Sealing off aluminum extrusion voids 1

[maxwolf]

Does anyone have advice on sealing off voids of an aluminum extrusion (6061 T6)? So far I've specified welding them shut. The extrsuion is elliptical in section with a number of elliptical voids, and forms part of a proposed light arm. (Please see attachment.) The goal is to keep water or ice out of the voids. The voids are for convection to keep the lamps cool.

An o-ring seal was suggested - between the ends of the extrusion and the cast aluminum parts at either end, but I'm wary of eventual leaks. With such thin walls, there's little room for o-rings. Also, the two voids at opposite ends in the section need to be open for aluminum tenons to slide in. The central void needs to be open at one end for wiring.


Any suggestions are much apprecitated,

M

 

[MikeHalloran]

There's no attachment.

Regardless... it's fairly simple to mold plugs from RTV and push them in... or just squeeze in some RTV and let it cure in place.

"Self-leveling" RTV can make a nice cosmetic surface if you breathe on it before it runs out.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ornerynorsk]

Oftentimes screw "channels" are extruded into the design to facilitate the attachment of end covers. Too bad if you've already had the dies made.