Understanding the Characteristics of Copper for More Efficient Manufacturing
Copper is a common metallic material with the chemical symbol Cu. It has a reddish-brown color and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, making it widely used in electronics, construction, mechanical manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, and other fields.
- High thermal conductivity
- High electrical conductivity
- Good performance at low temperatures
- Good corrosion resistance
- Easy to process
- Easy to weld
- Oxide film
- Anti-oxidation
Advantages and Disadvantages of CNC Machining for Copper Parts
Advantages:
- High precision: CNC copper parts are fully automatically cut, reducing disassembly and improving machining accuracy.
- High efficiency: Fully automated CNC machining greatly improves the stability of product quality and batch replication.
- Complex part machining: Through 3D modeling and automated machining code paths, it can complete various surface and complex shape machining and manufacturing, greatly improving product accuracy and flexibility.
- Good repeatability: The CNC copper machining process is completely controlled by computer programs, which is not affected by the operator’s skill level, and can ensure machining accuracy and stability, with good repeatability.
- Labor cost savings: CNC copper machining has a high degree of automation, requiring lower labor costs and can save labor costs.
Disadvantages:
- High equipment investment cost: CNC brass machining requires the purchase of high-priced equipment such as CNC machining centers, which have a high investment cost.
- High technical threshold: CNC brass machining requires certain computer programming, mechanical machining, and CNC technology, which has a high technical threshold and requires professional technicians to master.
- Part quantity limitations: CNC brass machining is suitable for mass production, and for small batches or single-piece production, the cost is relatively high.
A Comprehensive Guide to the Classification of Copper Materials Used in CNC Machining
Choosing the right copper material is crucial as different product structures and applications have varying performance requirements for copper. Here are several commonly used copper materials selected by our engineers for your reference and selection.
Copper material C101 is a pure copper material, also known as electrolytic copper or ETP copper (Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper). C101 copper contains 0.04-0.12% phosphorus and less than 0.05% iron, which has good plasticity and ductility but relatively poor electrical and thermal conductivity. It is commonly used to manufacture parts that require high strength, such as engine components and ship propellers.
Copper material C110 is a high-purity copper material, also known as electrolytic pure copper or ETP pure copper (Electrolytic Tough Pitch Pure Copper). C110 copper contains 0.04-0.08% phosphorus and 0.04-0.12% iron, which has high electrical and thermal conductivity, and relatively high hardness, but relatively poor plasticity and ductility. It is commonly used to manufacture parts that require good plasticity and ductility, such as die-casting molds and thin-walled tubes.
Copper material C630 is a high-strength, wear-resistant copper alloy, also known as aluminum bronze. Its main components are copper, aluminum, nickel, iron, and other elements, which have high hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance, and are suitable for manufacturing high-strength, wear-resistant components and parts.
Copper nickel zinc alloy is a copper-based alloy, also known as copper nickel zinc alloy or brass. The main components of this alloy are copper, nickel, and zinc, with copper content ranging from 60-70%, nickel content ranging from 10-30%, and zinc content ranging from 10-20%. Copper nickel zinc alloy has good strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and weldability, and is widely used in the manufacture of various mechanical parts, electronic devices, and building decoration materials.
C145 copper material is a high-strength, high-thermal conductivity copper alloy, also known as free-cutting brass. Its main components are copper and aluminum, with aluminum content around 4-5%. C145 copper material has excellent mechanical and thermal properties, and is widely used in the manufacture of high-demand mechanical parts and electronic devices.
C111 copper material is a sulfur-containing free-cutting brass, which is a special copper alloy containing a certain proportion of copper, zinc, and sulfur elements. C111 copper material is a high-quality brass alloy with good mechanical, processing, and corrosion resistance properties, and is one of the materials widely used in the manufacture of various mechanical parts.
C377 copper material is a high-strength copper alloy containing copper, zinc, and lead elements. It has high material density, high strength, good wear resistance, good corrosion resistance, and good processing and welding properties. Therefore, C377 copper material is widely used in various mechanical equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, and chemical equipment.
C360 copper material is a widely used copper alloy, also known as free-cutting brass. It is a material with high strength, corrosion resistance, and processing performance. C360 copper material is usually composed of copper, zinc, and a small amount of lead, with copper content of about 60-63%. It has good processing performance and is suitable for drilling, cutting, milling, turning, stamping, and other processing methods to make parts of various shapes and sizes.
Key Factors for CNC Machining Copper Parts: Comprehensive Analysis from Tool Selection to Machining Accuracy
Copper material has good conductivity, thermal conductivity, and toughness, so it is important to pay attention to the following aspects when machining high-precision and highly corrosion-resistant parts↓↓↓
Tool selectionCopper material requires certain demands on tools due to its good toughness, and the cutting angle is generally recommended to be between 45 degrees and 60 degrees.
Machining parametersCopper material has good thermal conductivity, which can easily cause thermal deformation and tool wear. Therefore, appropriate cutting speed, feed rate, and cutting depth should be selected to avoid excessive heat accumulation during machining.
