Aluminium Machining
The mechanical machining of aluminium profiles or castings can take place with, for example:
| Sawing | Punching | Brushing | Deburring |
| Welding | Grinding | Engraving | Glueing |
| Milling | Drilling | Honing | Cutting |
| Blasting | Turning | Polishing | Bending |
The machining of aluminium requires, in general, tools that are specifically suitable for working on aluminium. In general, tools that are also used for other metals, are not suitable for the machining of aluminium. It is important to keep these tools separate in a production area. For machining tools, the alloy to be shaped is often the criterium for the cutting tools to be used. Moulding alloys require a different cutting tool than extrusion alloys do. One can consult tables for the correct tools. These tables indicate e.g. the joining, cutting speeds, shaping angle, cutting angle and clearance per alloy. Moreover, the use of the correct coolant and lubricant is an important factor. Aluminium is, in general, easier to shape than steel as it is much softer. About 2 to 3 times less capacity is needed when shaping aluminium compared to steel with a comparable strength. The good machinability however also entails special problems, such as the difficulty in breaking fragments due to the great toughness and the strong ‘sticking’ of aluminium particles on the cutting tools. But also the stretching of aluminium products demands more attention due to the limited hardness. Special stretching tools are therefore often needed for the machining of aluminium profiles. ALUDEX mostly uses CNC-controlled machining centres for the milling, drilling, cutting and sawing of aluminium profiles and casting. Several 5-axis CNC machines are the show-pieces of our machinery, by which profiles up to a length of 9 meters can be processed on 6 sides in one go.
Casting, Steel and Non-Ferrous metals
Besides the core-business of ALUDEX, the delivery and machining of aluminium profiles, we also ensure the machining of casting, (refined) metals and non-ferrous metal parts for our customers. So also for the CNC-machining of non-aluminium parts and for “conventional metal machining”, ALUDEX is the right address!
We'd be glad to take on your machining ‘challenge’.
