Material and process decisions
Materials & Process Guides
Material and process choices must suit the profile design. Learn how we assess alloy and temper, compare finishes and identify requirements that affect cost and production scheduling. These guides draw on Guantian’s project experience and help you prepare for a review of your drawings and requirements.
Start with the application and section design
Tell us how the profile will be used, which faces will be visible, how it connects to other parts and whether it will be bent or machined. Our engineers assess these requirements alongside wall thickness, cavities, fins and loading conditions. For complex sections where appearance is a priority, we often consider 6063-T5. Projects that prioritize load-bearing performance or precision machining may call for 6061-T6. The final choice depends on the complete design.
Choose the finish with the fit in mind
A finish affects more than color. Coating allowances, coverage in deep channels, visible-face quality and assembly fit all need to be considered before tooling. Guantian carries out powder coating and wood-grain transfer in-house; specialist partners provide anodizing and electrophoretic coating. Confirm the appearance against a physical sample and specify the service environment before the production process is agreed.
Identify requirements that affect the quotation
Small quantities across several sections or colors, tight assembly tolerances, additional partner processes and changes after approval can increase setup work or extend lead times. Special packaging and purchased matching components also need to be included. Send a consolidated purchasing list, the final drawing revision and your packaging requirements so we can account for these items in the quotation.
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