom profiles, tubes and bars on 20 extrusion lines with presses from 600 to 2,000 tonnes, with machining and finishing in-house.

Founded in 1996 in Tangxia, Dongguan, CharMax Aluminum is a privately owned aluminum manufacturer with a 30,000 m² plant, 20 extrusion lines and about 30,000 tonnes of annual capacity. We melt and cast our own billets from primary aluminum, design dies, and produce alloy tubes, bars and rods, custom profiles and aluminum plate in grades from 1060 to 7075, certified to ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.

## Key facts
- Company: CharMax Aluminum
- Business: aluminum extrusion manufacturer with its own extrusion presses, in-house die design, fabrication and finishing
- Founded: 1996
- Location: No. 139 Buwei Avenue, Shigu, Tangxia Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- Plant area: about 30,000 m²
- Extrusion lines: 20; main presses 600 t × 5, 800 t × 2, 1000 t × 5, 1350 t × 2, 2000 t × 2
- Annual capacity: about 30,000 tonnes
- Raw material: Prime primary aluminum (molten metal and ingot) only — no recycled scrap added; in-house melting and billet casting; composition verified by SPECTROMAX benchtop direct-reading spectrometer (Germany)
- Products: Alloy tubes, Bars and rods, Custom extruded profiles, Pure aluminum plate and sheet, Alloy plate and sheet
- Grades: 1060, 1100, 3003, 5052, 6060, 6061, 6063, 6005A, 6082, 7005, 7075
- Tempers: T4, T5, T6, T66
- Finishes: Mill finish, Anodizing, Hard anodizing, Powder coating, Electrophoretic coating, Brushing, Polishing, Sandblasting, Wood-grain transfer
- Fabrication: Precision cut-to-length, CNC machining, Drilling and tapping, Punching, Bending, Deburring, Assembly, Custom packaging
- Markets: North America, Europe, Australia, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America
- Certifications: ISO 9001 Quality Management System, IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System
- Other credentials: Product carbon footprint certificate, Utility model and invention patents
- Quality: Five-level quality control; surface quality and dimensional tolerances better than the GB/T high-precision grade
- Service: Full-process, one-stop service with a dedicated contact from enquiry to after-sales; Any product quality problem: return or replacement
- Contact: sales@charmaxprecision.com, +86 181 2998 2235
- Quotes: https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/request-a-quote/

## Start here
- [CharMax Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/): Custom and standard aluminum extrusions with in-house die design, extrusion, CNC fabrication and finishing.
- [Request a quote](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/request-a-quote/): Send a drawing or a description and get a quotation with tooling cost and lead time.

## Products
- [All products](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/): Every product line, with typical specifications compared in one table.
- [Custom Aluminum Extrusions](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/custom-aluminum-extrusions/): Solid, semi-hollow and multi-hollow profiles developed from your drawing — die design through finished parts.
- [Aluminum Enclosures](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-enclosures/): Hollow and clamshell housings with PCB guides and screw ports built into the section.
- [Aluminum Heat Sinks](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-heat-sinks/): Straight-fin profiles in high-conductivity 6063, machined flat and anodized, cut to your length.
- [LED Aluminum Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/led-aluminum-profiles/): Surface, recessed, corner and suspended channels in 6063-T5 with diffuser retention built in.
- [Scooter, Bicycle & Sports Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/scooter-bicycle-sports-profiles/): Scooter decks, bicycle tubes, roller-skate frames and fitness rails in 6061, 7005 and 7075.
- [Phone Case, Flashlight & Camera Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/consumer-electronics-profiles/): Phone cases, flashlight bodies and camera housings with cosmetic, evenly anodized surfaces.
- [Hinge Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-hinge-profiles/): Leaf-and-knuckle hinge sections cut to any length, drilled and anodized.
- [Aluminum Formwork Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-formwork-profiles/): Panel, rib, corner and beam profiles in 6061-T6 for aluminum formwork systems.
- [Tubes, Angles & Channels](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-tubes-and-shapes/): Square, rectangular and round tube, angles, channels and flat bar in 6063, 6061 and 6082.
- [Bars, Rods & Flat Bars](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-bars-and-rods/): Round rods, flat bars and strips from 1060 to 7075, cast from primary aluminum and cut to length.
- [Aluminum Plate & Sheet](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/aluminum-plate-and-sheet/): Pure and alloy aluminum plate and sheet from 1060 to 7075, cut to size and processed to drawing.
- [T-Slot Framing Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/t-slot-aluminum-profiles/): Metric 20–45 series framing, clear anodized, cut and machined for connectors.
- [Solar Mounting Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/solar-mounting-profiles/): Rails, clamps, splices and brackets extruded to your racking drawings and anodized for outdoor life.
- [Architectural Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/products/architectural-aluminum-profiles/): Window, door, curtain-wall, railing and louvre profiles finished to project color schedules.

