CNC Machining Materials
CNC Machining Aluminum
Aluminum is a metal material widely used in many industries. Compared with other metals, it has good machinability and flexibility, low density, and low cost. The finished product surface treatment is simple and diverse.
What is Aluminum?
Aluminium is a metal element with the element symbol Al and atomic number 13. It’s a silver-white light metal.
In the humid air, it can form an oxide film to prevent metal corrosion. The relative density is 2.7g/cm3, the melting point is 660℃, the boiling point is 2327℃, the specific strength is high, has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity and oxidation resistance.
Aluminium CNC Machining Details
Materials
Aluminum
Color
Silver-White
Density
2.70 – 3.0 g/cm³
Hardness
Brinell 55 – 95
Elongation at Break
5 – 11%
Applications
Wall Thickness
Tolerances
Lead Time
7-15 working days
Prices
$$$
Types of Aluminium Alloys
Aluminum 1100
Good formability and high corrosion resistance are required for processing, but high strength parts are not required.
Such as storage containers, sheet processing workpiece, deep drawing concave vessels, heat exchangers, printing plates, nameplates, reflective devices, etc.
Aluminum 2011
Good machinability and high strength, but poor corrosion resistance.
suitable for volume shaft, optical components, screw heads, screws and mechanical products requiring good machinability.
Aluminum 5052
It is a non-heat-treatable alloy that has good weldability and formability. It is often used in the food and chemical industries because it is resistant to corrosion.
Aluminum 5083
It is a non-heat-treatable aluminum alloys that is highly weldable and has excellent corrosion resistance. It is often used in the marine industry because of its high strength and resistance to seawater corrosion.
Aluminum 6061
It is an all-purpose aluminum alloys that can be formed in a variety of ways. Hardness is better than 6063, It is commonly used for machining because it has good weldability and corrosion resistance.
Aluminum 6063
It is the most popular aluminium alloy for extrusion because it has good formability and weldability. Mainly used for building profile aluminum alloy doors and Windows, electronic products shell, etc.
Aluminum 6082
It has medium strength and good welding performance, corrosion resistance, mainly used in transportation and structural engineering industry. Such as Bridges, cranes, roof racks, transport planes, transport ships, etc.
Aluminum 7075
It is a high-strength alloy that is often used in the aerospace industry. It has good fatigue resistance, good corrosion resistance and is also resistant to stress-corrosion cracking.
Aluminum Machining Capabilities
CNC Milling
It is a manufacturing processes suitable for producing high-precision, high-tolerance parts, It is mainly used for the shape processing of aluminum parts, Includes grooves, chamfering, threads and cavities.
CNC Turning
It can be used to process aluminum parts with rotating surface, such as inner and outer cylinder, inner and outer cone, end face, groove, thread and rotary forming surface, etc.
CNC Drilling
It is a manufacturing process in which a drill bit is used to create holes in the workpiece, its simple operation, strong adaptability, widely used.
Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is a process that uses a high-power laser to cut material into desired shapes and sizes. it can be used to cut the thickness of less than 20mm aluminum plate.
Facing
It is a machining aluminium process that removes material from the surface of the workpiece to create a smooth, flat surface.
Post-Machining Process of Aluminum Parts
Anodizing
Anodizing is an electrolytic process that increases the thickness of the oxide layer on the surface of the metal. This process is often used to increase the corrosion resistance of aluminum.
Sand Blast
Sand blasting is a process in which sand is used to remove rust or paint from the surface of a workpiece. It can also be used to create a textured finish on the surface of the aluminum machining parts.
Polishing
It is a processing method that reduces the surface roughness of aluminum parts by mechanical, chemical or electrochemical action to obtain a bright and smooth surface.
Powder Coating
It is a type of coating that is applied as a dry powder. The powder is then cured under heat to form a tough, durable finish. This process is often used to increase the durability of aluminum.
Heat treatment
CNC aluminum machining available heat treatment to improve the performance of parts,, Heat treatment is a process in which the metal is heated and cooled to change its properties. This process can be used to increase the hardness, strength, and wear resistance of aluminum.
Applications of Aluminum Alloy
Power Industry
Almost all high-voltage transmission lines are steel-core aluminum stranded wires.
In addition, transformer coils, induction motor rotors, bus bars and so on also use aluminum, as well as aluminum power cables, aluminum cloth wires, aluminum electromagnetic wires and so on.
Electronics Industry
Civil products and basic devices radio, amplifier, television and capacitors, potentiometers, speakers, etc.,
Military products including: radar reconnaissance and interference equipment, tactical missile sleeve equipment, satellite ground station sleeve equipment, etc.,
Automotive Industry
Automotive engine, transmission connector, intake manifold, etc. In addition, aluminum can also be used in the car lid, doors and front bumper, aluminum body will be a future development trend.
Construction Industry
Aluminum is mainly used in the production of aluminum doors and Windows, structural parts, decorative panels, aluminum curtain walls and so on.
Material of packing
All-aluminum cans are the most popular packaging materials in the global packaging industry. Cigarette packaging is the largest user of aluminum foil.
Candy, medicine, tea, drinks, pickles, nutrition, small food, toothpaste, cosmetics packaging also need a lot of aluminum foil.
FAQs
Q: Aluminum Vs Titanium, What’s the difference?
A: Titanium is a strong and corrosion-resistant metal that has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminum. It is known for its superior heat tolerance and ductility, making it ideal for aerospace applications. Titanium is also more expensive than aluminum, making it better suited for larger-scale projects. Learn More
Q: Aluminum Vs Steel, What’s the difference ?
A: Steel is much heavier than aluminum and is not as corrosion resistant. However, steel offers superior strength and durability compared to aluminum. Learn More
Q: Aluminum 6061 Vs 7075, What’s the difference?
A: The 7075 aluminum alloy is very strong. It is much harder than the 6061 and has higher corrosion resistance. Because of its high strength, it is often used in aerospace components requiring light but high strength. However, because it is so stiff, it cannot be easily machined and welded. Learn More