Metals are widely used in the processing of mechanical parts. Not only steel, aluminum and copper, but also titanium and many kinds of steel and copper alloys that make modern life possible. With the development of complex metals and alloys, complex surgical equipment and permanent implantation into the human body have become possible.
The surprising thing about metals is not how much metal we have today, but that it took us thousands of years to surpass the basic knowledge of bronze and iron. For example, the first batch of steel was produced in India in 400 BC, but it was not until the middle of the 19th century that a commercial method of producing steel was developed. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that steel production became a solid stone for global industry. Nowadays, steel production has become an exquisite art. Because of its unique properties in specific applications, many different grades and varieties are used.
When people are in the process of machining mechanical parts, the choice of materials also becomes very important. The properties of parts processed by different metal materials are also different, and through the understanding of materials, they can make better choices in order to obtain what they want. Mechanical parts processing.
Mechanical parts processing, parts processing
Next, let us understand the nature of the metal materials selected for machining parts:
1. Copper. Copper was one of the first metals discovered in 9000 BC. It is a strong, formable metal with good electrical and thermal conductivity. It also has anti-rust and other corrosion effects. Copper plays an important role in modern society, bringing heat and clean water into our houses and buildings. Copper is used in CNC machining of valves, hydraulic tubing, radiators, cooling systems and heat exchangers.
2. Bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. We don't know the exact time of discovery, but it was used by the ancient Sumerians as early as 3500 BC. Bronze is a strong, hard metal that is resistant to wear and corrosion. Bronze is often used for bearings, bushes, screws, threaded parts and electrical connectors in the machining of mechanical parts.
3. Iron. Iron is the king of metals. The discovery and use of iron changed world history. This is why we divide ancient history into the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Iron was discovered in 1500 BC and was used almost immediately to make weapons and tools. Although iron is not used in CNC machining, this is important because eventually iron will be purified to make steel, a metal alloy that makes the modern world possible.
4. Stainless steel. In the last decades of the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie put American steel on the map, but the most important development of modern machining was in 1919, when Harry Brearley (Harry Brearley) ) Discovery of stainless steel-low carbon steel with chromium, which makes it corrosion resistant. From screws to aircraft parts, stainless steel has everything. The ease of cleaning and strength-to-weight ratio of stainless steel make it the first choice for many medical applications. Stainless steel and its alloys are used in the processing of mechanical parts to manufacture for the aerospace and automotive industries, surgical equipment and medical implants, and any parts that require corrosion resistance and strength.
5. Titanium. Titanium was discovered in 1791 AD. It is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and high-strength metal. It is used in aerospace, medical, military and sporting goods after processing mechanical parts. It is particularly useful for medical implants because it does not cause a negative immune response to the human body. In the past ten years, continuous improvements have made the processing of titanium easier, but it still requires experience, skills and the right equipment. As the aviation industry grows from aluminum to titanium, the skill level of CNC machining workshops will become an important factor in the success of aircraft manufacturers.
6. Aluminum. Aluminum weighs one-third of steel and is the most common metal in the earth's crust. Aluminum is cheap, durable, malleable, and 100% recyclable. After being discovered in the mid-19th century, it quickly became the metal of choice in the transportation, construction and defense industries. Aluminum is used in CNC machining of machine parts to make housings, shafts, worm gears and medical equipment.
After solving the old manufacturing challenges, new challenges seem to have replaced them. In order to meet these industrial challenges, metallurgists are constantly experimenting with new alloys and seeking stronger, lighter, and cheaper compounds.