Aluminum CNC milling: material handling features

Recently, aluminum milling has become popular. On CNC machines, such metal processing is most cost-effective. Automatic cycle of work makes it possible to produce products in a larger volume at high quality. The exact dimensions of the parts are often not obtained in other ways.

What is the basis for choosing the material for processing?

Aluminum milling on homemade CNC is used to produce small batches of unique parts. The metal is valued for its properties and cheap. The main advantages of aluminum include its strength at low weight, as well as absolute resistance to corrosion. This material has low thermal conductivity, which makes it possible to use it in shipbuilding.

Aluminum CNC milling in Moscow is carried out at factories that manufacture parts for space, aviation, and military industries. Due to the development of machine-tool construction, there was a noticeable reduction in the cost of CNC systems. In recent years, affordable compact models have appeared, which every car workshop can afford.

Aluminum milling on the hobby CNC (4 axes) helps to get rare spare parts, the cost of which exceeds the cost of the machine itself and the material.

Advantages of working on automated cutting machines

Quality milling of aluminum on CNC machines is obtained due to the advanced processing technology. The process of improving the equipment does not stand still, but already at the moment there are a large number of proven models for home workshops, industrial facilities, and manufacturers can offer unique models.

Aluminum CNC milling, of course, requires skills in working with industrial equipment and knowledge in the field of metalworking. But the labor costs for studying complex SCADA applications are reduced. The process of creating codes from drawings passes directly on the screen of the machine by specifying the coordinates and dimensions of the part, as well as the direction of movement of the tool.

Trust is only automatic processing

The tracking system does not give a chance of an error in the geometry of the future product. A simple principle of converting the created program and its verification in the simulation mode helps to determine in advance the direction of movement of the mill and avoid an error. Due to this sequence, the production time of the part is reduced and the material is saved. The last moment is important with a limited batch of blanks made of aluminum.

Aluminum milling on CNC machines is reliable, and the manufacturer gives a guarantee of delivery of products on time. Without fear, he can provide his own workpiece, which already has the processed parts. With the built-in SCADA system, you can instantly transfer all sizes and areas to the machine's memory. The probability of error of the operator is much less than when processed by the usual method.

Disadvantages of conventional processing

The surface of the part is ideal if CNC milling of aluminum is used. Novosibirsk, for example, has many enterprises working in the old-fashioned way. But the products manufactured differ markedly in quality. The cutter has the property of leaving scuffing and unevenness on the surface due to non-observance of the synchronism of the rotating part and longitudinal movement. All this is excluded on modern equipment.

Synchronization of the milling movements is carried out by advanced applications. Speed and direction are selected in such a way that the time for performing similar operations is reduced by the usual method. The surface is perfectly smooth, without scratches and scoring. Accordingly, the load on the tool and part decreases, wear of the rubbing parts decreases.

The latest development in the field of fastening parts is a vacuum table. Aluminum is damaged fairly quickly due to mechanical stresses. The retention of hull and thin-walled products is carried out according to the type of sucker. At the same time, the compressor also absorbs part of the coolant, which returns to the machine through the drain channels.

Additional benefits

Modern CNC machines use electronic knots to measure the length of the tool. The control is carried out periodically in the process of automatic cutting, which can significantly reduce the amount of spoiled blanks when a substandard tool breaks from overheating. An automatic tool binding node can also be installed to help you instantly recalculate the workpiece coordinate system relative to the cutting edge.

Electronic nodes are often used to control the size of the surfaces obtained. So, the operator can make corrections in time and observe technological accuracy. Before carrying out the measurements and the cutting process, it is also recommended to carry out the balancing of the tool, which is also easy to do with the use of electronic probes. Common systems are: Renishaw, Heindenhain.

On which machines are the instrument calibration systems installed?

Manufacturer Heidenhain produces its own systems, similar to the Renishaw sensors. However, the latter company is the most popular, and machine-builders choose this system due to the ease of its adjustment and the replacement of spare parts. The latest developments are non-contact measurement sensors.

Renishaw is used in every machine of the Korean company Hyundai Wia. For each instrument, a probe sensitive to micron motions is used. In lathes, the milling cutter is controlled by a Q-setter, made on an automatic drive or manually.

All these advantages of CNC machines help to speed up the process of technology, to exclude product marriages. The quality of the received parts increases along with their quantity, which is difficult to achieve without having modern equipment.