Machining of aluminum and its alloys
Basic information about the machining of aluminum and its alloys
This trend is evident in the number of applications; aluminum parts are made of aluminum materials and castings machined - for instance, the engine blocks, cylinder heads of engines, wheels and more. Closely related to the efforts made by the economic and ecological machining these parts. Aluminum and its alloys, however, when working, particularly drought, is a very problematic material, despite the relatively low mechanical properties [2].
Is due to their high thermal conductivity, strong adhesion to the tendency of most cutting edge materials and low melting temperatures - up to about 650 ° C. Due to the high thermal conductivity when machining large quantities of heat away from the cut into the work piece and the high thermal expansion of aluminum has the effect of thermal deformation of work piece. Due to the low melting temperatures, problems arise with the formation of chips, the levy and gluing on edge, possibly face plate. Gluing problem for machining aluminum standard cutting tools of cemented carbide is well known. The tendency to gluing increases with increasing grain size of tungsten carbide (Wc), the content of cobalt (Co) and the roughness of the surface of the cutting edges and cutting tools [3].
Increase any parameter that is reflected in increased gluing aluminum cutting tool. For instruments with diamond coated by micro polishing as a result of lower roughness reduces the adhesion. Other gluing aluminum limits the application of protective layers with a low coefficient of friction? = 0.1 ÷ 0.2 (e.g. TiB2, MoS2, DLC layer). Similar anti-adhesion effects have also diamond coatings or polycrystalline diamond. Application of these materials is most suitable for machining of aluminum alloys with higher content of silicon (Si) 12% due to low affinity and adhesion of carbon and aluminum and high abrasion resistance of diamond.
Related links: