CHOOSING THE RIGHT METAL FOR CNC MACHINING

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METAL FOR CNC MACHINING

The selection of suitable metal for CNC Machining concerns analyzing various factors. The properties play a vital role in the success of final part. You need to consider;

  • The part or product being CNC machined
  • The metal you choose
  • And its properties

The metal may need to be resistant to extreme temperatures. Or the metal be resistant to bending or breaking under pressure. These are factors when selecting the right metal;

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Workability
  • Price
  • Weight
  • And cosmetic appearance

This guide will assist you in choosing the best metal for your CNC machining project. This guide will cover:

  • CNC Machine’s cutting capacity of Metal
  • Types of CNC Machining services
  • CNC Metals

CNC Machine’s cutting capacity of Metal:

CNC machines can cut metal and are generally used for their high precision and accuracy. Combining the material and its strength, CNC machining will yield other results.

Types of CNC Machining services:

There are different CNC machines and are suitable to use according to;

  • Cost effect
  • Material
  • Finish quality
  • And design

Popular methods of CNC Machining contain:

  • CNC Milling
  • CNC Turning
  • 5 Axis CNC Machining

CNC milling and machining are standard CNC machining processes, and it’s easy to see why. CNC machining offers fast production while needs minimal human input compared to other processes. Benefits of this include;

  • A more cost-efficient crew
  • But, more significant
  • Less room for human error.

Not only are parts made perfect but CNC machining allows for;

  • High quality
  • Repeatability
  • And precision.

There is also a wide range of materials that we use for CNC machining. Some of them are plastics, metals, and ceramics.

There is a multitude of metals available for CNC machining. This blog post will look at a selection of generally used metals in CNC machining. These recommendations also apply to CNC turning and multi-axis machining.

CNC Machining metals:

Titanium:

Titanium is a particularly strong and resilient metal. It is more workable and we can weld it with ease. Although it conducts heat well, it possesses poor electrical conductivity. While titanium responds well to anodizing for a clean finish and protection, it reacts unfavorable to polishing. Titanium is lightweight, offers high strength, and has brilliant corrosion and high-temperature resistance. For this reason, it is a popular choice for plane industry parts, biomedical and military. A popular titanium grade is Ti6Al4V (TC4 and Grade 5).

Stainless Steels:

Here are main four categories of different grades of SS:

  • Ferritic
  • Austenitic
  • Martensitic
  • And Duplex.

The most common Stainless Steel is Austenitic, which is our focus today. Their chemical structure includes;

  • Manganese
  • Nitrogen
  • And Nickel

This composition provides good machinability and weldability. The three most common grades used in CNC machining processes are:

SS304 is the most common stainless steel and has high corrosion-resistant. SS304 is generally used to produce;

  • Pipes
  • Kitchen accessories
  • And industrial and automotive industries.

This stainless steel has better weldability and formability. And we use it to make screws, machinery parts, car headers, and food handling equipment.

SS303 – This grade is often used to machine shafts, gears, nuts, and bolts. SS303 is not ideal for heat-treating or cold forming due to the presence of sulfur. In China, CNC machining company uses this type of material.

SS316 – This steel is very strong yet easy to weld, making it perfect for marine-grade use. The high resistance to corrosion makes it ideal for;

  • Architectural
  • Industrial
  • And automotive purposes.

Medical implants and surgical instruments also make use of this stainless steel. It is also implemented within the aerospace industry.

Aluminum:

The most common material that we use for CNC milling processes is aluminum. The reason is its machinability, workability, and versatility. It also provides a modest strength-to-weight ratio.

Aluminum 7075 is a high-grade metal with excellent strength. Its strength can make it more challenging to produce designs with more complexity. Al7075 is ideal for CNC machined parts which need sustained durabilities, such as frames within the automobile and aerospace industries. Al7075 has great flexibility, toughness, and high strength with good fatigue resistance. It is a common material choice for high-stress structural components in aerospace.

Aluminum 6061, yet, has far better workability and is generally considered to be a cheap grade. It has good atmospheric corrosion resistance but low resistance to corrosion from chemicals. Al6061 is the most common aluminum grade and is ideal for automobile parts, frames, and much more. Aluminum 6061 is generally considered a general-purpose aluminum with a good strength-to-weight ratio. Yet, when exposed to saltwater, it has poor corrosion resistance.  And it is not as strong as other aluminum alloys required for more demanding applications.

Magnesium AZ31: Aluminum has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. AZ31 can be up to 35% lighter while maintaining the same strength. As you can imagine, this means it is also higher on the price scale. Lightweight and durable, AZ31 is great for plane components, power tools, and laptops. Despite good workability, it does have some flammable properties.

Brass:

Brass is versatile and is essential in plumbing systems. It also tends to be used in musical instruments, cosmetic applications, and home decor. Its high workable and can achieve an extreme high polish. It is naturally resistant to saltwater corrosion and devoid of explosive properties. Brass is also used for electronic hardware, commercial fittings, and aerospace parts.

It is a copper-zinc alloy, so brass does not become brittle at low temperatures. It is a great choice for pipe fittings, with excellent thermal conductivity. And its attractive color options make it a popular option for products that need a high-quality finish. Brass is also one of the easiest metals for CNC machines.

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