How to choose the right material for in Aluminum CNC Machining

Aluminum alloy is a metal material commonly used in CNC machining. It has excellent mechanical properties and good processing performance. It also has high strength, good plasticity and toughness, and can meet the processing needs of various mechanical parts. At the same time, the density of aluminum alloy is low, which results in smaller cutting force during processing, which is beneficial to improving processing efficiency and accuracy. In addition, aluminum alloy also has good electrical and thermal conductivity, which can meet the processing needs of some special occasions. Aluminum alloy CNC processing Longjiang has been widely used in aerospace, automotive industry, electronic products and other fields.

Content

Part One: Types of aluminum alloys and their characteristics

Part Two: Surface treatment of aluminum alloy CNC parts

Part One: Types of aluminum alloys and their characteristics

International brand name of aluminum alloy (using four-digit Arabic numerals, the commonly used representation method now):
1XXX represents more than 99% pure aluminum series, such as 1050, 1100
2XXX indicates aluminum-copper alloy series, such as 2014
3XXX means aluminum-manganese alloy series, such as 3003
4XXX means aluminum-silicon alloy series, such as 4032
5XXX indicates aluminum-magnesium alloy series, such as 5052
6XXX means aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy series, such as 6061, 6063
7XXX means aluminum-zinc alloy series, such as 7001
8XXX indicates an alloy system other than the above

Aluminum alloy is a metal material commonly used in CNC machining.

The following introduces several types of aluminum alloy materials commonly used in CNC processing:

Aluminum 2017, 2024

Features: Aluminum-containing alloy with copper as the main alloy element. (Copper content between 3-5%) Manganese, magnesium, lead and bismuth are also added to improve machinability. 2017 alloy is a bit less strong than 2014 alloy, but easier to machine. 2014 can be heat treated and strengthened.

Application scope: aviation industry (2014 alloy), screws (2011 alloy) and industries with higher operating temperatures (2017 alloy).

 

Aluminum 3003, 3004, 3005

Features: Aluminum alloy with manganese as the main alloying element (manganese content between 1.0-1.5%). It cannot be strengthened by heat treatment, has good corrosion resistance, good welding performance, and good plasticity (close to super aluminum alloy). The disadvantage is low strength, but the strength can be enhanced through cold work hardening; coarse grains are easily produced during annealing.

Application scope: oil-conducting seamless pipes (3003 alloy) used on aircraft, cans (3004 alloy).

 

Aluminum 5052, 5083, 5754

Features: Mainly magnesium (magnesium content between 3-5%). It has low density, high tensile strength, high elongation, good welding performance and good fatigue strength. It cannot be strengthened by heat treatment and can only be strengthened by cold working.

Scope of application: lawnmower handles, aircraft fuel tank ducts, tank materials, body armor, etc.

 

Aluminum 6061, 6063

Features: Mainly made of magnesium and silicon, medium strength, good corrosion resistance, good welding performance, good process performance (easy to extrusion) and good oxidation coloring performance. Mg2Si is the main strengthening phase and is currently the most widely used alloy. 6063 and 6061 are the most commonly used, followed by 6082, 6160, 6125, 6262, 6060, 6005, and 6463. 6063, 6060, and 6463 have relatively low strength in the 6 series. 6262, 6005, 6082, and 6061 are relatively strong in the 6 series. The middle shelf of Tornado 2 is 6061

Application scope: means of transportation (such as car luggage racks, doors, windows, bodywork, radiators, box casings, mobile phone cases, etc.)

 

Aluminum 7050, 7075

Features: Mainly zinc, but sometimes magnesium and copper are added in small amounts. Among them, superhard aluminum alloy is an alloy containing zinc, lead, magnesium and copper that is close to the hardness of steel. The extrusion speed is slower than that of 6 series alloys and the welding performance is good. 7005 and 7075 are the highest grades in the 7 series and can be strengthened by heat treatment.

Scope of application: aviation (load-bearing components of aircraft, landing gear), rockets, propellers, and aviation spacecraft.

Aluminum finish

Part Two: Surface treatment of aluminum alloy CNC parts

Sandblasting
The process of cleaning and roughening the surface of the substrate using the impact of high-speed sand flow. Sandblasting has strong applications in engineering and surface technology, such as: improving the viscosity of bonded parts, decontamination, optimizing surface burrs after machining, and matte surface treatment. The sandblasting process is more uniform and efficient than hand sanding, and this method of metal treatment creates a low-profile, durable feature of the product.

Polishing
The polishing process is mainly divided into: mechanical polishing, chemical polishing, and electrolytic polishing. After mechanical polishing + electrolytic polishing, the aluminum alloy parts can approach the mirror effect of stainless steel, giving people a high-end, simple, fashionable and future feeling.

Brushed
It is a surface treatment method that uses grinding products to form lines on the surface of the workpiece to achieve a decorative effect. The metal wire drawing process can clearly show every tiny trace, thereby making the metal matte shine with a fine hair luster. The product has both a sense of fashion and technology.

Plating
Electroplating is a process that uses the principle of electrolysis to plate a thin layer of other metals or alloys on the surface of certain metals. It is a process that uses electrolysis to attach a metal film to the surface of metal or other material parts to prevent Metal oxidation (such as rust), improves wear resistance, conductivity, reflectivity, corrosion resistance (copper sulfate, etc.) and improves appearance.

Spray
Spraying is a coating method that uses a spray gun or a disc atomizer to disperse the spray into uniform and fine droplets with the help of pressure or centrifugal force, and then applies it to the surface of the object to be coated. Spraying operation has high production efficiency and is suitable for manual work and industrial automation production. It has a wide range of applications, including hardware, plastics, furniture, military industry, ships and other fields. It is the most commonly used coating method today.

Anodizing
Anodizing refers to the electrochemical oxidation of metals or alloys. Aluminum and its alloys form an oxide film on aluminum products (anode) under the action of applied current under the corresponding electrolyte and specific process conditions. Anodizing can not only solve the defects of aluminum surface hardness, wear resistance, etc., but also extend the service life of aluminum and enhance its aesthetics. It has become an indispensable part of aluminum surface treatment and is currently the most widely used and very successful. Craftsmanship.

 

GPM has more than 20 years experience for CNC machines for providing services including milling, turning, drilling, sanding, grinding, punching, and welding. We have the ability to manufacture high-performance aluminum CNC machining parts in a variety of materials. Welcome to contact us.


Post time: Nov-11-2023