Turning and milling aluminium

Aluminium is considered easy to machine – but that very fact is deceptive: surface finish and dimensional accuracy are determined by the details of the alloy, tool and cutting parameters.

The low material resistance permits high cutting speeds and makes aluminium an economical material for turned and milled parts. Its low weight combined with good strength makes it particularly attractive in aerospace, measurement technology and mechanical engineering.

What matters

The correct one alloy selection is the first step – from easily machinable free-cutting alloys to high-strength aerospace alloys, every material behaves differently. Also crucial are a sharp, polished tool geometry against built-up edges as well as coordinated cutting parameters to avoid burrs and achieve the best surfaces.

• alloy-compliant selection of tool and cutting parameters
• Sharp, built-up edge-resistant tool geometries
• High cutting speeds for cost-effective manufacturing
• Clean swarf removal for low-burr, dimensionally accurate components

Precision despite lightness

Aluminium is sensitive to thermal expansion and clamping forces. With thin-walled parts, a well-thought-out clamping strategy and process control are necessary to ensure that tolerances are reliably maintained even after unclamping.