## Capabilities
- [All capabilities](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/): The full chain from drawing review to packed part, run in one plant.
- [Melting & Billet Casting](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/melting-billet-casting/): Own melting and casting furnaces; billets from primary aluminum only, spectrometer-verified.
- [Aluminum Extrusion](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/aluminum-extrusion/): Hot extrusion, press quench, stretching and aging to T5/T6 on our own lines.
- [Die Design & Tooling](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/extrusion-die-design/): DFM review, die design, trials and correction until samples match the drawing.
- [CNC Machining & Fabrication](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/cnc-machining-fabrication/): Cutting, CNC machining, drilling, tapping, punching, bending and assembly.
- [Packing & Export](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/capabilities/packaging-export-logistics/): Surface protection, crating, labelling, container planning and export documents.
- [Quality & inspection](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/quality/): Five-level quality control, spectrometer-verified melts and documentation per lot.
- [Factory & equipment](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/factory/): Plant, press line-up, foundry and inspection equipment.
- [Certifications](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/certifications/): ISO 9001, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, carbon footprint and patents.

## Industries
- [All industries](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/industries/): Sectors CharMax Aluminum extrudes for and what each one needs.
- [Industrial & Automation](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/industries/industrial-automation/): Framing, linear-motion bases, conveyor rails and guarding — machined and kitted per machine.
- [Electronics & Thermal](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/industries/electronics-thermal/): Heat sinks, enclosures and LED housings where the extrusion is also the thermal path.
- [Energy & Mobility](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/industries/energy-mobility/): Solar racking, battery-tray and crash profiles, e-mobility frames and charger housings.
- [Architecture & Building](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/industries/architecture-building/): Windows, doors, curtain walls, railings and louvres finished to project color schedules.

## Materials and finishes
- [All grades](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/): Every grade CharMax casts and supplies, from 1060 to 7075, compared.
- [All finishes](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/finishes/): Anodizing, powder coating, electrophoretic coating and mechanical finishes.
- [1060 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/1060-aluminum/): 99.6 % pure aluminum: maximum conductivity and formability.
- [1100 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/1100-aluminum/): Commercially pure aluminum with a little more strength than 1060.
- [3003 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/3003-aluminum/): General-purpose manganese alloy: stronger than pure aluminum, still very formable.
- [5052 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/5052-aluminum/): Marine-grade corrosion resistance and good strength for sheet-metal parts.
- [6061 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/6061-aluminum/): The structural all-rounder: strong, machinable and weldable.
- [6063 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/6063-aluminum/): The architectural alloy: best surface, best anodizing, easiest to extrude.
- [6005A Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/6005a-aluminum/): Structural strength with the extrudability thin-walled hollows need.
- [6082 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/6082-aluminum/): Highest strength of the common 6xxx alloys — Europe's structural standard.
- [7005 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/7005-aluminum/): High-strength 7000-series alloy that can be welded — bicycles and skates.
- [7075 Aluminum](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/alloys/7075-aluminum/): One of the strongest aluminum alloys: molds, tooling and high-stress parts.
- [Anodizing](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/finishes/anodizing/): An integral oxide layer — clear or colored — that cannot peel or flake.
- [Powder Coating](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/finishes/powder-coating/): Any RAL color, gloss or texture — including wood-grain — on a tough cured film.
- [Electrophoretic Coating](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/finishes/electrophoretic-coating/): Anodizing sealed under a thin, smooth acrylic film — even in recesses.
- [Brushing, Polishing & Blasting](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/finishes/mechanical-finishes/): Satin, mirror or matte textures — usually sealed under anodizing.

