Originally published on fastradius.com on December 9,
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CNC machining is a traditional manufacturing process that uses drills and turning tools to create a part by removing material from a solid block of material. This process is fast, highly repeatable, and ideal for creating parts with tight tolerances. CNC machining can be done with any material thats rigid enough to machine from plastic to metal to fiberglass and aluminum is a popular choice among product teams.
Broadly speaking, aluminum is a strong, non-magnetic, cost-effective material that is highly corrosion-resistant.
Heres everything engineers and designers should know about the most common types of aluminum used for CNC machining, plus how to choose which type is best for their next project.-T6 is one of the most popular aluminum alloys on the market and most manufacturing companies offer it as the standard grade for CNC machining. Its versatile, easy to machine, and can even have different heat treatments.
-T6 is an excellent all-purpose material applicable to a wide variety of use-cases. Even though this material has a good strength-to-weight ratio, its ill-suited for high-stress applications. Common applications include automotive parts like chassis, bicycle frames, valves, computer parts, and much more.
Mechanical specifications:
For high-stress or high-performance applications, engineers should consider -T6. This grade of aluminum is well known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and its hardness can even be comparable to that of some softer steels.
Widely used for high-stress applications in the aerospace and military industries, common applications include aircraft fittings, missile parts, and fuse parts. Certain high-performance bikes and sporting goods also include parts made from aluminum -T6.
Despite its high strength and excellent mechanical properties, -T6 does have its drawbacks. This material is less ductile and less resistant to corrosion than other grades. Whats more, aluminum -T6 can be prohibitively expensive for some product teams.
Mechanical specifications:
Aluminum -T4 is a moderate- to high-strength alloy that offers good fatigue resistance and fracture toughness. Aluminum -T4 isnt as strong as -T6, but its still suitable for aerospace applications.
Common applications for aluminum -T4 include aircraft fuselage, transport vehicle parts, and wing tension members. However, product teams should note that this grade of aluminum has poor corrosion resistance and is highly sensitive to thermal shock.
Mechanical specifications:
Aluminum MIC 6 is unique because of its specific combination of alloy and casting method that was developed for producing stable, high-tolerance plates. MIC 6 has impressive stress-relieving properties, excellent accuracy, and high machinability. Aluminum MIC 6 is also contaminant- and porosity-free. This smooth, lightweight option can be found in machining components, electronics, and even laser technology.
One drawback is that MIC 6 threads arent as strong as threads made from , and particularly fine threads can lead to early thread failure. Product designers should keep this limitation in mind during the material selection phase.
Mechanical specifications:
Aluminum has similar properties to aluminum ; however, has a slightly higher tensile strength. Further, this type of aluminum has the highest strength out of all of the series alloys and its exceptionally corrosion-resistant. is a good option for engineers who want more strength than what offers, but dont want to invest in the series.
Aluminum is well-suited for general purpose applications that need an added degree of strength and toughness. This material is popular in the construction industry and can be found in many bridges, towers, and trusses. However, product designers should keep in mind that its difficult to produce thin walls using aluminum .
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Mechanical specifications:
If product teams choose to machine a part using aluminum, they can trust theyre choosing a strong, conductive, and corrosion-resistant material. Aluminum alloys -T4, -T6, and are best for high-performance applications, while and MIC 6 can be used in most cases in which an all-purpose aluminum will suffice.
Since CNC machining is so versatile, it can be challenging for engineers to narrow down their list of well-suited materials for a given project. With decades of technical experience, the SyBridge team of expert designers and engineers can help make material selection much easier for every product team. We are committed to helping every customer innovate and achieve their desired results throughout the entire manufacturing process and with our expert advisory services, teams can rest assured that their material choice will fulfill all critical requirements. Contact us today lets make new things possible, together.
The degree to which aluminum alloys are machinable hinges upon the mechanical properties as well as the machining processes used. Because aluminum chips easily and is easy to shape, aluminum alloys are considered more machinable than other metals like steel and titanium. Aluminum is abundant and cost effective. They are a great material to use in both prototype and production runs. Aluminums machinability results in prolonged tool life, which is a cost savings to manufacturers. At Howard Precision Metals, we offer an extensive range of aluminum products suitable for a wide range of machining applications.
