Advantages of using aluminum for CNC Machining parts

The chemical element aluminum in a high purity form, soft, malleable, no magnetism, the appearance of silver. But the element is not used only in its pure aluminum state. 

Aluminum is usually cast in alloys with various elements, such as manganese, copper, and magnesium, to form a variety of aluminum alloys with a variety of significantly improved properties. The most commonly processed aluminum alloys and their grades under different standards can be found here.

Although there are countless aluminum alloys with varying degrees of properties, there are some basic properties that are generally applicable to all aluminum alloys.

machinability

Aluminum can be rapidly formed, manufactured and processed by various processes. Aluminium can be cut quickly and easily by machine tools because it is soft, easy to cut, inexpensive and requires less force than steel. These features are a great advantage to both the mechanic and the customer who orders the parts. Moreover, aluminium's superior workability means it is less prone to deformation during processing. Since it allows the CNC machine to achieve higher tolerance, the accuracy will be higher.

Specific strength

Aluminum is about a third as dense as steel. The mass is relatively light. Despite its light weight, aluminum is very strong. This combination of strength and weight is called the specific strength of the material. Aluminum's high specific strength makes it suitable for many industrial components, such as the automotive and aerospace industries.

Corrosion resistance

Aluminum resists scratch and rot in conventional Marine and atmospheric environments. This property can also be enhanced by anodizing. It is important to note that the corrosion resistance of different grades of aluminum is also different. The most common CNC Machining level has the strongest resistance.

Low temperature performance

Most materials lose some of their superior properties below zero. Carbon steel and rubber, for example, become brittle at low temperatures. Aluminum, on the contrary, maintains its softness, ductility, and strength at very low temperatures.

Electrical conductivity

The electrical conductivity of pure aluminum is approximately 37.7 million Siemens/m at room temperature. Although aluminum alloys have lower electrical conductivity than pure aluminum, they are good enough for use in electronic components. On the other hand, if the desired property of a machined part is not electrical conductivity, aluminum will not be the right material for it.

recyclability

As the Machining process is a cutting process, CNC Machining produces a large amount of chips, i.e., scrap. Aluminum is highly recyclable and requires relatively little energy, effort and cost to recycle. This makes it popular among those who want to recoup their expenses or reduce material waste. It also makes aluminum a more environmentally friendly processing material.

Anodizing possibility

Anodizing, a surface processing process, improves the material's resistance to wear and corrosion, which is easy to achieve for aluminum. The process also makes it easier to paint aluminum parts.