How to choose the right CNC machining material？


The materials are wrong, all in vain! In order to produce satisfactory products, the choice of materials is the most basic step and the most critical step. CNC machining can choose a lot of materials, including metal materials, non-metallic materials and composite materials.

Common metal materials include steel, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, stainless steel and so on. Non-metallic materials are engineering plastics, nylon, bakelite, epoxy resin and so on. Composite materials are fiber reinforced plastic, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin, glass fiber reinforced aluminum and so on.

Different materials have different physical and mechanical properties, and the correct selection of the right material is critical to the performance, accuracy and durability of the part. Starting from my own experience, this article will share with you how to choose low cost and suitable materials among many processing materials.




Determine the actual application requirements of the product

First, we need to determine the end use of the product and its parts. For example, medical equipment needs to be disinfected, lunch boxes need to be heated in the microwave oven, bearings, gears, etc., need to be used for load-bearing and multiple rotational friction.


Transform the application requirements of the material into the characteristics of the material

After determining the use, starting from the actual application needs of the product, the use of the product is investigated, and its technical requirements and environmental requirements are analyzed, and these needs are transformed into the characteristics of the material. For example, parts of medical equipment may have to withstand the extreme heat of an autoclave; Bearings, gears and other materials have requirements for wear resistance, tensile strength and compressive strength. Mainly can be analyzed from the following points:

01 Environmental Requirements

Analyze the actual use scenario and environment of the product; For example: What is the long-term working temperature of the product, the highest/lowest working temperature, respectively, belonging to high temperature or low temperature? Are there UV protection requirements indoors or outdoors? Is it in a dry environment or a humid, corrosive environment? Etc.

02 Technical Requirements

According to the technical requirements of the product, the required capabilities are analyzed, which can cover a range of application-related factors. Such as: the product needs to have conductive, insulating or anti-static which of the capabilities? Is heat dissipation, thermal conductivity, or flame retardant required? Do you need exposure to chemical solvents? Etc.

03 Physical Performance requirements

Analyze the required physical properties of the part based on the intended use of the product and the environment in which it will be used. For parts subjected to high stress or wear, factors such as strength, toughness and wear resistance are critical; For parts exposed to high temperatures for a long time, good thermal stability is required.

04 Appearance and surface treatment requirements

The market acceptance of the product depends largely on the appearance, the color and transparency of different materials are different, the finish and the corresponding surface treatment are also different. Therefore, according to the aesthetic requirements of the product, the processing materials should be selected.

05 Processing performance considerations

The machining properties of the material will affect the manufacturing process and accuracy of the part. For example, although stainless steel is rust resistant and corrosion resistant, its hardness is high, and it is easy to wear the tool during processing, resulting in very high processing costs, and it is not a good material to process. The plastic hardness is low, but it is easy to soften and deform during the heating process, and the stability is poor, which needs to be selected according to actual needs.


Find materials that match the characteristics

Because the actual application requirements of the product are composed of a number of contents, there may be multiple materials that meet the application requirements of a product; Or the situation where the optimal selection of different application requirements corresponds to different materials; We may end up with several materials that meet our specific requirements. Therefore, once the desired material properties are clearly defined, the remaining selection step is to search for the material that best matches those properties.

The selection of candidate materials begins with a review of material properties data, of course, it is not possible to investigate thousands of applied materials, and there is no need to do so. We can start from the material category, and first decide whether we need metal materials, non-metallic materials or composite materials. Then the previous analysis results, corresponding to the material characteristics, narrow the selection of candidate materials. Finally, the material cost information is used to select the most suitable material for the product from a number of candidate materials.

At present, Honscn has selected and launched a number of materials suitable for processing, which have been a popular choice for our customers.





Introduction to the properties of metal materials


Metallic materials refer to materials with properties such as luster, ductility, easy conduction and heat transfer. Its performance is mainly divided into four aspects, namely: mechanical properties, chemical properties, physical properties, process properties. These properties determine the scope of application of the material and the rationality of the application, which is an important reference for us to choose metal materials.The following will introduce two types of metal materials, aluminum alloy and copper alloy, which have different mechanical properties and processing characteristics.