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Because aluminum alloys are lightweight and machinable, they are used to manufacture a wide range of products. Youll find aluminum in cell phones, machine parts, automobiles, kitchen utensils, and window frames. Depending on the series of aluminum, the machinability, strength, and hardness will vary a great deal. Keep reading to find out about aluminum series and alloys.
Aluminum, atomic number 13, is a soft metal that makes up about 8% of the contents of the Earths crust. The 3rd most abundant element, right after oxygen and silicon, aluminum is readily available. Because aluminum is a soft metal, different alloying elements are used to make aluminum plate, sheet, and bar products. Each alloying element added to aluminum changes the performance of the end product. The series of aluminum is what is used by the Aluminum Association to organize and define these alloys . The following classes of aluminum alloys have varying properties and characteristics. Each series lends itself to specific industries because of the performance of the alloys.
This series consists of 99% pure aluminum with silicon and iron representing the majority of the alloying elements. the 1XXX series aluminum alloys are highly ductile. Because of this, these aluminum alloys are used mainly in the electrical and chemical industries. In addition to being highly form-able, this aluminum series offers excellent corrosion resistance and low mechanical properties. The high thermal and electrical conductivity, partnered with the excellent work-ability makes it a premier choice for electrical applications. Common products made from series aluminum include aluminum bus bars and heat sinks.
Copper is the primary alloying element in this series. Thus, these alloys are also commonly referred to as copper alloys. These aluminum alloys possess excellent machinability. When heat-treated, these alloys have mechanical properties similar to, sometimes better than, mild steel. Corrosion resistance, weldability, and brazeability are all rated as poor for this series. However, strength is high and workability is good. Less corrosion resistance is present in these alloys when compared to other aluminum series, which is why cladding is sometimes utilized in 2xxx series aluminum sheet. At Howard Precision Metals, we stock a healthy selection of -T351 plate. This alloy is a very popular choice in the aerospace industry, mainly in the home-build aircraft sector.
With manganese as the primary alloying element, the 3xxx series of aluminum alloys possess excellent form-ability. Generally not heat-treated, alloys are used as general purpose alloys when work-ability and moderate strength are required.
With silicon as the primary alloying element, these aluminum alloys have substantially lower melting points without resulting in brittleness. Because of this unique characteristic, 4xxx series are used in welding wire. These aluminum alloys also become dark grey when anodic oxide finishes are applied, which makes them appealing in a wide variety of architectural applications.
The aluminum alloys in this series use magnesium and manganese as the primary alloying elements. The addition of these elements result in alloys with a high tensile strength and great form-ability. These alloys also possess good corrosion resistance. Hence, series aluminum alloys are used in transportation, bridges and marine applications.
This series is arguably the most versatile of the aluminum alloy series. The 6xxx series alloys have silicon and magnesium as the principle alloying elements. These heat treated alloys possess good form-ability and corrosion resistance while offering medium strength. One of the most popular alloys in this series is , which is available in sheet, plate, and extrusions. At Howard Precision Metals, we stock -T651 plate and -T6 sheet. This alloy and temper category has been heat treated and stretched for stress relieved. We also stock extrusions in -T6 and -T. aluminum, as well as other series aluminum alloys, are also used to produce custom aluminum extruded shapes. Because of the versatility of this series, you will find them in applications including architectural products, piping, electrical components, and consumer goods.
Primarily known for strength, the 7xxx series aluminum alloys contain zinc as the primary alloying element while also containing copper, chromium, and magnesium. These heat treatable alloys are very high strength with only average machinability. One of the most popular alloys in this series is . The wide range of available tempers of account for a vast array of mechanical properties. For example, -T651 aluminum plate has a yield strength of 500 MPa and is heat treated. Whereas, -O is not heat-treated and has a maximum yield strength of 140 MPa. is also known under additional trade names in the industry such as: Ergal, Fortal Constructal, and Zicral. This alloy is also commonly used for mold making. series mold alloys include but are not limited to: Contal, Alumould, and Hokotol. Common applications of this aluminum alloy series include marine, automotive, defense, and aviation.
Since , Howard Precision Metals has been providing exceptional customer service. With a wide range of aluminum plate and extrusions available and in stock, the team at Howard Precision Metals easily serve the needs of various industries including: medical, aerospace, hydraulic, machinery manufacturing, pneumatic, robotic automation.
For more information, contact Howard Precision Metals today at 800.444. or request a quote on our website.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of aluminum cnc machining. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.