Machined aluminum parts apply to several manufacturing industries and come from machining processes such as CNC machining (comprising CNC milling, grinding, and CNC turning). Though all three are good machining aluminum processes, CNC milling is the most common machining method because of the complication it can achieve.
Aluminum is one of the most machined materials available today. Aluminum CNC machining processes are second after steel in terms of frequency in a well-realized manner. Mainly this is due to its excellent machinability.
In its purest form, the chemical element aluminum is soft, malleable, non-magnetic, and silvery-white in its presence. However, the element is not only used in the pure form. aluminum is usually alloyed with many elements such as manganese, copper, and magnesium to form hundreds of aluminum alloys with various significantly improved properties.
Benefits of Using Aluminum for CNC Parts
Although there are various aluminum alloys with varying degrees of properties, fundamental properties apply to almost all aluminum alloys.
1. Machinability
aluminum is willingly formed, worked, and machined using various processes. Machine tools can easily and quickly cut it because it is soft and it chips easily. Its prices are low and require less power to machine than steel. These characteristics are of gigantic benefit to both the machinist and the customer ordering the part. Moreover, aluminum’s good machinability means it bends less during machining. This leads to higher validity as it allows CNC machines to achieve higher tolerances.
2. Strength-to-weight Ratio
aluminum is about a third of the density of steel. This makes it relatively light. Despite its lightweight, aluminum has very high strength. This combination of strength and light weight is explained as the strength-to-weight ratio of materials.
3. Corrosion Resistance
aluminum is scrape-resistant and corrosion-resistant in common marine and atmospheric conditions. You can increase these properties by plating. It’s necessary to note that corrosion resistance varies in different aluminum grades. The most regularly CNC machined grades, however, have the most resistance.
4. Performance at Low Temperatures
Most materials are disposed to lose some of their superior properties at sub-zero temperatures. For example, both carbon steel and rubber become breakable at low temperatures. aluminum, in turn, retains its softness, ductility, and strength at very low temperatures.
5. Electrical Conductivity
The electrical conductivity of pure aluminum is about 37.7 million Siemens per meter at room temperature. Although aluminum alloys may have lower conductivities than pure aluminum, they are conductive enough for their parts to find use in electrical components. On the other hand, aluminum would be an inappropriate material, if electrical conductivity is not in demand characteristic of a machined part
6. Recyclability
Since it is diminished by manufacturing processes, CNC machining processes generate a large number of chips, which are waste materials. aluminum is highly recyclable which means it requires relatively low energy, effort, and cost to recycle. This makes it preferable to those who want to recoup expenditure or reduce material wastage. It also makes aluminum a more environmentally friendly material for machines.
7. Anodisation Potential
Anodisation, which is a surface finishing procedure that increases the wear and corrosion resistance of a material, is easy to achieve in aluminum. This process also makes adding color to machined aluminum parts easier.
Applications of CNC Machined Aluminum Parts in Industry
- Aerospace: Aerospace is the cornerstone of the latest aviation which provides the vital characteristics and properties important for your high-performance part.
- Automotive: similar to the aerospace industry, several parts such as shafts and other components in the automotive industry are made from aluminum.
- Electrical: having high electrical conductivities, CNC-machined aluminum parts are often used as electronic components in electrical appliances.
- Food/Pharmaceutical: because they do not react with most organic substances, aluminum parts play important roles in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
- Sports: aluminum is also used to make sports equipment such as baseball bats and sports whistles.
- Cryogenics: aluminum’s ability to keep its mechanical properties at zero temperatures, makes aluminum parts worthwhile for cryogenic applications.
Conclusion
aluminum offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and low weight, making it a widely used material in reducing aircraft weight. Aluminum CNC parts are ideal for structural parts like engine components, airframe components, and landing gear in the aerospace industry since aluminum alloys offer good mechanical properties.
aluminum CNC machining helps to meet the stringent quality standards for precision and reliability in the aerospace industry. CNC-machined aluminum parts play pivotal roles in producing aero-structures like wing panels and fuselage sections.