Introduction
The entire process of CNC Machining is more profitable when the material used is of superb quality.
We brought you one metal that has excellent properties and can be used for CNC machining (Brass).
Brass has become very common and popular for different uses, especially machining.
We dug up every information that you may need about Brass CNC machining. Ranging from the situations it is very helpful, the benefits, application, and types.
Brass is referred to as a copper and zinc alloy. It is characterized based on the elements present. These are either aluminum, zinc, lead, or iron.
Brass is a soft product, and it's easy to machine and mold.
It is widely used for CNC machining because it contains copper that makes it electrically and thermally conductive, while lead also boosts its machinability.
Apart from its machinability and conductibility that make it suitable for CNC, it has other important properties that manufacturers sought after.
● Highly Machinable: One of the best metals for CNC machines is brass. It is easily machined compared to others, coupled with the lead present that boasts machinability.
● Corrosion Resistance: Brass is resistant to
corrosion due to the high rate of copper alloy. It forms a layer that covers the metal and prevents it from rusting.
● Malleability: Brass has high plasticity. This is the ability of a metal to be worked into thin sheets without breaking. The zinc present is the reason for this property. Its malleability is higher than bronze or zinc.
● Strength and Hardness: Brass is a rigid material that can withstand stress.
● Aesthetic Appeal: Though brass is mostly bright golden, it also comes in various colors like red, brown, silver, and yellow. It is a very appealing metal and does not need any extra coating.
Although the main property of brass is zinc and copper, other elements can be combined to create brass with unique characteristics. Metal elements such as iron, lead, and aluminum.
A minimal amount of these elements can be added, and it will improve the brass qualities. Like in some cases, a small amount of tin is added, and the brass is resistant to seawater corrosion.
Below are the most prevalent combinations of the brass alloy.
Brass C360
This type of brass is also called free machining brass. The zinc-copper alloy possesses the highest machinability with excellent strength due to the combination of lead.
This type is usually applicable in making electrical equipment, musical instruments, and plumbing components.
Brass C230
This brass is also known as Red brass. It is a more robust version compared to yellow-gold colored brass.
It possesses excellent machinability and good corrosion-resistant properties.
It is the best for architecture, light fixtures, jewelry, sprinklers, and decorative parts.
Brass C220
Commonly known as commercial bronze. It has a bronze-reddish color and is best for architectural purposes.
Excellent corrosion resistance, reliable ductility, and strength. It can also be worked cold.
You can also find its application in weather stripping.
As mentioned earlier, there's no imminent need to coat brass. Mainly because of its conductibility and resistance to corrosion.
However, some conditions warrant its coating. For cases like cosmetics or aesthetics, cleat coating is needed to be done.
We have provided the best finishing options for it below.
● As machined: Since it is beautiful and excellent on the surface when brought out of the machine, it can go without additional machining because it comes out of the machine looking attractive.
● Buffing: Buffing is also known as hand polishing or honing. As brass can be used in decorative applications due to its diverse color, manufacturers apply hand polishing to create a more smooth, more attractive, and glossy finish.
● Electroplating: This finishing involves dissolving the base material using a chemical bath and electric current. When you want to achieve a mirror look or fine surface, it is most suitable. The different parts of the process are fine-tuned to get other polish options. It is cheaper than polishing manually.
● Powder Coating: Powder coating is similar to polishing. Powder paint is applied to the brass electrostatically. It is then cured using ultraviolet light or heat from the oven. The coating comes in various gloss levels and colors. This coating is thick and improves durability.
When brass is to be used for CNC machining, there are several factors to keep in mind that affect brass machinability. Example time, composition, etc.
For brass CNC machining operations to yield the best results, there are certain conditions and parameters to set appropriately.
Below are some tips that will help you.
Brass is a soft metal; hence slower speed of tools should be used when machining to avoid deformity or inaccuracies.
Generally this can drop the machining time a bit.
It is essential to check your design specification and requirements to see if they match the conditions of an efficient brass CNC machining procedure and if it's possible to be created quickly.
This is important because it can help to reduce the machines set up, subsequent waste of material, and cost of production if the design is efficient.
One of the most necessary and foremost things to consider is what and where the produced part will be used before carrying out any manufacturing operation.
It might be possible to use brass CNC machining and produce a part that is meant to withstand tremendous pressure and stress (e.g., application in military Industries), but it will not serve its purpose. This might cause severe havoc and waste of time and money.
So it is better to cross-check the application and brass properties before production.
As from above, it is clear that brass is already an essential material in so many industries worldwide. Therefore the application is vast.
We made a list of the few most prominent ones below:
● Gears
● Locks
● Musical instruments
● Valves
● Bearings
● Ammunition casings
● Radiator cores
● Trombones
● Lamp fittings
Typically, manufacturers love materials that can serve them efficiently, and brass contains a lot of essential properties.
The different alloys and types make the available range of selection wide. You can choose one alloy with a specific and improved trait if your business target aligns with it.
But most importantly, to know if it is your Ideal choice, it will depend on firstly the purpose of your products, your budget, and your requirements.
If you're unsure of the best material to use or how to effectively carry out your brass CNC machining, contact us at Ares Rapid.
With one of the best tools on ground, we will cover all your requirements for brass CNC machining to the maximum.
