The 5 Most Popular Aluminium Alloys for CNC Machining

Posted on March 24, 2022 | by Delahenty Machinery | Leave a Comment

CNC machining is a great way to create parts without relying too much on the workforce. And aluminum is a popular choice of materials for CNC machining due to its density and flexibility. Its popularity has led to various aluminum alloys. It’s always interesting to learn more about the different options available in today’s market.

This article will explain the five most popular aluminum alloys for CNC machining in addition to some details about each alloy and its properties.

Aluminum 6061-T6

At this point, it’s easy to see why 6061-T6 is one of the most popular aluminum alloys on the market and one of the standard grades for CNC machining. It offers a good balance between strength and machinability and tolerances that are typically quite close.

Referred to as an extruded alloy, it is very versatile and easy to machine in the CNC machining industry. Engineers can use this alloy in many applications like chassis, bicycle frames, valves, computer parts, etc.

Aluminum 7075-T6

7075-T6 aluminum, manufacturer uses this alloy in all applications with high-stress or high-performance requirements. This grade is considerably stronger and offers excellent corrosion resistance if appropriately treated. Manufacturers use this alloy in aerospace, military industries, and typical applications include aircraft fittings, missile parts, and fuse parts.

However, there are trade-offs to using aluminum 7075-T6. It is more expensive and less flexible than many other grades of aluminum alloys. And this grade of aluminum is more prone to cracking than different grades and has a lower elasticity.

Aluminum 2024-T4

2024-T4 aluminum is a standard aluminum alloy used in sheet, plate, and extrusions for various applications. This alloy is commonly found in welding electrodes and applications where components must have high purity and strength at elevated temperatures. The primary use for 2024-T4 is as an aerospace material.

Generally, you can use this type of alloy to include aircraft fuselage, transport vehicle parts, and wing tension members. However, it can be attacked by acids, alkalis, or seawater. It also has high thermal conductivity, which means it can be heat treated to form extremely brittle material.

Aluminum MIC 6

It is the best alloy to use to produce Stable and high-tolerance plates. Aluminum MIC 6 has a specific combination of alloy and casting methods, which is why it comes in a unique category.

This metal has higher strength-to-weight ratios, excellent accuracy, good elasticity, and excellent thermal stability while remaining relatively easy to the machine compared with other aluminum alloys.

There is one drawback also of this alloy. MIC 6 threads aren’t as strong, leading to early thread failure. Engineers should keep this limitation in mind during the material selection phase as a manufacturer.

Aluminum 6082

Aluminum 6082 has a higher tensile strength. Further, it’s exceptionally corrosion-resistant. 6082 aluminum alloy is a good option for manufacturers who want more power at an affordable price.

Aluminum 6082 is promising for general-purpose applications that require an added degree of toughness. Aluminum 6082 material is popular in construction and preferable in bridges, towers, and trusses. However, product designers should remember that it’s daunting to get thin walls using aluminum 6082.

Wrapping Up

Aluminum alloys 2024-T4, 7075-T6, and 6082 are best for high-performance applications, while 6061 and MIC 6 can be used in most cases where an all-purpose aluminum will suffice.

If you’re in the market for a CNC machining vendor, we hope that this guide will help you better understand what alloys suit for which applications. These analyses can be helpful to engineers across several industries and regions, helping them make educated decisions on what materials to choose when it comes time to purchase materials for their projects.

Delahenty Machinery

CNC machinery by Delahenty Machinery is the place to go for robust machines that can help your business flourish. Our machines are high-quality, and customer service is our top priority. If it’s time to buy a new CNC machine, check out our latest listings.

What you should know about the alternatives to Aluminium in CNC Machining

Posted on March 11, 2022 | by Delahenty Machinery | Leave a Comment

Among CNC machining parts, Aluminum is the most common material due to its robustness. However, other materials like steel and brass can also be used for high-quality machining parts. With the heat treatment process, these materials can give excellent results. This blog will explain the merits of different alternatives to Aluminium in CNC machining.

Substitutes of Aluminium Metal

Steel

Pros

Strength
Temperature resistance

Cons

Machinability
Weight

Steel is a carbon- and iron-based alloy used as the primary material in most CNC parts. Steels are a high-strength, low-cost choice for high-stress applications and strong welds. Using CNC machining processes such as turning and milling, it is possible to create parts with exceptional strength.

However, compared with Aluminium, steel is heavier and not as malleable. If temperature resistance is an important consideration and weight is not, steel may be the best alternative to Aluminium.

Titanium

Pros

Strength-to-weight ratio

Cons

Cost

Titanium alloys are used primarily in aerospace reach a high level of resistance, high thermal stability, and strength. This type of metal has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. It has twice strong as Aluminium and four times more potent than stainless steel.

Due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, titanium is used in various industries, from aerospace and medical devices to sports equipment. However, the material is so costly if you look at the advantages mentioned above.

Titanium, like Aluminium, is a lightweight metal. It has roughly one-third the density of Aluminium. This makes titanium easier to work with and ideal in situations where strength is not an issue (such as a biaxial orthopedic joint prosthesis), but minimal weight is paramount.

Magnesium

Pros

Machinability
Weight

Cons

Machining safety
Corrosion resistance

Magnesium is a lightweight metal alloy that is also non-ferrous. As with aluminum alloys, magnesium is light, easily cast, and machined. It makes it useful for many purposes, including marine hardware, intake manifolds, and engine casings.

Brass

Pros

Some aesthetic applications

Cons

Cost

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc which have a golden appearance when polished. It is popular in applications where machining time is an essential factor. Its machinability rate makes it suitable for high-volume orders. As a result, it is prevalent in applications like valves and nozzles.

