CNC Machining for New Part Introduction

Brass, a dynamic copper alloy, enhances copper's strengths, offering superior mechanical strength, reduced friction, and exceptional corrosion and wear resistance. Ideal for CNC machining, brass is favored for durable, corrosion-resistant mechanical components like gears, lock parts, and pipe fittings, thanks to its excellent machinability and versatility.

Pros: Corrosion Resistance, Ductility, Machinability, High Conductivity

Cons: Expensive, Tool Wear, Dimensional Stability

Alloys: C101, C260, C360

Bronze is a sturdy and dependable material, offering superior resistance to wear and corrosion thanks to its composition of tin, iron, and zinc. It shines in applications that demand robust wear and corrosion defense. This versatile alloy is the go-to choice for tasks that call for substantial strength, minimal friction, and a high tolerance for wear and tear. Its formidable strength and resilience make it perfect for components like bearings, bushings, thrust washers, and valve parts that must endure heavy loads or the rigors of extreme conditions.

Pros: Anti-Friction, Machinability, Corrosion Resistance

Cons: Tool Wear, Material Consistency

Alloys: Copper 932/Bearing Bronze

Cast Iron stands out for its exceptional durability and resistance to wear, marking it as an ideal candidate for damping vibrations. It finds widespread use across a range of industrial settings, including but not limited to the manufacture of gears, bases, pulleys, and bushings. Its remarkable resilience under high stress and pressure conditions often makes it the material of choice for heavy-duty machinery and equipment. The distinctive qualities of cast iron ensure it serves as a dependable resource for sectors in need of stable, enduring components.

Pros: Machinability, Dimensional Stability, Cost-Effectiveness, Versatility, Corrosion Resistance

Cons: Tool Wear, Brittle, Surface Finish

Copper, renowned for its unparalleled electrical and thermal conductivity, is indispensable across industries like power, automotive, medical, and aerospace due to its corrosion resistance and antimicrobial properties. Grades 101 and 110 are particularly favored for their efficiency in energy transport, making them ideal for bus bars, wire connectors, and power network components. These alloys are valued for their strength, ease of use, and corrosion resistance, perfect for high-performance electrical components in transformers, generators, motors, and switchgear.

Pros: Corrosion Resistance, High Conductivity, Ductility

Cons: Expensive, Oxidation, Burr Formation, Tool Wear, Malleability

Alloys: 101, 110

Inconel, a robust family of nickel-chromium super alloys, excels in resisting oxidation and corrosion, even under the most extreme heat conditions. This exceptional durability positions Inconel as the material of choice for demanding applications found in aerospace, gas turbines, and chemical processing industries.

Pros: Strength, Oxidation Resistance, Corrosion Resistance

Cons: Tool Wear, Work Hardening

Alloys: 600, 625, 718, 800

Monel, a robust family of nickel-copper alloys, is prized for its superior strength, exceptional corrosion resistance, and impressive mechanical performance even in the chill of sub-zero temperatures. The lineup features popular grades such as Monel 400, Monel K-500, and Monel R-405, making them invaluable assets across diverse sectors like marine, chemical, hydrocarbon processing, and aerospace. This is largely due to their unparalleled ability to withstand the harshness of seawater, acids, and alkalis.

Pros: Corrosion Resistance, Strength

Cons: Tool Wear, Work Hardening, Cost

Alloys: 400, R-405, K-500

Steel, a predominant material in various key industries like aerospace and automotive, offers a perfect mix of cost-effectiveness and advantageous properties. Its composition, primarily iron blended with about 1% carbon and occasionally minor amounts of elements like molybdenum and chromium, enhances its strength, durability, and performance, making it ideal for manufacturing essential components such as fixtures, drive shafts, and gears. Despite its benefits, including ease of machining and welding, steel is prone to oxidation, requiring protective treatments to preserve its quality and appearance.

Pros: Cost-Effective, Ductility, Strength, Durability

Cons: Tool Wear, Machining Time

Alloys: A2, A36, 1018, 1215, 4140, 4140 PH, 4130, A514, 4340

Stainless steel stands out for its exceptional durability, heat and corrosion resistance, making it a preferred choice in sectors like construction, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. Its versatility is evident in its varied applications, from heat exchangers to medical instruments. A key feature is its chromium content (at least 10.5%), enhancing corrosion resistance. Various grades of the alloy, achieved by adding different alloying elements, improve its corrosion resistance, heat treatability, and machinability, with heat treatment vital for optimizing its mechanical properties.

Pros: Corrosion resistance, Strength, Ductility, Weldability

Cons: Machinability, Cost, Material Variability

Alloys: 303, 304, 316, 410, 416, 420, 440C, 17-4, Nitronic 60, 15-5, 18-8

Titanium is favored in aerospace, medical, and marine industries for its lightweight, strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. It excels in applications requiring high strength-to-weight ratios and temperature resilience, such as aerospace parts, medical implants, and sports gear. Available as pure or alloyed, titanium offers enhanced strength with minimal impurities. Its properties solve engineering challenges across sectors by providing high performance up to 1,000°F, with low thermal expansion and a high melting point of about 3,000°F, though it is more costly to machine than metals like aluminum.

Pros: Corrosion Resistance, Strength, Heat Resistance, Self-Oxidizing

Cons: Galling, Expensive, Tool Wear, Rigidity Requirements

Alloys: Grade 2, Grade 5

Zinc, a versatile and common non-magnetic metal, boasts superior properties such as heat, strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, along with corrosion resistance, making it ideal for a wide range of applications from automotive components to hardware and electrical fittings. Often alloyed with aluminum, magnesium, and copper to form Zamak, these alloys are favored for die-casting, offering excellent dimensional stability, precision, and machinability. This affordability, coupled with mechanical strength and shock resistance, makes zinc alloys, particularly in die-cast form, a preferred choice in industries like automotive for their cost-efficiency and reduced machining requirements.

Pros: Machinability, Strength, Inexpensive

Cons: Soft, Environmental/Health Concerns, Galvanic Corrosion

Alloys: Zamak 3