Aluminium alloy

There are more than 1000 aluminum alloy grades registered in the world, each brand name and meaning are different, different grades of aluminum alloy in hardness, strength, processability, decoration, corrosion resistance, weldability and other mechanical properties and chemical properties there are obvious differences, each has its strengths and weaknesses.

hardness

Hardness refers to its ability to resist scratches or indentations. It has a direct relationship with the chemical composition of the alloy, and different states have different effects on the hardness of aluminum. The hardness directly affects the cutting speed and the type of tool material that can be used in CNC machining.

From the highest hardness that can be achieved, 7 series > 2 series > 6 series > 5 series > 3 series > 1 series.

intensity

Strength refers to its ability to resist deformation and fracture, commonly used indicators include yield strength, tensile strength and so on.

It is an important factor that must be considered in product design, especially when aluminum alloy components are used as structural parts, the appropriate alloy should be selected according to the pressure under.

There is a positive relationship between hardness and strength: the strength of pure aluminum is the lowest, and the strength of 2 series and 7 series heat-treated alloys is the highest.

density

Density refers to its mass per unit volume and is often used to calculate the weight of a material.

Density is an important factor for a variety of different applications. Depending on the application, the density of aluminum will have a significant impact on how it is used. For example, lightweight, high-strength aluminum is ideal for construction and industrial applications.

The density of aluminum is about 2700kg/m³, and the density value of different types of aluminum alloy does not change much.

Corrosion resistance

Corrosion resistance refers to its ability to resist corrosion when in contact with other substances. It includes chemical corrosion resistance, electrochemical corrosion resistance, stress corrosion resistance and other properties.

Corrosion resistance selection principle should be based on its use occasion, high-strength alloy used in a corrosive environment, must use a variety of anti-corrosion composite materials.

In general, the corrosion resistance of series 1 pure aluminum is the best, series 5 performs well, followed by series 3 and 6, and series 2 and 7 are poor.

processability

The machinability includes formability and machinability. Because formability is related to the state, after selecting the grade of aluminum alloy, it is also necessary to consider the strength range of each state, usually high strength materials are not easy to form.

If the aluminum is to be bent, drawn, deep drawing and other forming processes, the formability of the fully annealed material is the best, and on the contrary, the formability of the heat-treated material is the worst.

The machinability of aluminum alloy has a great relationship with the alloy composition, usually higher strength aluminum alloy machinability is better, on the contrary, low strength machinability is poor.

For molds, mechanical parts and other products that need to be cut, the machinability of aluminum alloy is an important consideration.

Welding and bending properties

Most aluminum alloys are welded without problems. In particular, some 5 series aluminum alloys are specially designed for welding considerations; Relatively speaking, some 2 series and 7 series aluminum alloys are more difficult to weld.

In addition, the 5 series aluminum alloy is also the most suitable for bending a class of aluminum alloy products.

Decorative property

When aluminum is applied to decoration or some specific occasions, its surface needs to be processed to obtain the corresponding color and surface organization. This situation requires us to focus on the decorative properties of materials.

Aluminum surface treatment options include anodizing and spraying. In general, materials with good corrosion resistance have excellent surface treatment properties.

Other characteristics

In addition to the above characteristics, there are electrical conductivity, wear resistance, heat resistance and other properties, we need to consider more in the selection of materials.


Copper alloy

Orichalcum



Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass with different mechanical properties can be obtained by changing the content of zinc in brass. The higher the content of zinc in brass, the higher its strength and slightly lower plasticity.

The zinc content of the brass used in the industry does not exceed 45%, and the zinc content will be brittle and make the alloy performance worse. Adding 1% tin to brass can significantly improve the resistance of brass to seawater and Marine atmosphere corrosion, so it is called "navy brass".

Tin can improve the machinability of brass. Lead brass is commonly referred to as easy to cut national standard copper. The main purpose of adding lead is to improve the machinability and wear resistance, and lead has little effect on the strength of brass. Carving copper is also a kind of lead brass.

Most brasses have good color, processability, ductility, and are easy to electroplate or paint.

