Aluminum
- Lightweight, high thermal conductivity, Excellent Machinability, Superior Dimensional Stability, Tight-Tolerance Capable, Perfect for Complex CNC Milling and Turning.
Price:
- $0
0.5 mm
Tolerances:
Aluminum 5052
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Aluminum 5083
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Aluminum 6061
Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa)
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Aluminum 6061-T6
Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa)
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Aluminum 6063
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Aluminum 6082
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Aluminum 7050
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Aluminum 7075
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Aluminum 7075-T6
Properties: High-strength Zn-Cu-Mg alloy (Zn 5.6%, Cu 1.6%, Mg 2.5%), heat-treatable (T6 tensile ≥570 MPa), lower corrosion resistance than 6061 unless coated. Applications: Aerospace structures, military aircraft components, high-stress machinery parts, bicycle racing frames.
Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa)
Fatigue Strength (MPa)
Elongation at Break (%)
VHardness (Brinell)
Density (g/cm³)
Surface Finishing Options for Aluminum
Aluminum CNC turned parts can undergo various surface finishing processes to enhance their appearance, durability, and performance.
pros
- Lightweight: Aluminum has a density of approximately 2.7 g/cm³, only about one-third that of steel or copper. Through alloying and heat treatment, its strength can approach that of ordinary steel, making it suitable for aerospace and transportation applications.
- Corrosion Resistance: Aluminum forms a dense, robust protective alumina film in the air, preventing further oxidation of the internal metal. Anodizing can artificially thicken this oxide film, resulting in enhanced corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and a wider range of colors.
- Electrical Conductivity: While not as conductive as copper, aluminum conducts twice the electricity per unit weight. Therefore, it is an economical and efficient choice for high-voltage transmission lines and power equipment.
- Excellent Machinability: Aluminum alloys have good machinability and are easy to CNC machine. They can be formed through various methods such as extrusion, rolling, forging, and stamping.
- High Temperature Resistance: Unlike some materials, aluminum retains its properties at low temperatures, providing greater flexibility in processing.
cons
- Low Hardness: Pure aluminum has very low hardness. This low hardness can cause problems with CNC-machined parts. Therefore, manufacturers often use aluminum alloys instead of pure aluminum.
- Relatively High Cost: Although aluminum is abundant, it is more expensive than other industrial materials because it does not exist in a pure form; it must be extracted and processed from bauxite, which is costly.
- Easily Scratched and Bumped: Aluminum is relatively soft and scratches more easily than many other durable materials. Its shiny surface also makes these imperfections more noticeable.
Applications of CNC Machined Aluminum Parts
Aerospace:Aircraft structural parts (brackets, mounts),Satellite components requiring thermal stability,UAV frames with weight constraints Automotive:Engine blocks and transmission housings,Lightweight EV battery enclosures,Custom suspension linkages Medical:Sterilizable surgical instrument handles,MRI-compatible equipment frames,Prosthetic joint interfaces
I. Aerospace and Defense
Applications: Aircraft frame structural components, wing ribs, engine mounts, UAV fuselages, satellite components, missile casings.
Reasons: Extreme strength-to-weight ratio, excellent fatigue resistance; CNC machining allows for the replacement of multiple sheet metal parts with complex integrated structures, reducing weight and improving reliability.
II. Automotive and Transportation
Applications: New Energy Vehicles: Battery pack casings, electric drive system components, motor controller radiators, on-board charger casings.
Traditional and High-Performance Automobiles: Engine blocks/cylinder heads (machining), suspension system components (steering knuckles), brake calipers, transmission components, heat exchangers.
Others: Bicycle cranks/frames, motorcycle parts.
Reasons: Weight reduction, good heat dissipation, CNC machining can meet the requirements of complex functional integration and high-precision assembly.
III. Consumer Electronics and Digital Products
Applications: Metal frames and casings for smartphones/laptops, camera bodies and lens barrels, wearable device casings, router casings, high-end speaker panels.
Reasons: CNC machining offers extremely high surface quality (allowing for anodizing, sandblasting, wire drawing, etc.), excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, good structural strength, and heat dissipation.
IV. Industrial Equipment and Automation
Applications: Robotics: robotic arm links, end effectors, joint components.
Semiconductor Equipment: wafer transfer arms, vacuum chamber liners, precision fixtures.
Packaging and Textile Machinery: lightweight, high-speed moving parts, cams, guide rails and sliders.
Reasons: High rigidity reduces motion inertia, improving equipment speed and accuracy; good corrosion resistance; easy to machine complex, lightweight, hollow structures.
V. Medical and Biotechnology
Applications: surgical robot arms, endoscope parts, medical instrument housings (such as monitors and analyzers), orthopedic instruments, surgical tool handles, precision slip rings for imaging equipment (such as CT scanners).
Reasons: Aluminum alloys (such as 6061) are easy to sterilize, and their surfaces can be biocompatible; CNC machining enables sterile, non-porous, smooth surfaces and micron-level precision.
VI. Optics and Precision Instruments
Applications: Optical frames, laser housings, microscope adjustment mechanisms, measuring instrument bases and frames, fiber optic connectors.
Reasons: Low coefficient of thermal expansion (for certain alloys) ensures dimensional stability; high rigidity guarantees alignment accuracy; CNC machining enables extremely precise features and tolerances.
VII. Molds and Tooling Fixtures
Applications: Inserts for injection molds/die-casting molds, vacuum forming molds, fixtures, jigs, and inspection tools.
Reasons: Lightweight aluminum molds dissipate heat quickly, suitable for product development and small-batch production; high processing speed allows for rapid manufacturing of high-precision, complex tooling.
VIII. Communications and Energy
Applications: Communications: 5G base station antenna housings/vibrators, RF filters, waveguide devices.
Energy: Photovoltaic inverter heat sink housings, fuel cell bipolar plates, sensor components for wind power generation equipment.
Reasons: Good electrical/thermal conductivity, excellent electromagnetic shielding performance, and outdoor corrosion resistance.
