The Shop > Metal Stuff
Aluminum Copper Alloy Experiment
seadog:
It's used in dental plate manufacture so it's not that bad in certain applications. Dust or fumes are the real problem as I see it. We were warned back in the 70s about the risks since we had RF transistors that used Beryllia. In fact most kitchens have Beryllium present. The magnetron in your microwave cooker will have a Beryllia ceramic as the insulator. It's used because of its superior thermal conductivity.
vtsteam:
The use recommended against here was casting with it, or use in our home workshop, if unaware of the hazard.
If you're already in the business of making dental plates, old style RF transistors, or microwave insulators, then just ignore, you probably already know about the hazards.
Biggles:
:nrocks:
NormanV:
I wasn't planning on using Beryllium as I have no idea where to get it.
One thing that I have found is that aluminium with the addition of copper in the cast, machines much more cleanly whether or not given heat treatment. That will be standard for me from now on. One problem though is that it work hardens. My milling machine only has hand feed and if I go too slowly the pressure required to turn the handle increases dramatically. If I turn the feed handle briskly I find that it will cut its way through the metal quite cheerfully. This is using a 20mm cutter with a 2mm depth of cut, 15mm wide at 1000RPM on my homemade milling machine. I judge the feed rate to be 150mm per minute. Is this good or bad?
vtsteam:
Interesting to hear, Norman. I haven't machined my Al/Cu recently (or anything else except a cast tractor head). Been away from the machine shop (AFMS?). But being back here reading MM and finally finished with the waterball cistern project, I'm beginning to get the machining itch again. I do wonder whether the AlCu properties have increased over time -- if aging has maade it tougher. Will have to find out soon.
Sorry, don't know what best feeds and speeds would be for this homemade stuff. But probably somebody more professional here does.
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