Machinable Exotic Metals, Alloys And Other Materials

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The manufacturing industry defines exotic materials as those whose longevity, durability, weatherproofing, and corrosion-resistance surpass its standard counterparts. Such an innovation was discovered when the demand for a material with exceptional quality increased. Exotic materials were then categorised into metals and non-metals. Exotic metals include titanium, Waspaloy, Inconel, Hastelloy, Kovar, Invar and Monel.

CNC Machining Services for Exotic Materials

Generally speaking, exotic materials have a carbon steel machinability of 20 per cent. Cutting, stamping and forming are conceivable if produced at the best speed and feed. Every material has its issues that might cause problems in the long run. At present, there is a limited amount of readily available information about CNC machining services. As a result, some shops are unable to quote these services accurately. As time progresses, more and more data are becoming accessible for machining industries to utilise.

However, the lack of information isn’t the only problem when it comes to exotic materials. Initial costs could be an issue as well. The need to buy the material in the right condition for an effective machining process would often result in increased tool expenses. Everything begins at the citing stage. Also, shops must be prepared; with fewer shops citing exotic material machining, the chances of finding one could be low.

A Variety Of Exotic Metals And Alloys To Suit Your Manufacturing Needs

At SyncFab, we work with an extensive inventory of both exotic and well-known materials in house to suit a variety of customer requirements. We have the ability to hold in inventory specific materials required by customers for large volume items to be able to support any delivery requirement. We commonly work with a wide range of materials and high-temp alloys including all grades of carbon, alloy, and stainless steels and the exotic metals. Some examples are:

Considerations for Machining Exotics

In manufacturing, the term “exotic” is used to describe materials that display excellent wear characteristics, durability and service life in high heat, extreme cold or corrosive environments. These materials were designed to fill a niche or service for which standard materials are not able to perform. Exotic metals include titanium, Waspaloy, Inconel, Hastelloy, Kovar, Invar and Monel. Non-metals include glass-filled plastics or phenolics, Kevlar, machinable glass and machinable carbide.

Exotic materials can have 20 percent machinability of carbon steel. Cutting, stamping and forming is possible when preformed at the correct speeds and feeds. But that’s only part of the story. Each material presents potential problems of their own that can blow conventional machining practices out the window. Or do they?

Because of a lack of knowledge about the best approach for machining exotics, most shops, understandably, will not even quote these jobs. However, with SyncFab’s extensive number of tooling experts, material vendors and tribologists, even the most challenging of exotic material fabrication jobs become possible

So why do contract manufacturers shy away from machining exotics? Experience (or lack of) and up-front costs are usually the driving forces. The need to purchase the material in the correct condition to eliminate the need for excess machining could result in doubling tooling costs and halving speeds and feeds. It all starts at the quoting stage. And shops must be prepared; with so few shops quoting exotic work, the odds of landing the job are good using SyncFab.
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