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The VMT blog is dedicated to sharing our hard-earned knowledge in prototype manufacturing. We hope these articles will help you optimize your product designs and gain deeper insight into the world of rapid prototyping. Enjoy the read!
Get an Instant QuoteMost metals conduct electricity because of their free electrons. The best conductors are silver, copper, and gold, followed by aluminum and brass. Factors such as temperature, impurities, and alloying can affect conductivity. For precision applications, CNC machining services can help manufacture conductive parts with the right balance of strength and electrical performance.
The key difference between 6061 aluminum T6, T651, and T6511 is stress relief and dimensional stability. T6 is heat-treated and naturally aged, T651 is stress-relieved by stretching, and T6511 is stress-relieved by stretching and minor straightening. These differences affect machinability, performance, and cost for aluminum CNC machined parts.
Iron comes in multiple forms—pure iron, pig iron, wrought iron, cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, ductile iron, and gray cast iron. Each has distinct properties and applications. Understanding their differences ensures optimal material selection for construction, manufacturing, and CNC machined parts production.
Metals that are magnetic include iron, cobalt, nickel, most steels, and certain rare earth metals. These materials exhibit ferromagnetism, meaning they are strongly attracted to magnets and can become magnets themselves.
6061-T6 is heat-treated aluminum without stress relief, 6061-T651 is stress-relieved T6 for improved stability, and 6061-T6511 is stress-relieved with controlled straightness for extruded shapes. Choosing depends on dimensional tolerance needs, part size, and machining requirements.
Yes, carbon steel is generally magnetic because it contains iron, a ferromagnetic material. Its magnetism depends on carbon content, crystal structure, and heat treatment. Most carbon steels used in CNC machining parts will strongly attract magnets, making them suitable for applications requiring magnetic properties.
Titanium is not magnetic under normal conditions. It is a weakly magnetic (diamagnetic) metal, meaning it is not attracted to magnets. Its atomic structure prevents strong magnetic alignment, making it ideal for applications like medical implants, aerospace components, and precision CNC machined parts that require minimal magnetic interference.
Brass is generally non-magnetic because it is an alloy of copper and zinc, both of which are non-ferromagnetic. However, trace impurities or mechanical processing can induce slight magnetism. To ensure non-magnetic performance in brass CNC machined parts, choose high-purity alloys and verify properties before production.
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