The Dos and Don'ts of Aluminum Milling

With the increase of aluminum alloy material grades and the continuous development of CNC machining, the application field of aluminum alloy products is constantly expanding, which puts higher requirements on the quality and level of aluminum alloy CNC machining. The following introduces the commonly used aluminum grades for CNC machining and the notabilia in CNC machining.

The following table shows the suitability of common aluminum alloys for milling:

Because the aluminum material is soft, it is easy to stick to the tool at high temperatures. To make the size of aluminum alloys precision machining by CNC more stable, the following points should be paid attention to during processing:

The state of the precision machine tool

CNC equipment should be stable during processing. Before processing, we should check the lathe itself and start the equipment after making sure there is no problem.

Material cooling problem

Aluminum alloys need to be cooled after CNC machining is completed, and deformation may occur during the cooling process. At this time, special attention should be paid to the use of coolant, and the possibility of material deformation and deflection should be considered during measurement.

Processing technology

Inappropriate processing technology can easily cause dimensional errors in parts. After ensuring basic processing technologies such as roughing first and then finishing, first making the surface and then punching, first large surface and then small surface in CNC milling, or reducing the number of clamping times and using combined fixtures as much as possible in the use of fixtures, it is necessary to minimize the processing errors caused by iron filings on aluminum alloy parts.

Parameter settings

Cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, and tool compensation for turn-milling would affect the stability of the machining, so special attention should be paid to it.

Tool selection

When machining aluminum parts, try to use special tools, which are often more targeted. For example, the milling cutter specialized for aluminum milling usually has a larger rake angle and helical angle, and a sharper cutting edge, which is more conducive to the processing of aluminum parts and better surface quality.

Stress

The material of aluminum parts is soft, so it is necessary to pay special attention to the clamping force. During processing, the aluminum parts are roughed and left to stand for a period before proceeding to the next process to eliminate stress.

Stability of CNC precision machining of metal aluminum

In addition to the above six points, do check the chip removal and the amount of cutting fluid used during the processing of aluminum parts. Many factors affect the processing stability of aluminum parts. Therefore, it is necessary to respond flexibly during processing and analyze specific problems. Stable machine tools, reasonable machining techniques, tools, and the skill level of operators are all factors that affect product quality.