Order your extrusion to a custom length to minimize end drops.
As long as you meet the mill minimum order quantity for a production run, you can order the extrusion to whatever length you want over 8’ without any upcharge. Most mill minimums are 1000#, on heavier weight/ft sizes, you will need 2000-3500#. Current mill lead times for a custom length of an existing size are 3-4 weeks. Reduce your scrap with a little planning.



Consider a custom extruded shape to reduce machine cycle time and increase available machine capacity for other parts.

If you are machining part of the profile away, consider bringing the extrusion in with that area already removed. Reducing your cycle time per part allows you to fill those machine hours with other work.



Consider a custom shape to reduce raw material weight, by starting with a near net shape.

A simple groove in a rectangle can eliminate often more than 20% of the metal weight and reduce your cycle times. Minimums are similar to the above stated with adding a few weeks on the first run to have the die made. Dies usually pay for themselves in the first run. Why pay for metal and machining you can eliminate?



Consider using cut bar over plate.

Granted, you need to provide to the specification designated on your customer’s print, but if there isn’t any called out, why are you using cut plate? These days it is about being smarter than your competitor, and distributors are carrying more size options in bar than you would think. Howard Precision Metals with their vast network in the Ryerson Family of companies is sure to have a bar close to your finished size.



Have your supplier provide your parts cut to size.
Howard Precision is known for producing cut Aluminum plate and bar to precision tolerances. Often eliminating the need for machining the edges any further. Why waste precious machine cycle time doing operations that a good supplier can do? With a trustworthy partner like Howard Precision, have the confidence to go right to the machining cell with your skid of cut parts. They will be cut square and to size, ready to load.