Supplier of millable aluminum? - Page 2 - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Sceadwian · 6th July 2008, 09:12 PM

Wet sanding and then jewelers rouge work well, if you want real shine get it chrome plated afterwards, we could probably spend the next 50 years discussing methods for machining material for a good shine afterwards but if you tell us what you're building and for what purpose those suggestions might actually benefit you instead of just a general discussion on machining and surface finishing.

**Nigel Goodwin** · 6th July 2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3v0

Hi, I'm 3Vo's significant other.

I studied mechanical and industrial engineering and was trained to be a machinist.

The part when designed will have a specified 'surface finish', that is specified in 'microinches' by the designer. The smaller that number, the smoother the surface will be finished to. The machinist will produce the part to the size, shape, and within the tolerances specified by the designer (engineer) including SURFACE FINISH. The 'smoother' the finish, the more work it takes on the shop floor. So usually only as flat and "shiny" a finish as will suffice will be specified because of the additional work involved to get a flatter smoother finish. Which adds to the cost of manufacturing that part.

Nice to hear from you 'Mrs' 3V0

I know a guy who did CNC machining, manufacturing jet engine parts for Rolls Royce - as you say, surface finish, tolerances etc. are all specified in the contract. As you can imagine, the requirements for Rolls Royce were VERY strict. The guy was called Martin, and they put him on quality control one day - he failed every single component, each of which was between £12,000 and £20,000

I can't remember what metal he used now?, it was a special light and strong alloy containing titanium - but it was expensive.

Sceadwian · 6th July 2008, 11:10 PM

Probably titanium aluminum alloy, a quick google showed they also throw in a pinch of tin molybdenum and even silicon for high strength alloys, I bet it's a bitch to machine. Traditional machining techniques can't keep up with the high stresses and temperatures in modern jet engines, they're moving more to electro chemical machining and other methods for truly high precision work and some nifty new post treatment processes that can make high precision parts so smooth it increases their physical wear properties by 60%
I've seen some processes where the work 'tool' of an electrochemical process is machined to 'standard' tolerances and it's used as the cathode in a electro chemical etching bath to chemically machine the final part to surface finishes the envy of Nasa. At that point though the only inspection tool available is an electron microscope.

Sceadwian · 6th July 2008, 11:11 PM

I still wanna know what Marks is building =)

Marks256 · 7th July 2008, 05:11 AM

I will tell you guy's what i am building when i am good and ready.

I would tell now, but i would like to skip the ridicule and whatnot...

But, if it is any help, my friend and i totally changed the designs, and no longer need to mill out ANY complex parts. A few parts may still have to be milled, but nothing that our CNC couldn't handle.

Total cost of the project SHOULD be less than $4000.

Once we get some designs drawn up, i promise i will reveal the identity of the project.

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6th July 2008, 09:12 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	Wet sanding and then jewelers rouge work well, if you want real shine get it chrome plated afterwards, we could probably spend the next 50 years discussing methods for machining material for a good shine afterwards but if you tell us what you're building and for what purpose those suggestions might actually benefit you instead of just a general discussion on machining and surface finishing. __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

6th July 2008, 11:10 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	Probably titanium aluminum alloy, a quick google showed they also throw in a pinch of tin molybdenum and even silicon for high strength alloys, I bet it's a bitch to machine. Traditional machining techniques can't keep up with the high stresses and temperatures in modern jet engines, they're moving more to electro chemical machining and other methods for truly high precision work and some nifty new post treatment processes that can make high precision parts so smooth it increases their physical wear properties by 60% I've seen some processes where the work 'tool' of an electrochemical process is machined to 'standard' tolerances and it's used as the cathode in a electro chemical etching bath to chemically machine the final part to surface finishes the envy of Nasa. At that point though the only inspection tool available is an electron microscope. __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

6th July 2008, 11:11 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	I still wanna know what Marks is building =) __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

7th July 2008, 05:11 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	I will tell you guy's what i am building when i am good and ready. I would tell now, but i would like to skip the ridicule and whatnot... But, if it is any help, my friend and i totally changed the designs, and no longer need to mill out ANY complex parts. A few parts may still have to be milled, but nothing that our CNC couldn't handle. Total cost of the project SHOULD be less than $4000. Once we get some designs drawn up, i promise i will reveal the identity of the project. __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.