銅の加工

Copper metals are highly valued for their appearance. Primarily, it is used in everyday art and on utensils. Copper has better material and electrical characteristics as compared to aluminum or aluminium. This makes it essential to produce complex parts. These parts are used in applications such as EDM electrodes. However, copper is typically challenging to machine. This hardness poses several problems as follows. The additives include aluminum, zinc, silicon, and tin. These combinations result in the formation of alloys such as brass and bronze. Nickel-silver alloys are also produced to meet specific requirements. Every one of the alloys is thus designed for exact machining applications. Therefore, they play a significant role in many fields. The machining of copper alloy parts becomes more accessible, allowing for more efficient production. This, in turn, enables production to be done more efficiently. Copper is still valuable for all areas because of its versatility. It is even more helpful when combined with other metals. Nevertheless, copper is irreplaceable, and the industry will continue to encounter it in the future. This article will focus on copper cnc machining methods, essential factors to consider, various uses of copper, and necessary machining services. So, let us help you decode the information you need to make the most of this instrumental metal. Copper CNC Machining: When it comes to CNC machining copper, there are two critical factors to keep in mind for optimal results: Optimal Tool Material Selection: Dealing with raw copper is problematic because the material is very soft, making tools wear out very fast and challenging to remove chips. One of the problems often faced is the creation of a built-up edge, which is a condition where copper particles cling to the tool and produce uneven surfaces. To eliminate these problems, it is necessary to employ cutting tools manufactured from materials like high-speed steel (HSS). HSS tools are specifically famous for cutting copper since it is a soft metal and do not blunt HSS tools quickly while using CNC machines. Setting the Ideal Feed Rate: The feed rate determines the speed at which the CNC cutting tool travels on the copper workpiece. When it comes to copper machining, it is advised that one should keep the feed rate between moderate and low. High feed rates can produce much heat, which is not preferred in precision machining applications. One of the critical aspects of controlling the feed rate is that it is vital for precision and surface finish during machining. If higher feed rates are required in your project, then it becomes mandatory to use cutting fluids or coolants because heat has to be taken out for better precision in the machining process. Selecting the Correct Grade of Material Choosing the correct grade of copper is one of the most critical decisions made during the design of any project. Electrolytic rigid pitch copper (ETPC), also known as pure copper (C101), has a purity of 99%. 99% reliability can be a problem and expensive, particularly regarding mechanical components. When comparing the two materials, C110 is more conductive than C101, more accessible to machines than C101, and sometimes cheaper. Selecting the correct material grade is crucial to achieving the design necessities in the proper manner. Manufacturability should be deemed regardless of the type of material incorporated in developing a product. One has to follow the principles of DFM to the letter to get the best outcome. Some recommendations include closely controlling the performance tolerance and dimensional checks. Do not make thin walls with small radii for improved machining. Wall thicknesses should be kept to a minimum of 0.5 mm for structural strength. For CNC milling, the size limit is 1200mm x 500mm x 152mm, while for CNC turning, it is 152mm x 394mm. Design undercuts with square profiles, full radii, or dovetails to reduce the machining operations. These guidelines are specific to copper components and are essential in enhancing on productivity and quality of the components. The Copper Alloys For Machining Copper materials include various commercial metals used in different industries depending on the required properties for a specific application. Pure Copper: Copper is known to be in the purest form, soft, and can be easily molded. It may contain a small percentage of alloying additions to improve its characteristics, such as improved strength. High-purity copper is used in electrical applications, including wiring, motors, other equipment, and industrial applications such as heat exchangers. The commercial grades of pure copper are classified by the UNS numbers C10100 to C13000. For applications requiring higher strength and hardness, such as machining beryllium copper, alloying pure copper with beryllium is a common practice. Electrolytic Copper: Electrolytic tough-pitch copper is obtained from cathode copper, refined by electrolysis, and contains deficient impurities. The most widely used grade is C11000, which offers electrical conductivity of up to 100% IACS and high flexibility, which makes it suitable for electrical applications such as windings, cables, and bus bars. Oxygen-Free Copper: Due to its shallow oxygen content, oxygen-free copper grades such as C10100 (Oxygen-free electronic) and C10200 (Oxygen-free) are characterized by shallow oxygen content and high electrical conductivity. These coppers are made under non-oxidizing conditions and are used in high vacuum electronics such as transmitter tubes and glass-to-metal seals. Free-Machining Coppers: These copper base alloys contain nickel, tin, phosphorus, and zinc additions, which aim to improve the machinability. Some well-known alloys include bronze, copper-tin-phosphorus, brass, and copper-zinc, characterized by high hardness, impact strength, workability, and corrosion resistance. It has uses in various machining operations, such as in machining coins, machined electrical parts, gears, bearings, and automotive hydraulic parts. Techniques of Machining Copper The following are some of the most efficient ways of machining copper: Machining copper as a material is a process that is associated with some difficulties due to the material’s flexibility, pliability, and durability. Nevertheless, copper can be alloyed with other elements such as zinc, tin, aluminum, silicon, and nickel, improving the possibility of machining copper. Such alloys are usually easier to cut than materials of similar