## Standard profile library
- [Profile library](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/): Standard sections with drawings, weight per metre and moments of inertia.
- [T-Slot Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot/): Metric T-slot profiles from 20 × 20 to 80 × 80 mm in 6063-T5, clear anodized. Each size lists slot width, centre bore, weight per metre and calculated moments of inertia so you can size frame members for deflection.
- [Square Tubes](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube/): Extruded aluminum square tube from 20 × 20 to 50 × 50 mm, in 6063-T5 for frames, furniture and railings or 6061-T6 for structural use. Weights and section properties are calculated from nominal dimensions.
- [Rectangular Tubes](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube/): Extruded aluminum rectangular tube from 40 × 20 to 100 × 50 mm. Used on edge, rectangular tube gives high bending stiffness for its weight — each size lists Ix and Iy for both orientations.
- [Round Tubes](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube/): Extruded aluminum round tube from Ø20 to Ø50 mm outside diameter. Round tube resists torsion efficiently and is the natural choice for handrails, poles and rollers.
- [Angles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle/): Equal and unequal extruded aluminum angles with a radiused root, from 20 × 20 × 2 to 50 × 50 × 5 mm. Used for brackets, edging, reinforcement and framing.
- [U-Channels](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/channel/): Extruded aluminum U-channels for tracks, trims, edge protection and light structures, from 20 × 20 to 60 × 30 mm.
- [Heat Sink Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/heat-sink/): Standard straight-fin heat sink sections in 6063-T5. Cut to your length and machined with your hole pattern — no die cost.
- [LED Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/led/): Standard surface-mounted and recessed LED channels in 6063-T5, anodized silver or black and cut to length.
- [Aluminum weight calculator](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/tools/aluminum-weight-calculator/): Weight per metre for tubes, angles, channels and bars.

