How to choose the suitable material for CNC machined parts?
Wrong material, all in vain!
There are many materials suitable for CNC processing. To find a suitable material for the product, it is restricted by many factors. A basic principle that needs to be followed is: the performance of the material must meet the various technical requirements of the product and the environmental use requirements. When choosing the material of mechanical parts, the following aspects can be considered.01. Is the material rigid enough?
Rigidity is the primary consideration when selecting materials, because the product requires a certain degree of stability and wear resistance in actual work, and the rigidity of the material determines the feasibility of the product design.
According to the characteristics of the industry, 45# steel and aluminum alloy are usually selected for non-standard tooling design; 45# steel and alloy steel are used more for tooling design for machining; aluminum alloy is mostly used for tooling design in the automation industry.02. Is the material stability?For a product with high precision requirements, if it is not stable enough, various deformations will occur after assembly, or it will be deformed again during use. It's a nightmare for the product.03. How is the material processing performance?The processability of the material means whether the part is easy to process. Although stainless steel is anti-rust, but stainless steel is not easy to process, its hardness is high, and the tool is easy to wear during processing. When processing small holes on stainless steel, especially threaded holes, it is easy to break the drill bit and the tap, which will lead to very high processing costs.04. Anti-rust treatment of materials
Anti-rust treatment is related to the stability and appearance quality of the product. For example, 45 steel usually chooses "blackening" treatment for rust prevention, or paints and sprays the parts. It can also be protected by sealing oil or antirust fluid during use according to the requirements of the environment...
There are many antirust treatment processes, but if none of the above methods are suitable, the material must be replaced, such as stainless steel. In any case, the problem of rust prevention of products cannot be ignored.05. How the material cost
Cost is an important consideration in material selection. Titanium alloys are light in weight, high in specific strength, and good in corrosion resistance. They are widely used in automotive engine systems, and play an invaluable role in energy saving and consumption reduction.
Although titanium alloy parts have such superior performance, the main reason preventing titanium alloys from being widely used in the automotive industry is the high cost. If it's not really necessary, go for a cheaper material.