Copper

Pros

Electrical conductivity

Cons

Machinability

Copper is a malleable, ductile, and highly conductive metal with excellent thermal properties. These copper alloys have been used for more than two centuries in structural applications where both low weight and high strength are required.

Copper is often considered a poor choice for many applications due to challenges in forming and machining. However, several copper alloys offer similar machinability to popular aluminum grades.

POM

Pros

Electrical insulation

Low friction

Cons

Strength
Heat resistance

POM is one of the most exciting materials used in the manufacturing industry. It has a low melting point but has good strength.

POM is an electrical insulator suitable for parts like electronic enclosures. It is also ideal for mechanical parts in high consistency, wear, and abrasive-resistant applications.

However, you can use POM as a like-for-like replacement with Aluminium, where thermal and electrical conductivity has negligible importance.

PTFE

Pros

Electrical insulation
Very low friction

Cons

Strength

PTFE is a widely used engineering plastic. PTFE has excellent chemical resistance and is an electrical insulator. Which makes it a perfect choice for use in industrial processes where exposure to chemicals and high temperatures are common.

During manufacturing, the performance of PTFE is enhanced by adding optional additives throughout the polymer matrix. PTFE is also resistant to high temperatures up to 260°C, making it a viable aluminum alternative for high-temperature applications.

PEEK

Pros

Medical use

Cons

Machinability
Cost

PEEK is more difficult to machine than aluminum alloys. But its thermal stability (up to 260°C) makes it a genuine alternative to Aluminium, with similar mechanical properties and temperature resistance. As a result, it is popular in parts like valves, bearings, pumps, and nozzles testify.

Final Note

We hope you enjoyed reading the above article and that it has helped expand your knowledge of the alternatives to Aluminium when it comes to CNC machining. Whichever material you choose for your CNC machined parts, rest assured that you will have an experienced point of contact to help you prepare, machine, and finish your work.

If you are looking for robust CNC machinery, contact Delahenty Machinery for the best products.

All you need to know about Aluminium

Posted on February 1, 2022 | by Delahenty Machinery | Leave a Comment

Aluminium is a desirable product because of its superior mechanical capabilities and innumerable advantages. It is a vital tool and offers excellent machinability like easy to penetrate, easy to shape, faster than iron, steel etc. Preferably, people use Aluminium sheets in machinery in the automotive, aerospace, healthcare and electronics spheres.

Here we will discuss the vital benefits of Aluminium -what is Aluminium used for and alternatives you can use on behalf of Aluminium.

Advantages of Aluminium

Easy to use material

Machinist manufacturing, business orders, and end-to-end user parts are eventually helpful for all these aspects. Even, Engineers prefer Aluminium due to its seamlessness while manufacturing machinery.

Aluminium is easy to shape and can be cut quickly and accurately for machine tools. Yet because of these qualities, Aluminium offers excellent outcomes, such as

Lesser labour in producing machinery results in less time you need to operate the machine. This way you save time, money, electricity and extra effort.
Good machinability means minor deformation of the part. Because the cutting tool goes through the workpiece, enabling the machine to get tighter tolerances and give rise to accuracy and repeatability.

Confrontation to corrosion

Aluminium grades have some differences In terms of their corrosion resistance. In other words, Aluminium differs the degree to which they are used to withstand oxidization and chemical damage.

So, When you use strong aluminium alloys, they may be less resistant to corrosion because of alloyed copper constraints. On the other hand, when you use lower strength aluminium alloy, they offer more corrosion resistance. Moreover, it differs product per product what and how an engineer wants to produce.

Powerful physical properties

Aluminium has an alluring strength-to-weight ratio that makes it perfect for mechanical. It is ideal for those who need machinery for the aerospace and automotive industries. From aircraft fittings to automotive shafts, Aluminium can be successfully used.

Strong electrical conductivity

Due to good electrical conductivity, Aluminium is generally helpful in electrical components. Although it is not as conductive as copper, pure Aluminium has about 37.7 siemens per meter at room temperature as electrical conductivity. Moreover, aluminium materials are more conductive than stainless steel.

Highly recyclable

Last but not least benefit is that Aluminium is highly recyclable. That is the reason behind manufacture who want to reduce harmful impact on the environment, material wastage and save some expenditure prefer Aluminium over other machinery production materials.

Use of Aluminium in industries

The uses of aluminium alloy are pretty diverse. While some are obvious, general and known, some are not well-known and obscure. While roaming around your place, you can count innumerable items which contain Aluminium. Want to know more? Here you go.

Construction Industry

Because it is lightweight and relatively inexpensive construction industry use aluminium largely. Manufacture cut, bend, weld, and mould it to build a variety of solutions such as skylights, eaves, shutters, doors, railing, wiring, and much more.

Packaging Industry

It is majorly used in food and beverages packaging. Aluminium sheets keep food clean and safe from harmful elements as it is waterproof. Aluminium oxide is not destructing and is resistant to corrosion too. Moreover, it has no toxic elements and does not affect the taste or smell of food or beverages in stores. The aluminium sheet can pack cans, bottle caps, trays and much more.

Transport Industry

Aluminium sheets play a vital role in the transportation industry. It is a precious asset in manufacturing cars, boats, trains and aircraft. The reason behind the use of Aluminium in transport vehicles is that Aluminium is light and needs less energy and effort to move, and it is also vital to stand up to the tasks at hand.

Wrapping up

Aluminium has several unique benefits that make it a key element in manufacturing. Its relatively low cost, lightweight, and special packaging properties make it a versatile option for an array of manufacturers and industries.

We at Delahenty Machinery assist with Aluminium pieces of machinery like CNC Machining, Double Head Sawing Machines and Sawing Machines. Contact us for more details.