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Machining by Material |
Latva Machine Inc. has extensive experience with many common & rare metals. These metals require precision cnc equipment & an in depth understanding of the characteristics of each. We often advise during the engineering phase based on our experience. Below are some of the metals & their attributes (not a complete dissertation) that we work with often.
Hopefully this information will help you decide what should be used for your project. As always, please call us with any questions: |
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Aluminum
Properties:
Aluminium is a soft, lightweight metal with normally a dull silvery appearance caused by a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when the metal is exposed to air. Aluminium oxide has a higher melting point than pure aluminium. Aluminium is nontoxic (as the metal), nonmagnetic, and nonsparking. It has a tensile strength of about 49 megapascals (MPa) in a pure state and 400 MPa as an alloy. Aluminium is about one-third as dense as steel or copper; it is malleable, ductile, and easily machined and cast. It has excellent corrosion resistance and durability because of the protective oxide layer. Aluminium mirror finish has the highest reflectance of any metal in the 200-400 nm (UV) and the 3000-10000 nm (far IR) regions, while in the 400-700 nm visible range it is slightly outdone by silver and in the 700-3000 (near IR) by silver, gold, and copper. It is the second-most malleable metal (after gold) and the sixth-most ductile. Aluminium is a good heat conductor. |
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Stainless Steel
Properties:
In metallurgy, stainless steel (inox) is defined as a ferrous alloy with a minimum of 10% chromium content.[1] The name originates from the fact that stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel. This material is also called corrosion resistant steel when it is not detailed exactly to its alloy type and grade, particularly in the aviation industry. As such, there are now different and easily accessible grades and surface finishes of stainless steel, to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected to in its lifetime. Common uses of stainless steel are the everyday cutlery and watch straps. Stainless steels have higher resistance to oxidation (rust) and corrosion in many natural and man made environments; however, it is important to select the correct type and grade of stainless steel for the particular application.
High oxidation resistance in air at ambient temperature is normally achieved with additions of a minimum of 13% (by weight) chromium, and up to 26% is used for harsh environments.[2] The chromium forms a passivation layer of chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) when exposed to oxygen. The layer is too thin to be visible, meaning the metal stays shiny. It is, however, impervious to water and air, protecting the metal beneath. Also, when the surface is scratched this layer quickly reforms. This phenomenon is called passivation by materials scientists, and is seen in other metals, such as aluminium. When stainless steel parts such as nuts and bolts are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off causing the parts to weld together. When disassembled, the welded material may be torn and pitted, an effect that is known as galling. Nickel also contributes to passivation, as do other less commonly used ingredients such as molybdenum and vanadium. |
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Properties:
About 95% of titanium production is consumed in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2), an intensely white permanent pigment with good covering power in paints, paper, toothpaste, and plastics. Paints made with titanium dioxide are excellent reflectors of infrared radiation and are therefore used extensively by astronomers and in exterior paints. It is also used in cement, in gemstones, as an optical opacifier in paper (Smook 2002), and a strengthening agent in graphite composite fishing rods and golf clubs. Recently, it has been put to use in air purifiers (as a filter coating), or in film used to coat windows on buildings which when exposed to UV light (either solar or man-made) and moisture in the air produces reactive redox species like hydroxyl radicals that can purify the air or keep window surfaces clean.
Because of its high tensile strength (even at high temperatures), light weight, extraordinary corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extreme temperatures, titanium alloys are used in aircraft, armour plating, naval ships, spacecraft, and missiles. It is used in steel alloys to reduce grain size and as a deoxidizer, and in stainless steel to reduce carbon content. Titanium is often alloyed with aluminium (to refine grain size), vanadium, copper (to harden), iron, manganese, molybdenum, and with other metals.
Welded titanium pipe is used in the chemical industry for its corrosion resistance and is seeing growing use in petroleum drilling, especially offshore, for its strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance. |
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Inconel®
Properties:
Inconel alloys possess several properties making them well suited for service in extreme environments. Inconel is very resistant to oxidation and corrosion. When heated, inconel forms a thick, stable, passivating oxide layer, protecting it from further attack.
Inconel retains strength over a wide range of temperatures. This makes it particularly attractive in high temperature applications where aluminum and steel would "soften". Inconel's high temperature strength is attained by solid solution strengthening or precipitation strengthening (depending on the alloy). In precipitation strengthening varieties, small amounts of columbium (niobium) combine with nickel to form the intermetallic compound Ni3Nb or gamma prime (γ'). Gamma prime forms small cubic crystals that inhibit slip and creep very efficiently at elevated temperatures.
Inconel is a difficult metal to shape using traditional techniques. It work hardens very quickly making it impossible to tap or thread with a die. External threads are machined using a lathe to "single point" the threads, or by rolling the threads using a screw machine. Holes with interal threads are made by welding or brazing threaded inserts made of stainless steel.
Welding inconel alloys may also prove difficult due to cracking and microstructural segregation of alloying elements in the heat affected zone. However, several alloys have be designed to overcome these problems. |
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Monel®
Properties:
Monel is a trademark comprising a series of rustless (stainless) metal alloys, primarily composed of nickel (up to 67%) and copper, with some iron and other trace elements. It is resistant to corrosion and acids, and some alloys can withstand a fire in pure oxygen. It is commonly used in applications with highly corrosive conditions. Small additions of aluminum and titanium form an alloy with the same corrosion resistance, but with very high strength.
Monel is used as the material for valve pistons in some higher quality trumpets, e.g., Bach Stradivarius. It is also often used for kitchen sinks and in the frames of eyeglasses. Its corrosion resistant characteristic makes it ideal for marine applications such as piping systems, pump impellers, trolling wire, and strainer baskets. Some alloys are completely non-magnetic and are used for anchor cable aboard minesweepers, housing magnetic field measurement equipment, and have applications in the oil drilling industry. Monel is typically much more expensive than stainless steel.
Monel is very hard to machine as it work hardens instantly with heat and does not harden it. |
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Hastealloy
Properties:
nto a co Hastelloy is the registered trademark name of Haynes International, Inc. The trademark is applied as the prefix name of a range of over twenty different highly corrosion resistant metal alloys loosely grouped by the metallurgical industry under the material term “superalloys” or “high performance alloys”. |
Examples of Hastelloy alloys are: |
- Hastelloy A
- Hastelloy B
- Hastelloy B2
- Hastelloy B3
- Hastelloy C
- Hastelloy C4
- Hastelloy C22
- Hastelloy C2000
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- Hastelloy C263
- Hastelloy C276
- Hastelloy D
- Hastelloy G
- Hastelloy G2
- Hastelloy G3
- Hastelloy G30
- Hastelloy G50
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- Hastelloy H9M
- Hastelloy N
- Hastelloy R235
- Hastelloy S
- Hastelloy W
- Hastelloy X
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The predominant alloying ingredient is typically the transition metal nickel. Other alloying ingredients are added to nickel in each of the sub categories of this trademark designation and include varying percentages of the elements molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, iron, copper, manganese, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, carbon, and tungsten.
The primary function of the Hastelloy super alloys is that of effective survival under high temperature, high stress service in a moderately to severely corrosive, and/or erosion prone environment where more common and less expensive iron based alloys would fail - including the vessels of some nuclear reactors, chemical reactors, and pipes and valves in chemical industry.
We also work with various plastic composites that we would love to guide you through to see which one best fits your needs.
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