anyone have experience cutting magnesium???

[superrat]

i believe it would require machining since the end result is a bicycle sprocket. i'm getting together some safeguards before i do 1 sample piece. i'll post the results...
--phil

[fbmstar]

I've machined a little bit of magnesium az31b, and had the same concerns as you when starting. I did have one little fire on my lathe. Sent a hot spark into a little pile of chips, and they went right up. Just keep your chips cleaned up and i don't think you have much to worry about.

Milling this stuff is very smooth and doesn't generate much heat. I've only used HSS cutters, and never had a problem.

Also, you might want to look at Alumicut for your cutting fluid. You can get a really nice finish with it.

P.S. All my mag projects have been sprockets as well. Take a look if you're interested: www.bubbabebumpin.com/sprocket1.htm Oh, and i don't suggest leaving a bed of chips around as seen in the pictures

[draculia]

while i'm a noob to machining, there must be some type of oil based coolant that would keep fine chips and dust under control. magnesium has been used for valve covers in autos for years, and bmw's new engines have a magnesium core, the water jacket is aluminum of course. so obviously motor oil doesn't affect it. it seems to me that some coolant would help keep those fine chips down rather than floating around.

[Traceycnc300]

Did I hear someone say zirconium.I've never ran magniseum but if its any thing like zirc 702/705 be very carful.We had 2 shops here in Tennessee burn while cutting it and weve had two pretty good fires that scorch the ceiling.But we make about 12,000 pound worth of zirc chip a year.So small amounts of magn. may not pose a problem.

[rick_7037]

word of caution careful with the sand it is notorious for drawing moisture and as mentioned before water and Mag don't play well together. dry powder is the only thing ive used or heard of we keep it in a 5 gallon bucket at the machine.
lots of cutting fluids made FOR magnesium now watch the reccomendations of high RPMs.... causes heat buildup i prefer low RPM's and 5-8 rake to break chips clean
easy material to machine and nothing that I am afraid of.

[mikeh78]

Josie, I am from MN.


I worked in a mag casting/machining facility for 7 years. Be very carefull. Definatly use coolant designed for mag. I have seen many fires ,class d extiguishers work, but let it sit for several hrs after the fire. All you can do is smother the fire. Do not use water we used to do a demo of what water does, all it will do is intesify the fire. If you are going to cut mag just be very carfull!! the coolant/oil acts as a fire preventative. we could never get the chips to burn after they had coolant on them.

[vfsi]

I did some research on machining magnisium and the experts said "when you have a fire" not "if you have a fire". There is a ton of info on the web.

Many of their points were coverd in the discussion above, but to recap.

They recommend a clean machine, no old chips and aluminum are the worst. Some kind of reaction or maybe the aluminum will act as more fuel, I don't remember exactly.
Make large chips, dust is the worst.
Clean ALL the magnisium chips when finished and keep loose chips to a minimum while machining to limit any fire. Control the chips as they are being made, it's easier that way.
Cutting oil or dry. Most water soluble are a no no. They did refer to cutting submerged in oil.
The sand must be DRY and enough of it to bury any fire.
Do not store the chips in your shop, they are a fire waiting to burn.
Water gives up it's oxygen to hot magnisium freeing the hydrogen to make a small Hindenburg.

My neighbor anodizes magnisium as a business and they machine it often. They do a controlled burn in the parking lot when they finish machining. Fire control needs to be considered here as well.

If you have a lot of chips and need to recycle, you may need a special storage container.

Check your insurance policy when you are checking your local zoning codes.

[wassimmeski]

hi,

Its my first time in here..How are you?

Do u have any idea where to find magnesium ceilings.
I am working in Auminum false ceilingsand looking for other products.

many thanks

Wassim meski - Syria

[pepo]

I have worked with mag in the aerospace industry for a lot of years. You are right AZ31B is one of the most common alloys. Sand or kitty litter will smother it but be advised if you have a pile of chips the size of a loaf of bread you may need a five gallon bucket of sand to put it out. The stuff cuts great and all the advice on positive rake,negative rake is opinion. Biggest thing I can tell you is that you must cut this stuff. you cant plow it around with dull tools like it is aluminum.