5 points for CNC Machining Aluminum

CNC machines run according to computer programs and can be used for prototype design or mass production of finished products. Aluminum is a commonly used machining material and has become the material of choice in the manufacturing industry because of its excellent performance in machining properties. Aluminum not only has good thermal properties, but also has high mechanical strength and is easy to form. It is especially suitable for drilling in CNC aluminum processing. We value aluminum alloys more than other lightweight metals. In recent years, the use of CNC aluminum has increased significantly in automotive parts and other CNC production areas that require lightweighting.

• The main characteristics and applications of aluminum in the CNC industry are as follows:

Aluminum is a metal with outstanding material properties. It is light in size, with a density of only 2.68 g/cm3, but its structure is very strong and durable. The melting point of aluminum is 640°C, and it is easy to process into various shapes during processing. Its surface is silvery gray, and the finish determines the depth of the color.

Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity, but its conductivity is inferior to copper. However, due to its light size, it is widely used in situations where weight reduction is required, such as automotive parts, aerospace structures, and medical equipment. It is non-magnetic and difficult to burn, which also increases its application value in these fields.

Overall, aluminum is a highly functional engineering material. It has the advantages of being lightweight, strong, and easy to process, so it is widely used in many industries that require light weight or easy processing.

The type of aluminum alloy you choose to use ultimately depends on the needs of your machining project, so you can rank aluminum alloys according to the importance of various properties, from most to least important. Taking this approach can help you select an aluminum alloy with specific properties and shapes precisely for your needs.

• The following are some types with essential facts about Aluminum grade：

1. 6061 Aluminum Alloy: This is one of the most common and widely used aluminum alloys. It has excellent mechanical properties such as medium strength and very good toughness. 6061 aluminum alloy is good at cold working and welding, and also has good corrosion resistance. This makes it widely used in engineering structures that require cold working or welding.
2. 7075 aluminum alloy: Compared with 6061 aluminum alloy, 7075 aluminum alloy has higher strength but poor welding performance. However, it is known for its excellent fatigue strength and is suitable for components subjected to complex stresses. 7075 aluminum alloy is commonly used in structural elements that need to withstand high stress, such as aircraft fuselages and bicycle frames.
3. 2024 aluminum alloy: This is a high-strength aluminum alloy. Due to its excellent wear resistance and mechanical strength, it is mainly used in heavy-duty structural components in the military and aerospace fields. However, 2024 aluminum alloy has poor welding performance and corrosion resistance. It is not suitable for engineering structures requiring welding or corrosion protection.
4. 5052 aluminum alloy: 5052 aluminum alloy has lower strength, but is low in cost and has good processing performance. It has good corrosion resistance and is often used in structures that require anti-corrosion, such as ships, pipelines, etc. 5052 aluminum alloy is suitable for thin-walled parts that require cold processing, such as tanks, plates, etc.
5. 3003 aluminum alloy: 3003 aluminum alloy is a soft aluminum with low silicon content and the lowest strength. But it has excellent stretchability and formability, and low processing cost. 3003 aluminum alloy is often used in non-structural parts that require forming processing, such as billboard brackets, household appliance casings, etc. In addition, it can also be used for products that require post-painting, such as automotive exterior parts.
6. 5083 aluminum alloy: 5083 aluminum alloy is a seawater anti-corrosion aluminum alloy with high manganese content and excellent corrosion resistance. It is suitable for structures that need to be used in seawater environments for a long time, such as ship hulls and offshore structures. 5083 aluminum alloy also has excellent mechanical properties and can replace 6061 aluminum alloy in many applications.

• Aluminum Parts & Aluminum Prototypes

Aluminum alloys are widely used in parts manufacturing in various industries due to their low density but high strength. 6061-T6 alloy is one of the most commonly used aluminum alloys. It is suitable for electronics, transportation, aerospace and other fields.

CNC machining provides excellent machining results for aluminum parts. Through CNC milling, we can control the tolerance of aluminum parts to 0.01mm or less, producing precise part shapes. At the same time, the optimization of CNC processing lines also makes the entire processing process efficient.

With the development of CNC technology, more and more types of aluminum parts are produced and widely used in engineering projects.

• Aerospace field: Aircraft fuselage and engine parts require high-strength and lightweight aluminum alloys;
• Automotive industry: Engine parts and suspension components require high temperature and wear-resistant aluminum alloys;
• Electronics industry: Mobile phone casings and computer casings require aluminum alloys with good thermal conductivity;
• Electrical equipment: The transformer shell requires aluminum alloy with good conductivity;
• Mechanical equipment: gears and bearings require wear-resistant aluminum alloy;
• Construction industry: Door and window frames require corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy;
• Light industry: Beverage cans require cheap aluminum alloys;

• CNC aluminum processing:

Aluminum is prone to deformation during processing, mainly because of its large thermal expansion coefficient and low hardness compared to other metal materials. However, through scientific and reasonable processing methods, the deformation of aluminum materials during processing can be well avoided and reduced.

Symmetric processing is one of the important methods to control deformation. The processing sequence should be properly planned to avoid excessive concentration of heat in local areas and to distribute heat energy evenly. A hierarchical processing method can be adopted to process all details in the same area at the same time, so that the thermal stress generated can be better dispersed, thereby effectively reducing the possibility of deformation.

Choosing appropriate cutting parameters is also very important. The main influencing factors include cutting depth and speed. On the one hand, the cutting depth should be kept large and the cutting speed should be kept at a high level to improve processing efficiency and reduce the number of processing times; on the other hand, the parameter settings should not be too large to avoid excessive cutting force resulting in deformation. In addition, keeping the cutting tools clean also helps maintain an even temperature distribution during cutting.