Red copper



Copper is pure copper, also known as red copper, has good electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent plasticity, easy hot pressing and cold pressure processing, can be made into plates, rods, tubes, wires, strips, foil and other copper.

A large number of products that require good electrical conductivity such as electrocorroded copper and conductive bars for the manufacture of EDM, magnetic instruments and instruments that must be resistant to magnetic interference, such as compass and aviation instruments.

No matter what kind of material, a single model basically can not meet all the performance requirements of a product at the same time, and it is not necessary. We should set the priority of various performance according to the performance requirements of the product, the use of the environment, the processing process and other factors, reasonable selection of materials, and reasonable control of costs under the premise of ensuring performance.


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The success or failure of aerospace operations depends on the accuracy, precision and quality of the components used. For this reason, aerospace companies utilize advanced manufacturing techniques and processes to ensure that their components fully meet their needs. While new manufacturing methods such as 3D printing are rapidly gaining popularity in the industry, traditional manufacturing methods such as machining continue to play a key role in the production of parts and products for aerospace applications. Such as better CAM programs, application-specific machine tools, enhanced materials and coatings, and improved chip control and vibration damping - have significantly changed the way aerospace companies manufacture critical aerospace components. However, sophisticated equipment alone is not enough. Manufacturers must have the expertise to overcome the material processing challenges of the aerospace industry.





Material requirements


The manufacture of aerospace parts first requires specific material requirements. These parts typically require high strength, low density, high thermal stability and corrosion resistance to handle extreme operating conditions.

Common aerospace materials include:

1. High strength aluminum alloy

High-strength aluminum alloys are ideal for aircraft structural parts because of their light weight, corrosion resistance and ease of processing. For example, 7075 aluminum alloy is widely used in the manufacture of aerospace parts.

2. titanium alloy

Titanium alloys have excellent strength to weight ratio and are widely used in aircraft engine parts, fuselage components and screws.

3. Superalloy

Superalloys maintain strength and stability at high temperatures and are suitable for engine nozzles, turbine blades and other high-temperature parts.

4. Composite material

Carbon fiber composites perform well in reducing structural weight, increasing strength and reducing corrosion, and are commonly used in the manufacture of casings for aerospace parts and spacecraft components.





What are the process characteristics of aerospace parts processing?


Process planning and design

Process planning and design are required before processing. At this stage, it is necessary to determine the overall processing scheme according to the design requirements of the parts and material characteristics. This includes determining the process of processing, the choice of machine tool equipment, the selection of tools, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out detailed process design, including the determination of cutting profile, cutting depth, cutting speed and other parameters.

Material preparation and cutting process

In the process of aerospace parts processing, the first need to prepare working materials. Usually, the materials used in aviation parts include high-strength alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and so on. After the material preparation is completed, the cutting process is entered.

This step involves the selection of machine tools, such as CNC machine tools, lathes, milling machines, etc., as well as the selection of cutting tools. The cutting process needs to strictly control the feed speed, cutting speed, cutting depth and other parameters of the tool to ensure the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the parts.

Precision machining process

Aerospace components are usually very demanding in terms of size and surface quality, so precision machining is an indispensable step. At this stage, it may be necessary to use high-precision processes such as grinding and EDM. The goal of the precision machining process is to further improve the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of the parts, ensuring their reliability and stability in the aviation field.

Heat treatment

Some aerospace parts may require heat treatment after precision machining. The heat treatment process can improve the hardness, strength and corrosion resistance of the parts. This includes heat treatment methods such as quenching and tempering, which are selected according to the specific requirements of the parts.

Surface coating

In order to improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of aviation parts, surface coating is usually required. Coating materials can include cemented carbide, ceramic coating, etc. Surface coatings can not only improve the performance of parts, but also extend their service life.

Assembly and testing

Do parts assembly and inspection. At this stage, the parts need to be assembled in accordance with the design requirements to ensure the accuracy of the match between the various parts. At the same time, rigorous testing is required, including dimensional testing, surface quality testing, material composition testing, etc., to ensure that parts meet aviation industry standards.





Process characteristics


Strict quality control: The quality control requirements of aviation parts are very strict, and strict testing and control are required at each processing stage of aviation parts to ensure that the quality of parts meets the standards.

