What is Aluminum Machining?

Aluminum machining refers to the process of shaping and cutting aluminum material into a desired shape or form using various machining techniques. Machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that involves removing material from a workpiece to create a finished product.

Aluminum is a versatile material that is widely used in various industries due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and high thermal and electrical conductivity. Machining aluminum requires specialized tools and techniques, as the material can be prone to deformation, chipping, or melting if not handled properly.

Some of the common aluminum machining techniques include milling, turning, drilling, and grinding. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining is often used for precise and complex aluminum parts manufacturing.

Aluminum machining is essential in the production of various products such as automotive parts, aerospace components, consumer electronics, and medical devices.

Advantages of Aluminum Machining

There are several advantages to aluminum machining, including:

Lightweight: Aluminum is a lightweight material, making it ideal for use in applications where weight is a concern, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Corrosion-resistant: Aluminum has excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in environments where exposure to moisture and other corrosive elements is a concern.

High thermal and electrical conductivity: Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, making it ideal for use in applications that require heat dissipation or electrical conductivity.

Versatile: Aluminum can be easily machined into various shapes and forms, making it a versatile material for use in a wide range of applications.

Cost-effective: Aluminum is relatively inexpensive compared to other metals such as titanium and steel, making it a cost-effective material for manufacturing.

Recyclable: Aluminum is a highly recyclable material, making it a sustainable choice for manufacturing and reducing environmental impact.

About the Material

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, low cost and recyclability. Coyo offers a wide range of aluminum alloys.

Aluminium 6061

This grade of aluminium is considered to be a general purpose alloy. It has excellent machinability and is easy to weld. The main alloying elements are magnesium and silicon. This aluminium alloy is commonly used in the manufacture of electrical fittings, brake pistons and bicycle frames.

Aluminium 2024-T3

This aluminium alloy has good fatigue resistance and is very easy to work with, but has poor weldability. It is not very resistant to corrosion and therefore requires surface treatment if used in harsh environments. Aluminium 2024-T3 is commonly used for bolts, aircraft components and pistons.

Aluminium 5052

This aluminium alloy uses magnesium as the main alloying element. Due to the absence of copper in its composition, it is very resistant to corrosion, but cannot be heat treated. 5052 aluminium is commonly used for fuel tanks, sheet metal parts and fuel/oil pipes.

Aluminum 7075

This alloy is slightly stronger than 7050 aluminum and has very good fatigue resistance, making it ideal for applications subject to cyclic loading. Its main alloying element is zinc and its typical applications include instrument shafts and gears, aircraft fittings and shaft keys.

Aluminum 7050

This aluminum alloy is one of the strongest aluminum alloys currently available. Its main alloying element is zinc. 7050 aluminum achieves its strength by sacrificing corrosion resistance; the addition of copper is behind both effects. This alloy is also highly machinable. Its strength makes it ideal for aircraft structures.

2024 aluminum is not as strong as 7075 aluminum, but is often used when a high strength-to-weight ratio is required. It is heat treatable and non-magnetic.

5052 aluminum is the easiest aluminum to weld and has excellent corrosion resistance to salt spray and salt water. It is easy to form, heat treatable and non-magnetic.

Aluminum 6063

Compared to 6061, 6063 aluminum has only slightly different alloying elements. This aluminum alloy is not as strong, but has better formability. Therefore, it is very suitable for pipes, railings and profiles.

Aluminum MIC-6

This aluminum alloy is specifically cast for applications requiring high precision components such as assembly jigs, test structures and fixture plates. It is well suited for these applications because its crystalline structure has no internal stresses. It also allows high-speed machining without the significant deformation common to other aluminum alloys.

Bespoke finishes:

Anodised, powder-coated and wet-painted surfaces are the standard finishes. For example, applications are available in black, natural, blue, green and the different colours you require

Surface finishes:

Sandblasting, polishing, dithering, anodising, oxidising, electrophoresis, powder coating, wet painting