The Benefits of Aluminum Machining Parts in Various Industries
The purest chemical element, aluminum, is soft, forgeable, non-magnetic, and silvery white. However, this element is not used only in pure aluminum form. Aluminum is often alloyed with various elements (such as manganese, copper, and magnesium) to form hundreds of aluminum alloys, whose properties are significantly improved.
CNC aluminum machining parts have high strength and good plasticity, excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance, and can obtain good mechanical properties, physical properties, and corrosion resistance through heat treatment. The processing of CNC aluminum machining parts is to process aluminum through lathes and CNC computers, and then carry out subsequent sandblasting, polishing, brushing, electroplating, spraying, anodizing, laser carving, etc. as needed.
Aluminum machining parts have a unique metallic texture, light weight, and strong heat dissipation, which are favored by various industries. Now, the difference between CNC aluminum machining parts and other metal parts is obvious. This article discusses some advantages of CNC aluminum machining parts.
1.Machinability
Aluminum can be easily formed, processed, and machined by a variety of processes. Because aluminum is soft and brittle, it can be cut quickly and easily with machine tools. Compared to steel, aluminum is cheaper and requires less power. These features are a great benefit to machinists and customers who order parts.
In addition, aluminum’s good machinability means that it deforms less during machining. This leads to greater precision because it allows CNC machines to achieve higher tolerances.
2.Strength-to-weight ratio
CNC aluminum machining parts have a high strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum has about one-third the density of steel. The demand for CNC aluminum machining parts has increased. The material is strong but lightweight. These two features make it ideal for manufacturing critical parts in the automotive and aerospace industries.
However, different grades of aluminum have different uses. General-purpose products such as 6061 can be used for a variety of parts due to their good strength-to-weight ratio, and it is worth noting that high-strength products such as 7075 may be preferred for aerospace and marine applications.
3.Corrosion resistance
Aluminum resists scratching and corrosion in common marine and atmospheric conditions. You can enhance these properties through anodizing. It is worth noting that different grades of aluminum have different corrosion resistance. For example, grades 6061 and 7475 are known to have excellent corrosion resistance.
4.Withstands Temperature Changes
Steel and aluminum have been popular for several years now. These metals offer unique advantages that make them ideal for a variety of industrial applications. Steel is the most popular of the two materials in terms of durability. However, steel is not the right choice if temperature changes are involved. For example, steel cannot withstand high welding temperatures or extremely low temperatures.
Aluminum, however, can withstand both effectively. Aluminum retains its softness, ductility, and strength at extremely low temperatures.
5.Electrical Conductivity
At room temperature, pure aluminum has an electrical conductivity of approximately 37.7 million Siemens per meter. Although aluminum alloys may have a lower conductivity than pure aluminum, their conductivity is high enough to make their parts useful for electrical components. On the other hand, if conductivity was not a desirable property for machined parts, aluminum would not be a suitable material.
6.Recyclability
Aluminum parts are easily recyclable, which helps increase their use in industrial applications. Therefore, CNC machined aluminum parts are ideal for companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. As we all know, CNC machining is a subtractive process in which a lot of material waste is generated due to chips. Material waste can be recycled to produce better products.
7.Anodizing Potential
The anodizing process is usually carried out after mechanical processing is completed and involves passing an electric current through the parts in an electrolytic acid tank, which is easily achieved in aluminum. And produces aluminum sheets that are more resistant to physical impact and corrosion.
8.Highly Customizable
Aluminum can be easily customized to meet typical application needs. CNC machined parts can be beautified or trimmed to the required specifications. For example, they can be plated with green, black, blue or any other desired color.
9.Summary
With the increasing application of aluminum alloy parts, the quality and efficiency of aluminum alloy parts processing, especially CNC machining, are also increasingly valued by processing manufacturers.
Although aluminum is not a difficult metal to process, it is important to work with the right CNC machining shop if you are looking for precision CNC machined aluminum parts. Xavier has extensive experience in aluminum machining and has been providing precision machined CNC machined parts to customers in various industries. The company offers a variety of CNC machining services, including precision machining, CNC milling, and turning.