CNC Machining Can Be Used For The Machining Of What Materials

CNC machining is very diverse in the selection of materials, and most of the metals, plastics, etc., can be processed using CNC technology. Therefore, before processing, it is necessary to understand the characteristics, cost and application time of different materials before finding suitable processing materials for the product. Let us take you from the vast sea of materials to choose the right CNC machining materials for you.

 

1. Metal
Aluminum
Aluminum's light weight, high strength, high hardness, high thermal resistance, good conductivity, corrosion resistance, non-magnetic properties, etc., coupled with easy manufacturing and low cost, make aluminum an affordable material option for making customized products or samples. Good thermal conductivity allows aluminum to be often used as a heat dissipation material.
Aluminum is a commonly used metal in industry, and many industrial parts cutting require the assistance of CNC machining technology. CNC machined aluminum alloy is very light in weight and is suitable for use in transportation, 3C home appliances, construction, food packaging, sports equipment, machinery hardware and other industries that require weight.

 

Stainless steel
Stainless steel is an alloy steel made from the combination of several metals in different proportions. It mainly contains carbon, iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and other metals, of which the proportion of chromium must be greater than 10.5% to be called stainless steel. The anti-oxidation properties of chromium can prevent iron from rusting, nickel can resist acid and alkali, manganese can reduce processing costs, and molybdenum has high hardness and strength, and is more corrosion-resistant, but the relative cost is also high.
Stainless steel has high strength, high ductility, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and is easy to weld, easy to process, and easy to polish. Different proportions of stainless steel have different characteristics and uses. Therefore, before choosing the material to be processed, it is necessary to understand the characteristics and applicable occasions of the different numbers of stainless steel.
Stainless steel CNC machining is mainly used in medical, food, beverage, aerospace and other products with high-strength requirements for parts. Different grades of stainless steel materials have different uses in the industry, so before CNC machining, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of each material in order to select the suitable type of stainless steel.

 

Mild steel
Mild steel, also known as mild steel, refers to steel with a carbon content of less than 0.25%. Compared with general materials, mild steel has low strength and hardness. Strong ductility, low tensile strength, wear resistance, coupled with low cost, easy processing and welding, make mild steel widely used. Using CNC machining technology, mild steel can be used in industry for mechanical parts, steel bars, chains, rivets, bolts, iron wires, tinplate, etc., and parts with greater demand for ductility.

 

Brass
Brass is a copper alloy composed of copper and zinc, which is malleable, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, easy to process and conductive, so it is often used in the manufacture of precision instruments and the production of ship-related parts on CNC machined brass. The beautiful golden yellow luster has artistic value, making it often used for musical instruments, craft products, bathroom equipment, etc.

 

2. Plastic materials
Due to its light weight and insulation, plastics are often used in industry for chemical impedance or non-insulating purposes. There are many types of plastic materials, and the following will introduce several plastic materials that are often used in CNC machining, including ABS, PC, POM, Teflon, HDPE, PEEK, etc.

 

ABS
ABS is a material formed by the combination of three compounds of acrylonitrile (Acrylonitrile), butadiene (Butadiene) and styrene (Styrene), which is called ABS in English and "acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene" in Chinese.
ABS combines the material properties of three compounds, which have the characteristics of oil resistance, high stability, toughness, impact resistance, transparency and colorlessness, good fluidity, and low density. In CNC machining, it is often used in electronic and electrical shells, auto parts, mechanical tools, Lego, clothing buttons, cabinets, stationery, safety helmets, battery boxes, etc.

 

PC
Polycarbonate, the full name of polycarbonate, is a kind of plastic material with high toughness, high impact strength (higher than ABS), transparent and colorless, heat resistance, and easy to process and color. In CNC machining, it is often used in CD/VCD discs, bottled water bottles, baby bottles, plastic lenses, bulletproof glass, headlight covers, animal cages, mobile phone shells, etc.

 

POM
POM (Polyoxymethylene), also known as Derlin, is a kind of monoacetal resin, with high tensile strength, impact resistance, strong resistance to gasoline, solvents and other chemicals, with similar physical properties to metal, is the easiest to process among all plastic materials. Derlin is a common CNC machining material, often used in automobiles, home appliances, construction, electronics, hygiene products and other fields. It is also the most suitable material for CNC machining among plastic materials.

 

Teflon
PTEE (Polytetrafluoroethene), commonly known as Teflon, has excellent weather resistance, insulation, wear resistance, non-sticking, and acid and alkali resistance, so it has the reputation of the king of plastics. It is also one of the few plastic materials that can withstand high temperatures of 200°C. Teflon is commonly used in aerospace, medical, food, electronics, petrochemical, coal, automobile, textile, machinery and other applications in CNC machining.

 

HDPE
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) has the characteristics of good resistance to chemical substances, strong toughness, strong elasticity, good weather resistance, etc., and is easy to process, low cost, and can come into contact with food. HDPE is commonly used in CNC machining for outdoor amusement facilities, pipes, cutting boards, gears, bearings, etc.

 

PEEK
Polyetheretherketone PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) has extremely high heat and chemical resistance, and can withstand high temperatures of more than 260°C, which can be used for a long time in harsh environments. Compared with other plastic materials, PEEK has a higher price and is often used in food, medical, biotechnology, aerospace, oil, natural gas and other fields in CNC processing.

 

From metals, plastics, CNC machining is suitable for a wide variety of materials, but also CNC machining technology has become a very important processing technology in the industry, from the production of mechanical materials, to daily processing, CNC machining technology to industrial development and daily life.