In its purest form, the chemical element aluminum is soft, ductile, non-magnetic, and silvery-white in appearance. However, the element is not only used in its pure form. Aluminum is usually alloyed with various elements such as manganese, copper, and magnesium to form hundreds of aluminum alloys with various significantly improved properties.
Benefits of using aluminum for CNC machined parts
Although there are numerous aluminum alloys with varying degrees of properties, there are fundamental properties applicable almost to all aluminum alloys.
Machinability
Aluminum is readily formed, worked, and machined using a variety of processes. It can be quickly and easily cut by machine tools because it is soft, and chips easily. It is also less expensive and requires less power to machine than steel. These characteristics are of immense benefit to both the machinist and the customer ordering the part. Furthermore, aluminium’s good machinability means it deforms less during machining. This leads to higher accuracy as it allows CNC machines to achieve higher tolerances.
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 described as the strength-to-weight ratio of materials. Aluminum high strength-to-weight ratio makes it favorable for parts required in several industries such as the automotive and aerospace industries.
Corrosion resistance
Aluminum is scratch-resistant and corrosion-resistant in the common marine and atmospheric conditions. You can enhance these properties by anodizing. It’s important to note that resistance to corrosion varies in different aluminum grades. The most regularly CNC machined grades, however, have the most resistance.
Performance at low temperatures
Most materials tend to lose some of their desirable properties at sub-zero temperatures. For example, both carbon steel and rubber become brittle at low temperatures. Aluminum, in its turn, retains its softness, ductility, and strength at very low temperatures.
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 conducive enough for their parts to find use in electrical components. On the other hand, aluminum would be an unsuitable material if electrical conductivity is not a desirable characteristic of a machined part.
Recyclability
Since it is a subtractive manufacturing process, 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 to machine.
Anodization potential
Anodization, 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 the industry
As stated earlier, aluminum alloys have a number of desirable properties. Hence, CNC-machined aluminum parts are indispensable in several industries, including the following:
Aerospace: due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, several aircraft fittings are made from machined aluminum;
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 often used to make sports equipment such as baseball bats and sports whistles;
Cryogenics: aluminum’s ability to retain its mechanical properties at sub-zero temperatures, makes aluminum parts desirable for cryogenic applications.
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