### Sizes in stock sections (weight calculated from the nominal section at 2.70 g/cm³)
- [CM-TS-2020 — 20 × 20 T-Slot Profile, 6 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-2020/): 20 × 20 mm T-slot profile with 6 mm slots; 0.488 kg/m, area 180.6 mm², Ix 0.74 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-TS-3030 — 30 × 30 T-Slot Profile, 8 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-3030/): 30 × 30 mm T-slot profile with 8 mm slots; 1.003 kg/m, area 371.5 mm², Ix 3.14 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-TS-4040 — 40 × 40 T-Slot Profile, 8 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-4040/): 40 × 40 mm T-slot profile with 8 mm slots; 1.608 kg/m, area 595.7 mm², Ix 8.30 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-TS-4080 — 40 × 80 T-Slot Profile, 8 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-4080/): 40 × 80 mm T-slot profile with 8 mm slots; 3.112 kg/m, area 1152.8 mm², Ix 16.52 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-TS-4545 — 45 × 45 T-Slot Profile, 10 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-4545/): 45 × 45 mm T-slot profile with 10 mm slots; 2.004 kg/m, area 742.3 mm², Ix 13.10 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-TS-8080 — 80 × 80 T-Slot Profile, 8 mm Slot](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/t-slot-8080/): 80 × 80 mm T-slot profile with 8 mm slots; 6.011 kg/m, area 2226.2 mm², Ix 125.24 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-SQ-2020-1-5 — Aluminum Square Tube 20 × 20 × 1.5 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube-20x20x1-5/): 20 × 20 × 1.5 mm aluminum square tube; 0.298 kg/m, area 110.5 mm², Ix 0.63 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-SQ-2525-2 — Aluminum Square Tube 25 × 25 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube-25x25x2/): 25 × 25 × 2 mm aluminum square tube; 0.495 kg/m, area 183.4 mm², Ix 1.62 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-SQ-3030-2 — Aluminum Square Tube 30 × 30 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube-30x30x2/): 30 × 30 × 2 mm aluminum square tube; 0.603 kg/m, area 223.4 mm², Ix 2.93 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-SQ-4040-2 — Aluminum Square Tube 40 × 40 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube-40x40x2/): 40 × 40 × 2 mm aluminum square tube; 0.819 kg/m, area 303.4 mm², Ix 7.31 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-SQ-5050-3 — Aluminum Square Tube 50 × 50 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/square-tube-50x50x3/): 50 × 50 × 3 mm aluminum square tube; 1.521 kg/m, area 563.4 mm², Ix 20.81 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RT-4020-2 — Aluminum Rectangular Tube 40 × 20 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube-40x20x2/): 40 × 20 × 2 mm aluminum rectangular tube; 0.603 kg/m, area 223.4 mm², Ix 1.43 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RT-5025-2 — Aluminum Rectangular Tube 50 × 25 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube-50x25x2/): 50 × 25 × 2 mm aluminum rectangular tube; 0.765 kg/m, area 283.4 mm², Ix 2.95 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RT-6030-2-5 — Aluminum Rectangular Tube 60 × 30 × 2.5 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube-60x30x2-5/): 60 × 30 × 2.5 mm aluminum rectangular tube; 1.146 kg/m, area 424.4 mm², Ix 6.32 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RT-8040-3 — Aluminum Rectangular Tube 80 × 40 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube-80x40x3/): 80 × 40 × 3 mm aluminum rectangular tube; 1.845 kg/m, area 683.4 mm², Ix 18.40 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RT-10050-3 — Aluminum Rectangular Tube 100 × 50 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/rectangular-tube-100x50x3/): 100 × 50 × 3 mm aluminum rectangular tube; 2.331 kg/m, area 863.4 mm², Ix 37.40 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RD-20-2 — Aluminum Round Tube Ø20 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube-20x2/): Ø20 × 2 mm aluminum round tube; 0.305 kg/m, area 112.9 mm², Ix 0.46 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RD-25-2 — Aluminum Round Tube Ø25 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube-25x2/): Ø25 × 2 mm aluminum round tube; 0.390 kg/m, area 144.3 mm², Ix 0.96 