High precision requirements: Aerospace components typically require very high accuracy, including dimensional accuracy, shape accuracy and surface quality. Therefore, high-precision machine tools and tools need to be used in the processing process to ensure that the parts meet the design requirements.

Complex structure design: Aviation parts often have complex structures, and it is necessary to use multi-axis CNC machine tools and other equipment to meet the processing needs of complex structures.

High temperature resistance and high strength: aviation parts usually work in harsh environments such as high temperature and high pressure, so it is necessary to choose high temperature resistance and high strength materials, and carry out the corresponding heat treatment process.

Overall, aerospace parts processing is a highly technology-intensive, precision demanding process that requires strict operating processes and advanced processing equipment to ensure that the quality and performance of the final parts can meet the stringent requirements of the aviation sector.





Processing difficulties


Aerospace parts processing is challenging, mainly in the following areas:

Complex geometry

Aerospace parts often have complex geometrics that require high-precision machining to meet design requirements.

Super alloy processing

The processing of superalloys is difficult and requires special tools and processes to handle these hard materials.

Large parts

The parts of the spacecraft are usually very large, requiring large CNC machine tools and special processing equipment.

Quality control

The aerospace industry is extremely demanding on part quality and requires rigorous quality control and inspection to ensure that every part meets the standards.

In aerospace parts processing, precision and reliability are key. A deep understanding and fine control of materials, processes, precision and machining difficulties is the key to manufacturing high-quality aerospace parts.

Long long agoOnce upon a time, people said that the country is an important weaponIt refers to the imperial jade seal handed down by Qin Shihuang on behalf of the heavenly power


Later, it generally refers to the jade seal carved by emperors of all dynastiesOn October 5, 2016, Sotheby's auction house auctioned the Hotan green jade seal "the treasure of the supreme emperor" used by one party after the reign of Emperor Qianlong in Hong Kong for HK $91.48 million. At that time, the auction aroused fierce opposition from many parties in China.Nowadays, the title of national heavy weapon refers to manufacturing equipment
Manufacturing equipment determines the level of processing and manufacturingThe level of processing and manufacturing is an intuitive expression of a country's national strengthHowever, what we are talking about today is only this kind of national manufacturing equipment
CNC machining centerIt can not only process and manufacture precision workpieces full of mechanical beautyCNC itself is also an exquisite and elegant industrial creation
(just a little loud)DMG GM 16|6 series six axis automatic turning centerThat's so bad
What can this CNC machining center do?Let's say soIt is known as the top industrial manufacture with the highest difficulty in R & D and manufacturing
Which can best reflect the highest level of industrial development of a countryTurbofan engineIt is polished with CNC bit by bit
As for various high-precision metal partsThere are too many to enumerateThere are turning, boring and milling, grinding and grooving
There are punching, gear shaper and testingThe tools that appear are not completely duplicatedA large CNC machining center
CNC can shape the precision and shape of complex workpieces at one time. What you eat is iron, and what you spit out is different work with high precision. However, the time is hundreds of times shorter than before, and the precision yield has been improved exponentially. The most irritating thing is that it also has adaptability and can be updated at any time.For example, in the past, if a master of worm gear wanted to make a good worm, you had to practice it for ten years and eight years. Hey, now if you want to process a completely different part and make a new process, you can sit and drink coffee. All this needs the support of equipment (tools), that is, it depends on how the manufacturing equipment of this manufacturing equipment plays with the equipmentCNC equipment: all kinds of machining tools
A CNC machining centerBe responsible for tool storage and tool change equipmentIt is called tool holder, also known as tool magazine
We all know the English word: tool magazine(in fact, the original meaning of the word magazine comes from the warehouse)To improve the working ability of CNC
In addition to pursuing more precise controlIt is also necessary to increase the capacity of the tool magazine and speed up the efficiency of tool changeThere are many ways to achieve this
According to the number of tools stored in the tool magazine and the tool taking methodCan be divided into different typesThe common ones are linear type, hat type, disc type, chain type magazine and so on
The power turret should be regarded as the smallest and most portable CNC tool magazineThe utility model is composed of a rotary cutter head and a box bodyA motor is installed in the box
The motor rotor is connected to the central shaft of the NC machine toolThe stator is fixed on the box for tool changeDMG BMT power turret with motor
A CNC machining center can install multiple power turretsThe upgraded version of the power turret is a hat type magazineIt is similar to the integration of turret and spindle head
It is a hat type tool magazine that automatically changes tools by moving the spindle up and downWhen the tool on the spindle enters the clamping slot of the hat magazineThe spindle moves up out of the tool
At the same time, the magazine rotates rapidlyWhen the tool to be replaced is aligned below the spindleThe spindle moves down so that the tool enters the spindle taper hole
After clamping the tool, the magazine returns to its original positionThe tool position of hat magazine is still limited (generally 16 34 tool positions)And it's always up and down
It takes up a lot of time and is not efficientIt also affects the working stroke of the spindleHowever, for a universal manufacturing equipment
It is not enough to add several independent tool holdersAfter all, a high-precision CNC machining center needs to coverLathe worker, milling worker, grinder worker, line drawing worker, heat treatment and other links
If you want to finish so much work at one timeDon't hide hundreds of knives with you. I'm sorry to leave the factory, okay!For CNC machining center
Linear magazine and chain magazine are its armed beltsChain magazineLarge CNC machining centers often need to carry hundreds of tools
If you don't agree, you have to take out dozens or hundreds of fancy tools to connect ironChain magazine of traditional armed belt typeStill not all competent
So there is a large combined extended automatic tool changing chain tool magazine(does such a long name seem particularly corrupt?)It is also called central warehouse tool magazine
The motor drives the winding chain at high speedQuickly send the required tool to the specified positionThen it is taken out by the mechanical arm and sent to the main shaft
Exchange positions with the tools that have been removed at the same timeTo save tool change timeWheel magazine of DMG mori
The disc magazine has been developed to the extremeThe cutter bases are evenly arranged around the huge hollow runnerOne cutter wheel can hold 40 60 cutters
In the assembly workshop of DMG moriYou can see the spectacular installation process of five or even six layer cutter wheelsOriginal title: the beauty of tool magazine: the arsenal of CNC machining center
The source of the article: official account of WeChat: motor technology and application] welcome to add attention! Please indicate the source of the article.

