machined aluminium

[Laser Ben]

What kind of cutters do you use? I typically use 3 flute with very steep rake for machining aluminum. Works fine for the aluminum we have!

[p1t8ull]

Like Ben said, 6061 is a good choice, 7075 is better but it is going to be much more expensive. I do disagree about the machining though. 6061 is usually a lot gummier to machine. I find 7075 as well as 2000 series to machine better. But 6061 is no big deal at all and is cheap and plentiful.

chad

I was talking about machining 6082 which is a higher strength, harder alloy than the less common (in the UK at least) 6061 and is ideal for machining.
The 7000 series is quite a bit more expensive but nice to work with, especially tap... oooh alloy porn

[soforene]

...oooh alloy porn

I was gonna say that this kind of phrase will attract the wrong kind of people to the forum being as it would be the only hit in a search engine.
But I was wrong.

There are some sick puppies out there !

You know you are gonna google it ..........

[Onge]

What kind of cutters do you use? I typically use 3 flute with very steep rake for machining aluminum. Works fine for the aluminum we have!

I don't it's cut on a Laser

Onge

[Laser Ben]

You can't get 6061 in the UK!?!? Ouch!

[chad]

Hi Ben. I use 3 flute, 2 flute, insert, carbide-usually high helix.
It's all ball bearings these days.

6061 is easy, but you do have to pay a little more attention when cnc turning. You can end up with a wad pretty fast. The other alloys chip better and are not as stringy, that's all.

I live in Denver and there is a place call alreco aluminum supply. They have lots of every size shape and kind of AL. At least a hundred thousand pounds of the stuff. He has millions of dollars of the stuff laying around. Totally amazing.

chad

[Laser Ben]

I get most of my aluminum for free from a local college. They have an amazing CNC shop with over 30 Haas CNC Mills and Lathes, all new in the past few years. They also have enough Bridgeport mills and lathes for every one of the 50 students to use both at the same time! They have a huge store house of aluminum that was donated to the school during the .com boom.