What grade of aluminum is used for metal spinning?
For metal spinning, aluminum alloys that provide a good combination of ductility and strength are typically used. The most common grades of aluminum for spinning are:
1. Aluminum 1100 - Very pure aluminum with excellent ductility and corrosion resistance. Often used for decorative parts and applications where surface finish is important. Not the strongest alloy though.
2. Aluminum 3003 - Medium strength alloy with great ductility and formability. Used for a wide range of spinning applications like cooking utensils, lighting parts, chemical equipment, etc. Provides a good balance of properties.
3. Aluminum 5052 - Stronger than 1100 and 3003, with good ductility. Used for structural applications like aircraft parts, architectural details, transport tanks, etc. Capable of more severe spinning deformations.
4. Aluminum 6061 - A versatile, heat treatable alloy with a good strength-to-weight ratio. Used for a variety of spinning applications where its higher strength is an advantage like aircraft and automotive parts. Still has reasonable formability.
5. Aluminum 7075 - A high-strength alloy used where strength is critical. However, it has lower ductility than other alloys so more limited in the amount of deformation it can withstand during spinning. Used mainly for aircraft applications where high strength is needed.
The specific alloy selected depends on the requirements of the application and the properties needed. In general:
• For decorative parts or those needing maximum ductility, lower strength 1xxx and 3xxx alloys are good options.
• For industrial parts where more strength is required but formability is still important, 5xxx and 6xxx alloys are commonly used.
• For high-strength needs where the loss of some ductility can be accommodated, 7xxx alloys may be suitable.
The proper alloy, temper, and spinning techniques can be used to achieve an optimal balance of strength, ductility, and formability for most spinning applications.