1. Fault phenomenonWhen changing the knife, the manipulator is stuck and cannot change the knife. The position of the manipulator for changing the knife is offset, and the knife is changed.2 fault analysis and treatment


2.1 tool change principleThe machining center is a rotary tool magazine, and the tool change mechanism is cam type. The tool change process is as follows:(1) Write m06t01 to start the tool change and tool selection cycle.
(2) The spindle will stop at the oriented spindle stop point, the coolant stops, and the z-axis moves to the tool change position (second reference point).(3) Select the tool. After NC compiles it to PLC according to the t command, start selecting the tool. The tool magazine motor rotates and rotates the target tool number to the tool change point of the tool magazine. Note that the t command is the tool sleeve position of the tool magazine at this time.(4) The tool change motor drives the cam mechanism to rotate 90 from the parking position to grasp the tool in the effective tool sleeve and the tool in the spindle. At the same time, detect the change of the proximity switch state of the cam mechanism, the PMC output sends out the tool loosening command, the tool magazine tool sleeve tool loosening and the spindle tool loosening solenoid valve are powered on, the cam continues to rotate, drive the manipulator down, push down the tool handle and prepare for exchange. As shown in Figure 1.
(5) The manipulator rotates 180 to exchange the tool, the cam continues to move upward, install the tool into the spindle, and install the tool on the original spindle into the tool sleeve at the tool change position of the tool magazine. At the same time, the detection switch sends a tool tightening command to PMC, the solenoid valve loses power, the shaft tool handle is clamped, the butterfly spring retracts, and the spindle tool is clamped.(6) Change to the manipulator, continue to rotate 90 , and stop completing a set of tool change actions.2.2 fault analysis
Change the tool to the fourth step of 2.1. The tool change manipulator is stuck, and the spindle has been loosened for blowing, but the tool cannot be pulled out. Cut off the power and manually turn the tool change motor. After completing a tool change action, manually load and unload the tool, the action is normal, and the problems of spindle tightening tool are preliminarily eliminated. When the tool change process is performed again, the manipulator gets stuck and the manipulator claw at the tool magazine falls off. After the tool change is found, the manipulator installs the tool on the spindle and the position is offset, as shown in Figure 2.
After the tool is removed, it is found that the action is normal. The reason for this situation may be the offset between the manipulator and the spindle, or the deviation of the accuracy of the manipulator axis relative to the spindle axis, and the inaccurate positioning of the spindle will also lead to the offset of the tool change position. Implement the tool change action step by step, check the accurate positioning of the spindle, and eliminate the fault caused by inaccurate positioning. According to the table, the mechanicalThe axial position and rotation center distance of hand, knife sleeve and spindle are consistent, so the fault of mechanical jamming of mechanical mobile phone is also eliminated.
Recently, this machine tool mainly processes stainless steel and other material workpieces, with large cutting volume and heavy load. It runs under re cutting for a long time. It is found that the manipulator is not loose and the telescopic action of the manipulator claw is flexible. However, it is found that the adjustment block on the manipulator is worn. It is disassembled and observed that the adjustment block is mainly used to clamp the tool handle. After re repair and processing, try again, The offset disappears at the spindle position. The main cause of this fault is the large impact of the manipulator and frequent tool change, resulting in the loosening and wear of the clamping claw, as shown in Figure 3.

