A properly designed extruded profile is of vital importance for the success of its application. Actually a good design is the incorporation of certain interrelated points. These points can be summarised as:-

• Function
  This is the first consideration in a successful design. In function lies the key to a perfect form and fit within a component's actual use.
  
  
• Advantages
  By virtue of a perfect extrusion process, designs can offer many advantages.
  
  
• Parameters
  It is the design that should dictate the terms of the envelope for an aluminium profile to draw maximum benefit.
  
  
• Practices
  For incorporating a high level of product performance along with strict quality the design must be suitably modified to offer the “best practices” that supports both economic and the critical specification of the product.
  
  
• Assembly
  The extruded section is basically a part of structure that is typically more complex. This offers a scope for a more effective assembly application in the design.
  
  
• Fabrication
  As a variety of fabrication processes are utilized by aluminium profiles, the design process must take into account the inherent characteristics of aluminium for the success of the end product.
  
  
• Economics
  A creative design can enhance the profile performance at the same time reducing both the indirect/direct costs.
  
  

Design Tips to Enhance Profile Performance
A designer has vast opportunities to greatly improve the product performance. From a very functional perspective it is crucial to ask what the profile would do rather than what it looks like. Some of the important questions to ask here are the following:

• What are the essential parts of the function?
• What are the types of essential shapes or dimensions that these functions would require?
• What are the ways in which these essential elements relate to each other?
• What are the secondary functional elements required to strengthen, support and connect the overall component?
• Is the existence of other critical elements has a bearing on the final product?

Finite Element Analysis: A great way to enhance extruded profile performance A finite element analysis offers, a right first time design, reduced material costs, light weights all adding greatly to enhance the profiles performance.