Preventing Built-Up Edges During Aluminum Milling
Aluminum is one of the most versatile materials available on the market today. Aluminum's versatility and ability to resist corrosion make it a popular metal when it comes to making tools and implements. Milling aluminum is typically a straightforward process, but there is the potential for problems to arise during the mechanical milling process.
Built-up edges occurs when scraps of aluminum accumulate along the edge of a tool or component during milling. These built-up edges can compromise the visual aesthetic of your milled metal, and it can alter production parameters. Here are three steps that you can take to effectively prevent built-up edges during milling in the future.
1. Increase your cutting speed.
When you cut your aluminum at a slow rate of speed, you increase the opportunity for waste materials to collect on the surface of the aluminum tool or component. This accumulated waste can gather near the edges of your raw materials, resulting in built-up edges on your milled products.
Increasing your cutting speed to reduce friction can be a beneficial way to combat built-up edges during your milling processes in the future.
2. Add a finishing step to your milling process.
Although most companies want to reduce the amount of time required to complete the milling of aluminum products, adding a finishing step to your milling process could prove beneficial in eliminating built-up edges.
Polishing has the potential to smooth out any built-up materials that have accumulated along the edges of your aluminum products. Introducing polishing into your milling process will ensure that your aluminum products are both functional and pleasing to the eye.
3. Use plenty of coolant.
Keeping the surface of the aluminum cool as you complete your milling processes is critical when it comes to preventing built-up edges. If the surface of the aluminum gets too warm, pieces of metal produced by cutting, grinding, or other milling processes can bind to the edges of your finished products.
Using plenty of coolant during milling will allow you to effectively reduce surface temperatures and prevent built-up edges from plaguing your finished aluminum products after milling is complete in the future.
Being able to improve your mechanical milling process will help you improve the quality of your aluminum products. Preventing built-up edges through increased cutting speeds, the addition of polishing to your milling process, and the use of adequate coolant will allow you to generate more functional and beautiful aluminum products over time.