8 Essential Metals for Industrial Casting: From Foundations to Modern Applications

Today, almost every electromechanical device we use in our day-to-day life, ranging from washing machines to automobiles is manufactured using some metal parts, which are created using the casting process. Metal casting is possibly the earliest and the most influential industrial process. In metal casting, metal shapes are formed by pouring molten metal into a mold cavity, where it is set to cool and later extracted from the mold. But, the difference between earlier and modern cast metal products is the precision and tolerance that can be achieved through a computerized automated design process. Today, CNC metal casting became the industry standard to produce a wide range of metal parts with a high level of precision. But, when it comes to precision machining, many of us wonder which metals are compatible with the process? This post answers a few of them. So, stay tuned.

Most Common Metals Used in CNC Metal Casting

One of the main reasons for the popularity of CNC metal casting is its compatibility with different metals. Highly accurate CNC machining parts can be produced using a multitude of materials. Some of them are listed below.

Most Common Metals Used in CNC Metal Casting

One of the main reasons for the popularity of CNC metal casting is its compatibility with different metals. Highly accurate CNC machining parts can be produced using a multitude of materials. Some of them are listed below.

• Stainless Steel:

  Stainless steel or SS is undoubtedly the most common type of metal used for precision CNC manufacturing. Favored for its corrosion resistance and strength, the metal is used everywhere from surgical equipment to electronics hardware and many more. of the other alternatives such as molybdenum and chromium cannot resist corrosion. The metal is known for its versatility, durability, lightweight, broadening its application across industries.

• Carbon Steel:

  Carbon steel is another popular metal considered for precision machining. It is available in several formulations, and one can select them based on your requirement of the application. Carbon steel is chosen due to its affordability, durability, long shelf life, eco-friendly nature, and so on. It is known for offering a high level of machinability and weldability while maintaining a high level of toughness.

• Aluminum Alloy:

  Aluminum alloy is perhaps the most popular choice for CNC metal casting. Owing to its high level of machinability, corrosion-resistance, and lightweight feature, it is largely used in diverse segments such as for producing automotive parts, food containers, bicycle frames, aircraft components, and more.

• Nickel-Based Alloy:

  Like stainless steel, nickel-based alloys are preferred for their excellent corrosion resistance property. Nickel is coupled with zinc, iron, manganese, copper, chromium to achieve the desired results. Alloys with a high level of nickel are often used in chemical handling applications.

• Copper-Based Alloy:

  Copper-based alloys have high resistance against corrosion, making these metals a great choice for long-term cost efficiency. Brass is one of the most popular copper-based alloys. Established as one easiest and cost-effective metal to use with CNC metal casting services, it is chosen to make complex parts demanding sophisticated features.

• White Iron:

  It is known for its high compressive strength and outstanding wear resistance. Also, it retains its toughness for a specific period after exposure to extreme heat. Some white iron types consist of a high level of chromium to increase performance for high-temperature applications.

• Grey Iron:

  It is a type of iron known for its appearance and color caused by graphite fractures in the material. Based on the class of this metal, different levels of strength and machinability can be achieved. Grey iron is used where stiffness is more important than its tensile strength of the component such as electrical boxes, decorative castings, pump housings, and more.

• Ductile Iron:

  Ductile iron has a higher level of tensile strength than grey iron, allowing their usage in a wide variety of market segments. Popularly known as ductile cast iron, it is known for its elongation capacity, wear resistance, impact strength, and fatigue resistance owing to the sphere-shaped structures in the metal.

Since the list of metals for precision CNC manufacturing is detailed, to the metal selection process needs to be thoroughly understood to be able to select the right metal or alloy. If you lack experience, it is wise to approach an expert industry player like BDE, Inc. With vast years of market presence, the company has been proudly providing CNC machining services for several years now. Also, they have been working with most materials covered in this post.