Pure aluminium is obtained by extracting alumina from bauxite and converting it into pure aluminium using electricity. Anno 2010, Australia is the largest supplier of the mineral. Remelting aluminium products for reuse (secondary aluminium from scrap) consumes little energy, only about 5% of the energy used in primary aluminium from bauxite)

In this phase, the clamping tubes are cut to size

The clamping tubes have a length of approx. 2 cm. An aluminium tube with a diameter of 8 mm is first marked out. Then the tube is cut into equal parts with the pipe cutter.

MATERIAL		TOOLS
Aluminium tube 16 cm	✔	Pipe cutter	✔
		Pencil	✔
		Ruler	✔

Cutting of the clamping tubes

1. We need: an aluminium tube of about 16 cm. We take the ruler and draw a line every 2 cm.

2. We take the pipe cutter and open the black tightening screw so that the pipe ends up between the cutting wheel and the guide wheels.

3. We tighten the tightening screw so that the aluminium tube is well clamped between the cutting wheel and the guide wheels.

3. We tighten the tightening screw so that the aluminium tube is well clamped between the cutting wheel and the guide wheels.

4. During rotation, the tensioning screw is tightened so that the cutting blade is systematically pressed down firmly.

5. Over time, the first clamping tube is cut to a perfect size.

6. This operation is repeated for the remaining tubes.

Recent findings have shown that the Chinese were able to manufacture aluminium more than two thousand years ago. A belt decorated with aluminium was found in the tomb of the Chinese general Chou Chou, dating back 300 BC.
Unfortunately, the preparation process of aluminium later fell into oblivion, leaving mankind without aluminium for a period of two thousand years. Dane Hans Christiaan ørsted had the honour of rediscovering the process of making pure aluminium. In 1825, he succeeded in producing some grains of the metal using a complicated chemical process. After this process was improved by other chemists, the first aluminium products were made. These were initially so exclusive that they were more expensive than the same products made of gold. Thus the French emperor Napoleon III had the dishes for his most important guests served on aluminium plates; the less important guests
had to make do with golden plates.

Because the aluminium production process was so expensive and cumbersome at the time, better production methods were sought. Exactly one hundred years ago, the American Charles Hall and the Frenchman Paul Héroult independently discovered that aluminium could be produced much more cheaply by electrolysis of alumina (AI2O3 ) dissolved in liquid salt cryolite.
This production method, which proved to be the egg of Columbus, paved the way to large-scale application. While in 1900 world production was only 6,700 tonnes, it rapidly increased to 16,000,000 tonnes today.

Remains of General Chou Chou’s aluminium belt (250-13 AD)

Aircrafts are still largely made of aluminium.

A pipe cutter is a type of tool used by plumbers to cut pipe. Besides producing a clean cut, the tool is often a faster, cleaner and more convenient way to cut pipe than using a hacksaw, although this depends on the metal of the pipe.

There are two types of pipe cutters. Plastic pipe cutters, which really look like pruning shears, can be used for thinner pipes and tubes, such as sleeve pipe for electricity. For use on thicker pipes, pipe cutters have a sharp wheel and adjustable jaw handles. These are used by twisting it around the pipe and repeatedly tightening it until it cuts all the way through.

Pipecutters vs. hacksaws
Hacksaws will cut almost any size pipe from metal and plastic. Pipe cutters, on the other hand, are more limited. In the situations where they work, they are widely accepted to leave cleaner cuts on the outer surface of the pipe.