One of the advantages of CNC Machining is its ability to use a wide range of materials for production. This makes manufacturers able to tweak and generate many ideas as it is possible to get the suitable material for your design into work.
The plenty of options available give you a better chance of getting your ideas properly created.
As there are plenty of materials available to choose from which are beneficial and always in the mind of manufacturers, that can be a big problem.
Pick the right one from the many available will be ambiguous and result in trial and error and a waste of resources and time. But to avoid this waste, knowing the commonly used materials and their characteristics will help you avoid it.
We've compiled all to know on the most commonly used CNC Machining materials worldwide. Browse below and find what you need for your business.
A lot of materials through the years have been researched and proven to work well for CNC machining and are implemented for the process. Its application is visible to consumers around the world.
Materials such as stainless steel, brass, aluminum, steel, and copper. Also, thermoplastic materials like Nylon, ABS, polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), Polycarbonate, Acetal, and polyethylene.
Let's break down the characteristics of the common materials used for the process.
Concerning this material's ability to withstand and conduct high temperatures and conduct high electricity volume, it is widely used. It also makes it easier to be used for large volumes of machining. It poses an excellent strength to weight ratio and is resistant to weather elements.
There are two types of aluminum widely accepted. One is the Aluminum 6061 and Aluminum 7075.
Aluminum 6061 is often used to make parts for recreational gadgets, bikes, sporting goods, and automotive Industries.
Although It is regular for CNC Machining as a multipurpose aluminum alloy, it is more expensive and doesn't readily withstand some chemicals or saltwater.
The improved version is the Aluminum 7075. It is used in high-performance make-ups like special recreational equipment and aerospace perimeters. It is the most robust aluminum alloy.
These materials possess general characteristics of wear, distortion, and corrosion resistance. And they are firm.
They have been
sorted into 303 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, and 316 stainless steel. All have their limitations and beneficial aspects.
303 stainless steel has sulfur topped up for increased machinability. But, this material must be given special care with speed, and the sharpness with it cuts materials in CNC Manufacturing. It cannot be welded, cold-treated, or heat-treated. You can find its application in parts like shafts, bolts, nuts, gears, and grade fittings.
304 stainless steel contains similar properties to 303, like its corrosion resistance and robustness. And its high machinability and non-magnetic nature. Unless 304 can be welded.
It is crucial for making parts like kitchen utensils, pipes, tanks, etc. Both industrial and consumer parts.
The 316 stainless steel has more capability to resist corrosion than 303 and 304. It is very considerable for welding and is very strong, and is a suitable marine grade stainless steel. This is due to the molybdenum added.
To best figure out the suitable steel for your design, it is vital to test these steels since it is impossible to differentiate them by merely looking at them.
The Carbon steel here is referred to as carbon 1045. This is substantial carbon steel. It is adamantly used in Industries because of its very reasonable standard compared to other stainless steel and is still rigid and robust. The steel is weldable and can be hard-treated to get the required hardness. It is also highly machinable. If it is to be used for architectural purposes, its surface must be treated to prevent corrosion and rusting. 1045 is also essential in making bolts, shafts, nuts, gears, rods for connecting, and small mechanical parts.
Brass is one of the easiest and less expensive materials for CNC Machining. Brass is not as robust as other steel, but it possesses some unique qualities in terms of durability. It has very high corrosion resistance, and its friction coefficient is low.
It is helpful in the consumer goods industries, the medical Industries for medical equipment, and electrical Industries for hardware components. You can also see its application in musical instruments, architecture, plumbing, steam work, etc.
Titanium is light in weight but has high strength, high melting point, resistance to corrosion, and toughness. It is also impervious to ductile.
Though it is a viable choice for many Industries, it is more expensive than other metals. It does not conduct electricity satisfiable and is a poor material for polishing. It is also seen as a challenging material to machine.
It is helpful in medical Industries, aerospace engineering, military applications, and jewelry.
The material here, the Aluminum AZ31, has some essential qualities. It is a combination of zinc and aluminum. It is more expensive than aluminum, but it has much lesser weight and contains the same strength. Magnesium is a stable material and can resist corrosion. Its corrosion resistance can be enhanced by anodizing. It is machinable.
The material is highly flammable in its powdered form. To prevent it from catching fire, a liquid lubricant should be added when Machining.
They are used to make laptop cases, power tools, and aircraft coverings.
This material is an alloy comprising about 70% nickel, 25% copper, manganese, and Iron 5%. The monels for commercial purposes are vast, as in alloy 404, alloy 400, alloy 401, alloy 405, and copper_knickel alloy. It is relatively stronger than steel. It has extreme corrosion resistance. Monel is machinable and weldable. It can also be brazed and is malleable.
Monel can help produce valves, fittings, shafts, and pumps. It is also applicable in the marine Industries and chemical Industries.
Inconel materials are not as popular as other metals like steel. This is evidence of their expensive nature. However, they possess special features like their high resistance to corrosion and oxidation. They stay rigid and can withstand high temperatures, and can withstand adverse corrosive areas. The application is vast, including pharmaceutical companies, rocket engines, 3D printing, fuel nozzles, Oil and gas extraction, aerospace engineering, automotive engines, Afterburner rings, and marine saltwater application.
