Many factors affect which materiales para CNC are best for a specific project. For example, the technical requirements to manufacture space shuttle engine components are far more demanding than those for constructing high-performance recreational equipment.
Consider the factors below and how they might affect your scenario before choosing the best material for your project.
Purpose
Use the purpose of the component to shortlist possible materials you can use for it. For example, to make toys, you should avoid using metal materials. Manufacturing insulation-related components r needs a material with low conductivity.
Indoors vs. Outdoors
A component for outdoor use must be resistant to UV rays, rain, and other weather elements. Such parts require durable material properties and a robust design. In contrast, an indoor component has no exposure to extreme environmental conditions, so a more extensive range of suitable materials is available.
Stress Load
Many manufacturers forget to account for the load-bearing stress on the part, leading to complete part failure. A component or part that must handle high-stress loading requires strong materials with good mechanical properties and superior dimensional stability, such as metals, alloys, or high-strength plastic materials.
Dimensional Tolerance
Every material has a dimensional tolerance that affects the overall accuracy of the manufactured part. In many cases, dimensional tolerance might not be a critical factor, but applications such as medical equipment require precision parts. Tolerance comes at a price, so if a project requires extremely low tolerances, you will need specialized cutting tools on the CNC machine.
Using a material with suitable dimensional tolerance initially is cheaper than having to pay to resize the part later.
Mecanibilidad
Materials with high strength and hardness might seem ideal but often take longer to machine and cause more wear and tear on cutting tools. The benefits of choosing materials with good machinability results are faster production and minimum maintenance.
Fastening
CNC machining often creates parts that form more complex components in a later assembly incorporating fasteners. The fastening measures are in the initial CNC design. But not every CNC material supports fastening, and specific properties such as galvanic corrosion resistance can be important for some fastening cases. So, choose a material that supports the specific fastening requirements.
Temperature Range
Temperature Range
Consider the operating temperature range for the final product and its environmental conditions. The material must handle the required operating temperature and any expected thermal changes. Many materials expand due to temperature variations. For example, some plastic materials can handle typical operating temperatures but break down or warp when temperatures change too frequently.
CNC machining processes like CNC milling use cutting tools that generate heat. This heat transfers to the component material. Ensure the material you choose can handle the increased temperatures during the CNC machining process without distortion.
Resistencia Química
Chemical resistance is just as important as resistance to high temperatures. For example, a CNC machined component destined for use in a chemically reactive environment such as a lab or research facility needs to be chemically resistant. Using metal materials in an acidic environment is never a good idea.
Resistencia a la corrosión
For high-humidity environmental conditions, focus on the corrosion resistance characteristics of the material. Materials with poor corrosion resistance can rust and degrade quickly. Does the project require high-strength metals for a high-humidity working environment? Try corrosion-resistant alloys.
Weight Capacity
The weight of the material and its weight-bearing capacity are critical factors for most projects. In cases where the part will support heavy weight, you must choose a sufficiently strong material. These materials are typically heavier in weight themselves. Is the part’s weight a critical concern? Then a high strength-to-weight ratio material is the best option.
Durability and Strength
A robust manufacturing process is vital so that the part will last for its intended lifespan. So, evaluate the strength and durability requirements of the application and choose a material that meets those characteristics. Consider the factors below:
Tensile Strength: The tension a material can handle before breaking down.
Wear Resistance: The degree of resistance against abrasion or natural wear and tear during its lifespan.
Endurance Strength: How much stress an object can absorb. An impact-resistant material has high endurance strength.
Acabado de superficie
When aesthetics are a concern, choose a material that provides a high-quality surface finish. For example, a metal surface can be treated for a smooth glossy, or matte surface finish. The same is not the case for many plastic-based materials.
Raw Material Cost
Lastly, the cost is a deciding factor in choosing the best material for CNC machining. Do you have a limited project budget? Go for plastics or ceramics. Metals and their alloys have exceptional physical properties but are expensive CNC materials.
What are the Different Material Options for a CNC Machining Project?
CNC materials fall into basic classes: metals, plastics, woods, foams, ceramics, and composites. Below is a list of the different classes with examples of CNC materials in each.
