CNC machining is an advanced manufacturing process that subtracts the material from the surface of the workpiece.
It is capable of processing a huge range of materials.
Aluminum is probably the most extensively used CNC material.
It has many appealing thermal and mechanical properties that are ideal for various manufacturing sectors.
Due to its excellent machinability, it is relatively easy to perform machining action.
Properties of Aluminum
Light Weight-Durability-Malleability-Lower Material Hardness-No Magnetism-Non-Lustrous
Excellent Corrosion Resistance-Greater Formability
Aluminum offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and sheer variety that enables aluminum to react with other elements to form alloys.
These alloys are also mostly acceptable for CNC machining projects.
Aluminum alloys in comparison to other lightweight metals (such as magnesium and titanium alloys) are preferred due to obvious reasons that are discussed ahead.
These benefits have made aluminum parts common across all industries, though they are particularly favored in the automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer electronics sectors.
Benefits of CNC Machined Aluminum Parts
Aluminum offers an added advantage for CNC machining.
Its properties help to optimize precision processing that ultimately results in optimal part fabrication.
Key benefits of CNC machined aluminum parts include
Excellent Strength-to-Weight Ratio-Excellent Machinability-Custom Finishing-Resistant to Low
Temperatures-Environment Friendly-Corrosion Resistant-Tremendous Electrical Conductivity
Applications of CNC Machined Aluminum Parts in Different
Industries
Aluminum CNC machined grades are used across different industries for manufacturing a huge variety of parts.
Some of the industries that use aluminum due to its added advantages are discussed below
Aluminum is preferred in many industries due to its tremendous machining friendly properties.
Some of the industries are
Aerospace Industry-Automotive Industry-Electrical Sector-Healthcare Sector
Commonly Used Aluminum Grades in CNC Machining
Aluminum has numerous grades.
Each grade has its separate features and applications.
Selecting an optimal grade depends on your intended use as per your part requirements.
You can categorize each grade that fulfills specific needs.
It will help you to choose the best grade according to
definite properties, geometry, and budget.
Aluminum 6061
Aluminum 6061 is a precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy.
It consists of magnesium and silicon as major alloying elements.
It is amongst the most common aluminum
alloys for machining in the 6xxx series.
Properties
Its properties are good corrosion resistance, excellent weldability, medium fatigue strength, etc.
Parts manufactured using aluminum 6061 are
Marine Frames-Aircraft and Truck Frames-Electronic Parts-Truck Bodies-Valves-Furniture - Fasteners-Heat Exchangers
Aluminum 7075
Aluminum 7075 is a valuable grade used for highly stressed structural applications.
Its primary alloying element is zinc and also contain 5.6–6.1% zinc, 2.1–2.5% magnesium, 1.2– 1.6% copper, and less than a half percent of silicon, iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, and other metals. It also offers excellent mechanical properties like
Good Ductility
High Strength
Toughness
Good Fatigue Resistance
Products manufactured aluminum 7075 are
Gears
Transport Vehicle Parts
Bicycles Fuse Parts
Structural Components
Weapons
Bows
Aircraft Parts
Aluminum 2024
Aluminum 2024 is one of the most common aluminum alloys for machining from the 2xxx group.
It contains copper as the primary alloying element.
It is stronger than 6061 but less versatile.
This aluminum and copper alloyed material is used in manufacturing such parts that require a high strength-to-weight ratio and good fatigue resistance.
Aluminum 2024 offers properties like
High Strength
Good Workability
Good Strain Resistance
Fatigue Resistance
Parts manufactured using Aluminum 2024 are
Car Parts
Aircraft Structures
Wings
Fuselage
Transport Vehicle Parts
Aluminum 6082
Aluminum 6082 is known as structural alloy.
It is made through extrusion and rolling.
It is very popular in the 6000 series.
It falls in the wrought aluminum-magnesium-silicon family and has the highest strength as compared to other alloys of its series.
It contains a predominant quantity of manganese which modulates its grain structure. This grain structure makes aluminum 6082 stronger.
But creating thin walled, complex geometrical shapes using 6082 alloy is hard. Because the resulting surface quality is not smoother than other alloys in 6000 series.
Aluminum 6082 offers excellent
Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
Fatigue Resistance
Good Ductility
Fatigue Resistance
It is mostly used in construction and automotive industries for creating parts like trusses, cranes, bridges, trusses, milk churns, ore skips etc.
The first thing we do is meeting with our clients and talk through their goals on a future project.
During this meeting, feel free to communicate your ideas and ask lots of questions.
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