Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Aluminium grade

forumtvm wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Did my homework. Searched for aluminium grade, found nothing.
>
>My question: What grade aluminium to use for making fixture (for cnc
>machines)?
>
>Reason for asking: got some aluminium from supplier - 6061. Was told
>that there were 2 grade, and there was another cheaper grade. So I
>assume 6061 would be harder.
>
>However machining shop told me the aluminium I got was softer than
>the one he normally get from his supplier but could not tell me what
>grade. So what grade of aluminium should one get for making fittings
>for home-brewed cnc machines?
>
>

Fixtures are usually made of cast aluminum. Most aluminum plate and
sheet are
wrought (ie. rolled) aluminum, which has some more desirable properties, but
is not as stiff as cast. Our shop uses something they call tooling
plate, which is
Blancard-ground cast aluminum. I have no idea if it has a 4-digit alloy
number.

Jon