Metales
Metal parts provide the best precision and ruggedness of all CNC machining materials. However, they come at a high cost and with vulnerabilities such as corrosion in humidity. Metal alloys eliminate most of these vulnerabilities quite well. Common metals and their alloys used in metal CNC machining include:
Aluminio
Aluminum and aluminum alloys are the most common materials used in CNC machining projects. Aluminum is known for its superb strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum parts are lightweight but can handle high stress. It has excellent machinability and low raw material costs, so aluminum is more popular for cheap mass-production projects than other metals. Different types of aluminum alloys used in CNC milling include:
Aluminum 6061
Aluminum 7075
Aluminum 6082
Aluminum 5083
Applications of CNC machined aluminium:
Consumer electronics
Medical devices
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Acero
Acero
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Stainless steel
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Componentes de aeronaves
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Acero Inoxidable
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Acero inoxidable 304
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Herramientas
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Latón
Latón
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Válvulas
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Titanio
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Joyería
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Cobre
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Applications of copper for CNC machining are:
Válvulas
Electrical connectors
Radiators
Insulation components
Heat exchangers
Other Metals and Alloys
Besides these common materials for CNC machining, some other metals and alloys can find fewer applications. These include:
Bronce
Zinc
Magnesio
Molibdeno
Tungsten
Kovar
Invar
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Hastelloy
Plásticos
Although metals have good physical properties, they can be expensive to mass-produce parts. For large-volume production, plastics tend to be cheaper. Many plastic resin compounds offer sufficient strength and other physical properties to make them ideal replacements for metals.
Common plastics used in CNC machining:
Acrilonitrilo Butadieno Estireno (ABS)
ABS is one of the most common forms of plastic used in CNC machining. It is a thermoplastic with good physical properties. It is also very easy to machine. ABS performs well across a wide temperature range compared to many other plastics. The cost of ABS raw materials is low, making it cheap for large-scale production.
Common applications of ABS:
Pipes
Fittings
Vacuum components
Keyboard keys
Electronics housing
Los prototipos
3D building
Thermoplastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is another plastic extensively used in CNC machining. Its standout qualities include its sturdiness and chemical, corrosion, and fire resistance. It is cheap to use, making it a suitable material for limited-budget projects.
Applications of PVC:
Pipes
Medical device manufacturing
Electronics housing
Insulation
Automotive industry interiors
Footwear
Seat coverings
Acetal- Delrin (POM)
Polyoxymethylene is commonly known as acetal, polyacetal, Delrin, or POM. It is a thermoplastic material that provides high dimensional stability and low friction. It is an excellent choice for mass-produced precision parts using CNC machining and injection molding.
Some common applications of CNC machining for Delrin:
Toys
Sports gear
Mechanical parts like screws, chains, gears, etc.
Small scale models
Medical equipment
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Acrílico (PMMA)
Polymethyl Methacrylate, known as PMMA or Acrylic PMMA, is a common thermoplastic material. It is visually transparent, giving it the name Acrylic Glass. Several trademarked brands like Plexiglass, Lucite, and Perspex use this material. It has high flexural and tensile strength, UV tolerance, and abrasion resistance.
Applications of acrylic for CNC machining:
LED lights
Architecture
Electrónica
Industrial applications
Automotive lighting parts
Policarbonato (PC)
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Insulation components
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capacidades de impresión 3D
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Electrodos
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Polipropileno (PP)
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Aplicaciones:
Pipes
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Nylon
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Aplicaciones:
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Toothbrushes
String trimmers
Other Plastics
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has a high level of resistance to corrosive substances and a high melting point, making it a popular material for machining parts and various other projects.
Other plastics that can be CNC machined are:
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
Polyetherimide – Ultem (PEI)
Phenolics (Bakelite)
Woods
Woods
Woods such as plywood and solid wood used to be popular in CNC machining. However, environmental, availability and cost factors have shifted the focus to metals and plastics. Despite this change, wood is still a popular CNC machining material in some industries.
Aplicaciones:
Furniture frames
Carvings
Legs for tables, chairs, and beds
Decoration pieces
Foams
CNC machining material selection is not limited to hard materials. Even softer substances like rigid and carving foams are excellent materials for CNC machining in industrial applications.
Applications of CNC foam machining:
Packaging elements
Insulations
Decor items
Props
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics are aesthetically beautiful, and their physical properties make them ideal for various applications. They are good insulators against heat and electricity and have high compressive endurance.
Applications for ceramic CNC machining:
Decor pieces
Insulator elements
Jewelry pieces
Electrical component housing
Compuestos
Composites, such as FRP, have become common nowadays for their exceptional mechanical properties, ability to withstand pinpoint surface loads, tensile strength, and many other factors. They are the best materials if the job requires a robust, durable, low-cost solution.
Aplicaciones:
Decor pieces like fountains
Glass replacement
Aerospace applications like radar and antenna
Aircraft industry parts
Sports
Wind turbine blades
Tips for Optimizing Material Selection for CNC Machining
So, how can you improve the material selection process and add more value to your project?
Go Beyond Metals
Many manufacturers immediately look at metals when thinking of a CNC machining project. In recent years, non-metallic materials have provided better value for money by offering similar physical properties to metals at a lower cost. They are also easier to machine.
Choosing the Right Material Grades
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Conclusión
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