CoolantDue to the good conductivity and thermal conductivity of brass material, cutting will cause a higher temperature rise. Therefore, using a suitable coolant can effectively reduce the temperature and minimize deformation and tool wear caused by cutting heat.
Chip removalBrass material is prone to produce burrs and clog the tool during cutting. Therefore, chip removal should be carried out during the machining process with the aid of cutting fluid to avoid damage to the tool in subsequent processing.
Machining accuracyCopper material is prone to burrs and cutting heat deformation. For high-precision machining, it is necessary to control the tool and machining parameters. Before machining, the parts and machining process should be carefully inspected to ensure that the machining quality and dimensional accuracy meet the requirements.
Copper: A Material That Captivates and Inspires
Copper has excellent conductivity, making it widely used in fields such as cables, motor coils, and transformer components.
The excellent thermal conductivity of copper makes it an ideal material for heating tubes, air conditioning radiators, and automotive cooling systems.
Copper is corrosion-resistant and can be used to manufacture pipes and internal components of equipment that can withstand various acids and alkalis.
Copper is a highly ductile and malleable metal.This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including jewelry, decorative items, and industrial components.
Polishing - Copper parts
By mechanical polishing or chemical polishing, the Copper surface is made smooth and shiny.
Electroplating - Copper parts
A layer of metal or non-metal material is formed on the Copper surface through a chemical reaction, which can enhance the hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the Brass surface.
Spraying - Copper parts
Applying a layer of protective film or colored paint on the copper surface can achieve the effects of corrosion resistance, decoration, etc.
Heat treatment - Copper parts
By high-temperature heating or rapid cooling at low temperature, the copper surface can be adjusted in terms of hardness, ductility, strength, etc.
Expansion Industries for Copper CNC Machining
Brass CNC machining technology has a wide range of applications in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry because UAVs require high precision, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant components. Copper material has excellent conductivity, thermal conductivity, and machining performance, which can meet the high-performance requirements of UAVs. Through CNC machining technology, fine machining of copper materials can be achieved, resulting in the production of precision components such as UAV frames, motor housings, and connectors. Brass CNC machining technology not only improves the overall performance and reliability of UAVs but also shortens the production cycle, reduces production costs, and improves production efficiency.
Brass CNC machining technology also has extensive applications in the automotive industry, as automobiles require high precision, high performance, and high-quality components. Through CNC machining technology, high-precision machining of copper materials can be achieved, resulting in the production of precision components such as engine parts, transmission system parts, and electronic components. Brass CNC machining technology not only improves the performance and reliability of automobiles but also reduces production costs, shortens production cycles, and improves production efficiency. Therefore, copper CNC machining technology has broad application prospects in the fields of automotive manufacturing and maintenance.
Brass CNC machining technology has a wide range of applications in the medical industry, as copper material has excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and antimicrobial properties that can meet the high-performance requirements of medical equipment. Through CNC machining technology, high-precision machining of copper materials can be achieved, producing precision parts such as medical instruments, hospital beds, and electronic components. Therefore, Brass CNC machining technology has broad application prospects in the manufacturing and maintenance of medical equipment.
Related Product
What type of metal is Copper?
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu. It has good conductivity and thermal conductivity and is widely used in fields such as electrical, construction, mechanical manufacturing, chemical, aerospace, etc.
Compared to other metals, copper has excellent conductivity and thermal conductivity, strong corrosion resistance, and can resist the erosion of most acids and alkalis. In addition, copper also has excellent ductility and malleability, which can be easily processed into various shapes. Copper is widely used in modern industry.
Yes, Brass can be electroplated. Electroplating is a process of depositing a metal coating on a metal or non-metal substrate. In the surface treatment of brass products, electroplating can provide corrosion resistance and aesthetics, and can also increase the hardness of brass products. Copper can be processed by different electroplating methods, such as nickel plating, chrome plating, tin plating, etc.
Brass cutting can be achieved through multiple methods, common methods include:
- Milling: using a milling cutter to move on the copper billet and cut it into the desired shape.
- Turning: fix the copper billet on the lathe, rotate and use the cutting tool to cut it into the desired shape.
- Drilling: use a drill bit to make holes in the copper billet.
- Laser cutting: use a laser cutting machine to cut the copper billet into the desired shape. These methods can be used alone or in combination to achieve complex copper part processing.
Yes, the cost of CNC machining Brass parts is related to the degree of material waste caused by different processing paths and processes. At this point, it relies on the experience of the process engineer and whether the processing process is perfect, which has a significant impact on the cost. Therefore, SINCO-CNC attaches great importance to training first-line technical staff, which is a key point to reduce costs.
Yes, the cost of CNC machining brass parts is usually affected by the difficulty of machining. Compared with other metals, copper has a higher processing difficulty, higher raw material prices, easy sticking to the tool during cutting, and requires higher cutting speed and proper lubricant during the processing. These factors will increase the cost of CNC machining copper parts. In addition, special cutting tools are required during the machining process, which will also increase the cost.