Keeping your manufacturing and operational cost the minimum is the key to sustain in high competitive market and stay profit making. Equally, you've to supply your customers with the finest quality products that can challenge your rivals. Managing all these prerequisites is really challenging for small to big businesses today, and this is where most manufacturing units think of outsourcing CNC machining services from specialist shops. Being in manufacturing or fabrication business with great clientele counting aerospace, mining, defense, shipping, engineering and others, outsourcing your day to day CNC machining necessities generates a solid business prospect. When you're focused on different business and require CNC machined parts as a part of your manufacturing need, it doesn't make sense to owning a CNC machine with huge investment or hire expertise; instead, think of hiring CNC machining services, the way the business world thinks today. Why Outsource CNC Machines Services? Accessing Expertise The biggest benefit of outsourcing CNC machining services that inspires MNCs to SMEs is its easy access to expertise with no special investment for machineries or manpower. Contextually, here you're basically tapping and incorporating the know-how of a CNC machining shop in your supplies to make them superior. The machining shop uses the sophisticated series of CNC or Computer Numerical Control which can manipulate everything like milling, lathing, drilling, pressing, or finishing with the help of computerized system ensuring accuracy, speed, and uniformity of product finishes. Outsourcing expert services, thus, ensures you to execute supplies exactly as per the specs your customers require. Upholding Accuracy and Speed Maintaining absolute accuracy has been crucial to keep your customers satisfied since most industries today cannot even spare even a negligible error, which is obvious with human labors. CNC is designed to continue accuracy level by .99999 % once the design and program is fed into computer by a skilled CNC technician. Minimal fault during production means no wastage while you can cater any volume of supply and within the delivery schedule to your customers prepared with your CNC machining services. Reduced Labor Cost and Peaceful Production With CNC machining services, you don't have to depend on manual labor oriented companies or employ indoor labors. First of all, this helps you save a lot on labor cost while you get complete finishing solution including shearing, welding, framing, cutting or punching holes expending minimum on fabrication. Those who are still depended on manual labors know; how challenging it is to maintaining customer services with issues like labors on leave, sick, on vacation or labor disputes etc. No denying, your clients are least bothered about your labor issues and wants their deliveries on time with best finishes. Versatility with Increased Market All you need from your specialist CNC machining services is precision components as per your clients need. The biggest benefit of working with a CNC machine shop is they are masters to dispense any kind of sheet metal, fiber, or plastic finishes irrespective of how complex is the shape or design and amount of your order. Since everything is done by CNC machines, once the specs of your order is programmed and fed, the job is virtually finished. With increased versatility and capability , you can go ahead with new market possibilities.