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RD-32-2 — Aluminum Round Tube Ø32 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube-32x2/): Ø32 × 2 mm aluminum round tube; 0.508 kg/m, area 188.2 mm², Ix 2.12 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RD-40-3 — Aluminum Round Tube Ø40 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube-40x3/): Ø40 × 3 mm aluminum round tube; 0.940 kg/m, area 348.2 mm², Ix 5.99 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-RD-50-3 — Aluminum Round Tube Ø50 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/round-tube-50x3/): Ø50 × 3 mm aluminum round tube; 1.194 kg/m, area 442.3 mm², Ix 12.24 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-AN-2020-2 — Aluminum Equal Angle 20 × 20 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle-20x20x2/): 20 × 20 × 2 mm equal aluminum angle; 0.206 kg/m, area 76.2 mm², Ix 0.29 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-AN-3030-3 — Aluminum Equal Angle 30 × 30 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle-30x30x3/): 30 × 30 × 3 mm equal aluminum angle; 0.463 kg/m, area 171.4 mm², Ix 1.45 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-AN-4040-4 — Aluminum Equal Angle 40 × 40 × 4 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle-40x40x4/): 40 × 40 × 4 mm equal aluminum angle; 0.823 kg/m, area 304.8 mm², Ix 4.59 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-AN-5050-5 — Aluminum Equal Angle 50 × 50 × 5 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle-50x50x5/): 50 × 50 × 5 mm equal aluminum angle; 1.286 kg/m, area 476.3 mm², Ix 11.21 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-AN-4020-3 — Aluminum Unequal Angle 40 × 20 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/angle-40x20x3/): 40 × 20 × 3 mm unequal aluminum angle; 0.463 kg/m, area 171.4 mm², Ix 0.49 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-CH-2020-2 — Aluminum U-Channel 20 × 20 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/channel-20x20x2/): 20 × 20 × 2 mm aluminum U-channel; 0.303 kg/m, area 112.2 mm², Ix 0.45 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-CH-4020-2 — Aluminum U-Channel 40 × 20 × 2 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/channel-40x20x2/): 40 × 20 × 2 mm aluminum U-channel; 0.411 kg/m, area 152.2 mm², Ix 0.57 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-CH-5025-3 — Aluminum U-Channel 50 × 25 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/channel-50x25x3/): 50 × 25 × 3 mm aluminum U-channel; 0.763 kg/m, area 282.6 mm², Ix 1.63 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-CH-6030-3 — Aluminum U-Channel 60 × 30 × 3 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/channel-60x30x3/): 60 × 30 × 3 mm aluminum U-channel; 0.925 kg/m, area 342.6 mm², Ix 2.90 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-HS-6020 — Extruded Heat Sink 60 × 20 mm, 9 Fins](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/heat-sink-60x20/): 60 × 20 mm extruded heat sink with 9 straight fins; 1.451 kg/m, area 537.4 mm², Ix 1.63 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-HS-10031 — Extruded Heat Sink 100 × 31 mm, 12 Fins](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/heat-sink-100x31/): 100 × 31 mm extruded heat sink with 12 straight fins; 3.163 kg/m, area 1171.6 mm², Ix 9.05 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-HS-15040 — Extruded Heat Sink 150 × 40 mm, 15 Fins](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/heat-sink-150x40/): 150 × 40 mm extruded heat sink with 15 straight fins; 6.224 kg/m, area 2305.3 mm², Ix 28.94 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-LED-178 — Surface-Mounted LED Profile 17 × 8 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/led-profile-17x8/): 17 × 8 mm surface-mounted LED profile; 0.118 kg/m, area 43.6 mm², Ix 0.03 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-LED-3212 — Recessed LED Profile 32 × 12 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/led-profile-32x12/): 32 × 12 mm recessed LED profile; 0.230 kg/m, area 85.3 mm², Ix 0.16 cm⁴, 6063-T5.
- [CM-LED-3020 — Deep Surface-Mounted LED Profile 30 × 20 mm](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/profiles/led-profile-30x20/): 30 × 20 mm deep surface-mounted LED profile; 0.329 kg/m, area 122.0 mm², Ix 0.50 cm⁴, 6063-T5.