ABS is plastic that is tough and impact resistant. It is also immune to chemicals and does not conduct electricity. It is perfect for cosmetic production as it is easy to color. It is dominant in rapid Prototyping due to its versatile and rigid nature. It is less costly than other thermoplastics but constant temperature for a certain period tends to affect it.
It is essential in producing power tools, sporting equipment, automotive parts, and toys.
The low-carbon steel has an amount of about 0.3% carbon. At this, it is not short of brittleness or ductility, but it is just in between. It is very machinable and versatile with a relatively low amount of cost. It is helpful in steel frame buildings, gates, pipelines, cookware, and automotive parts.
As mentioned earlier, very substantial knowledge of the commonly used materials in CNC Machining is a great plus in deciding their application for your personal use.
From assessing the materials above, you will find each of the features and benefits of the plastic and the area they are fit for. Those are the areas they are perfectly applicable.
Although because of the vast amount of the materials, at least one of them Is applicable for any purpose in the world.
To choose the suitable material after studying the various features of materials available for you is to access your product's requirement. That will help you know the material to pick from. The better you understand what you require and what to get it from, the smaller the options of materials becomes till you get the best fit.
To do that effectively, see the questions to consider constantly.
All though a part may have the same use as another part, the material making the parts perform those functions may be different. A different material may be used to conduct electricity in an aerospace setup. Check the role of the part not and adequately pick any material that possesses the quality in the quest.
As you've seen above, some materials can withstand corrosion, and some do not. The outdoor environment is less likely to be a controlled one, unlike the indoor environment. It would be best to concentrate appropriately on rusting, extremely high or low temperature, and moisture for the best result.
To pick the suitable material, you need to look up its amount of stress load. When subjected to high or constant pressure, some materials break or deform. The parts you plan to create should be accessed if they will be used in the presence of high stress or not. That will help determine the better material.
In the presence of heat, materials either contract or expand. This process will affect your part. Some might have severe deformation or light damage. If your part is going to be under constant heat, the right material will have high thermal resistance, far beyond the heat state your part will be subjected to.
Even after coming across the best material, you need to check its relationship with the machine. Some carbon fiber and metals have a problem with machinability. They are tough and can cause damage to machine-cutting tools. Some materials require very close attention to control the speed of cutting and feeding. This may result in damage and waste of time. The right material will be the one that will save you wasted time and damage to your machine.
You should check the nature of your product to the weight. If you want to create parts that will constantly get a high-stress load, you should pick heavy materials. These materials are easier to absorb stress. In contrast, parts that require to be lightweight, heavy materials should not be used.
Lightweight materials do not necessarily mean they are not strong enough, and heavy materials do not necessarily mean they are durable.
Let's look at the proper breakdown of this factor
● Check the ability of the material to withstand surface blows and pressure at once (Hardness)
● Check a material's wear resistance. It might be heavy and stress-resistant but can't handle friction.
● What is the material's tensile strength? How does it resist breaking under tension?
● The materials resistant to fatigue. Does it absorbs stress effectively or not
Cost is one critical criterion to look out for. Though the lightweight materials and materials with high strength are more costly, you should choose less expensive materials for less expensive parts, which will serve the required purpose.
Apart from knowing the nature of your part that requires you to pick one material over the other, there are factors you need to be aware of when choosing those materials. These are the factors.
It would help if you considered the ability of the material to withstand a load. If your part will be in constant subjection to high load, you might want to opt for a material with high resistance to fatigue and will not deform under continuous stress.
The whole manufacturing process produces some heat. The ideal material should be able to withstand it. A material with a low melting point will be fit. You should also consider if the material can withstand the heat of your CNC machine so that it does not distort or damage the material in the process.
Every manufacturer is worried about getting maximum profit. Spending too much on the material alone can shoot capital. The right material should be checked for a less expensive alternative to minimize the cost possible. All the qualities in choosing the suitable material must be taken; it should not be the case of simply substituting quality for expenses.
You should consider picking durable and quality materials, notwithstanding the cost, if it is the only choice. Choosing substandard ones to save cost is not a good bargain.
The dimensional tolerance of materials should be considered as if it relatively affects the success of your work, the cutting methods of the parts, and the tools you choose.
It is best to confirm tolerance before you kick-off. Not deciding correctly can cause the part not to work well or work at all. It can be fixed at the expense of more cost and time.
You should also consider that parts with tighter tolerance will cost more.
Generally, the material that will serve you the most should be your best for CNC machining. But some materials are machinable, while some require so much time and caution.
You can say the ones with better machinability are the best, but it still depends on your part and production purpose.
Everything about the commonly used materials as stated above. The questions to ask when you want to choose the suitable materials and all the areas you should consider when selecting the materials.
With this extensive knowledge, it is easier and more effective to create a part with CNC Machining, as choosing what to use is no more a problem.
Since it can still be ambiguous to pick the suitable material, turn to ARES for a clear idea. We specialize in taking people's ideas into life and supplementing them with flourished ones. Our team of engineers with more than 15 years of acquired knowledge will ease the work for you and provide high-quality parts.
Contact us for your materials inquiries and quality production of your parts now.
