From 6061 to Titanium Alloy: The Cost Traps in CNC Material Selection:
By:
Well Proto Team
On
24/02/2025Summary:
In CNC machining, material selection is a crucial link. It not only directly affects the performance of parts but also is closely related to processing costs. Take 6061 aluminum alloy and titanium alloy as examples. These two materials are widely used in fields such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing, but their processing characteristics and costs are quite different.
6061 aluminum alloy is a common aluminum alloy material with characteristics such as low density, moderate hardness, and high thermal conductivity. These characteristics make it perform well in CNC machining, with low processing difficulty, small tool wear, and high processing efficiency. Moreover, the price of 6061 aluminum alloy is relatively low, making it the preferred material for many cost - sensitive projects.
In contrast, titanium alloy has higher strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance, but its processing difficulty is also greatly increased. Titanium alloy has low thermal conductivity, and the heat generated during processing is difficult to dissipate, easily causing the tool temperature to be too high and aggravating tool wear. As can be seen from the comparison chart, when processing titanium alloy parts, the tool wear marks are obvious. In addition, the cutting force of titanium alloy is relatively large, and the requirements for the rigidity and power of the machine tool are higher, which also increases the processing cost.
From the material property table and the processing cost histogram, it can be intuitively seen that although titanium alloy has advantages in performance, its processing cost is often several times that of 6061 aluminum alloy. Therefore, when choosing CNC processing materials, engineers need to comprehensively consider the performance requirements, processing difficulty, and cost factors of the parts. If the requirements for the strength and corrosion resistance of the parts are not high, 6061 aluminum alloy may be a more economical choice; while in occasions with strict performance requirements, such as aero - engine components, titanium alloy is an indispensable material.
There are many cost traps on the road of CNC material selection. Only by deeply understanding the characteristics and processing costs of different materials can we make wise decisions, effectively control costs while ensuring the quality of parts.