## Engineering guides
- [All guides](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/): Technical answers written by the CharMax engineering team.
- [6061 vs 6063 Aluminum: Which Alloy Should You Extrude?](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/6061-vs-6063-aluminum/): Choose 6063 when surface finish, complex shapes, thermal conductivity and cost matter most — it extrudes easily and anodizes beautifully. Choose 6061 when the part carries significant load or is heavily machined: 6061-T6 is roughly 30% stronger than 6063-T6, machines better, but is harder to extrude and gives a less decorative anodized finish.
- [Aluminum Extrusion Design Guide: 12 Rules for Better Profiles](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/aluminum-extrusion-design-guide/): Good extrusion design keeps walls as uniform as possible, radiuses every corner, avoids deep narrow channels, keeps the section compact and symmetrical, and builds functional features — screw ports, snap-fits, drill guides — into the profile. Tight tolerances belong only on functional features, with precision surfaces machined afterwards.
- [How Aluminum Extrusion Works: The Process Step by Step](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/aluminum-extrusion-process/): Aluminum extrusion pushes a billet heated to roughly 450–500 °C through a steel die with a hydraulic ram, producing a continuous profile with the die's cross-section. The profile is quenched, stretched straight, cut to length and artificially aged to its final temper (usually T5 or T6) before any machining or finishing.
- [Aluminum Temper Designations Explained: T4, T5, T6 and T66](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/aluminum-temper-designations-t5-t6/): An aluminum temper code describes how the metal was processed to reach its properties. For extrusions, T5 means cooled from the extrusion press and artificially aged; T6 means solution heat treated and artificially aged for higher strength; T4 means solution treated and naturally aged, often for forming. Suffixes such as T6511 add stress relief by stretching.
- [Aluminum Extrusion Tolerances: Standards and How to Specify Them](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/aluminum-extrusion-tolerances/): Aluminum extrusion tolerances are set by standards — EN 755-9 for general profiles, EN 12020-2 for precision 6060/6063 profiles, ANSI H35.2 in North America and GB/T 14846 in China. Tolerances grow with the profile's size and depend on whether a dimension spans a hollow. Reference one standard on your drawing, tighten only functional dimensions, and machine true precision features.
- [Anodizing vs Powder Coating for Aluminum Extrusions](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/anodizing-vs-powder-coating/): Anodizing grows a thin (5–25 µm), hard oxide layer from the aluminum itself; it cannot peel, resists abrasion and keeps a metallic look, but colors are limited. Powder coating applies a thicker (60–120 µm) polymer film in virtually any color and texture and hides surface marks, but it can chip. Choose anodizing for metallic, hard-wearing finishes and powder coating for color.
- [Extruded Heat Sink Design Guide](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/extruded-heat-sink-design-guide/): Design an extruded heat sink by first computing the thermal resistance you need — (maximum case temperature − ambient) ÷ power, minus the interface resistance — then choosing base thickness, fin height, spacing and length to meet it within what the die can extrude. Natural convection needs wider fin gaps than forced air, and black anodizing helps passive designs radiate heat.
- [Aluminum Extrusion Die Cost and Lead Time Explained](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/extrusion-die-cost-and-lead-time/): An aluminum extrusion die is a one-time tooling cost that, for most small and medium profiles, ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars — far less than die-casting or injection-mold tooling. Cost rises with profile size, hollows and complexity. First samples typically follow in about one to three weeks, depending on the die and the plant's schedule.
- [How to Choose an Aluminum Extrusion Supplier: A Buyer's Checklist](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/how-to-choose-an-aluminum-extrusion-supplier/): Choose an aluminum extrusion supplier by matching their press range and alloys to your profile, confirming what they do in-house (die design, finishing, machining), checking quality evidence (certifications, mill certificates, inspection reports), testing engineering support and communication with a DFM review, and getting die ownership, MOQ, lead time and packaging terms in writing.
- [How to Prepare an Aluminum Extrusion RFQ (Checklist)](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/guides/how-to-prepare-an-extrusion-rfq/): A complete aluminum extrusion RFQ includes a dimensioned 2D drawing (and a 3D model if machining is needed), alloy and temper, the tolerance standard, cut lengths, annual volume and batch size, surface finish and cosmetic faces, machining and assembly requirements, packaging and delivery terms. Complete RFQs get faster, more accurate and directly comparable quotes.

## Company
- [About](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/about/): Who CharMax Aluminum is and how it works.
- [Company facts](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/company-facts/): Canonical facts about the business.
- [FAQ](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/faq/): Minimums, dies, lead times, alloys, finishes and shipping.
- [Contact](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/contact/): Email and contact options.

## Optional
- [Full guide text](https://www.charmaxaluminum.com/llms-full.txt): all engineering guides in plain Markdown.