Exotic Materials and Milling

[heisawoman]

Hi (just so you know I’m 18 so I’m new to the whole CNC mecheine category)
I’ve just started to “work” at a company and I have a sort of assignment to do but I could use some help since I don’t know so much about Milling.

First of all what is Exotic Materials, because what I uderstand it is Nickel, Cobolt and Stainless steel Alloys, Mercury, Titanium and Tungsten. This I got from a recycle center so I don’t know…
Second is there any special application and equipment you need to work with exotic materials?

[tobyaxis]

There is also Waspoloy, Haynes #49, Inconel, and Monel to name a few more.

What is it that they want you to do or make??

This is what we will need to know in order you help you.

[heisawoman]

Well I’m in the development part of the company so we’re sort of going to investigating exotic materials to mill in and (if I understand right) depending on materials maybe to use for end mills. But first I need to find out the basics and get the right compitence and that is what I have a problem with.

[ImanCarrot]

Exotic material just means "unusual" material, like stuff you'd only machine once or twice a year. For example- lenses are usualy made of glass, exotic material for lenses would include Germanium, Zinc Selenide, Arsenic Trisulphide etc- just stuff that isn't the normal run of the mill stuff.

[kingfisher]

First off when someone says exotic materials most guys cringe. Usually most of what Toby listed describes exotic. The machines and setup need to be solid and rigid. Your cutting speeds and feeds are very slow. Exotic materials eat tooling. In my business I like that!

Most think of exotics when you know you are going to machine aerospace and some military parts.

[heisawoman]

Thank you that is very helpful.

So does anyone know of any good sites where I might find more extensive information about Waspaloy, Haynes #49, Inconel, and Monel or maybe some other exotic material conserning milling?

[ImanCarrot]

Some stuff on Iconel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconel

http://www.hightempmetals.com/techda...nel600data.php

http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=4461

http://www.espimetals.com/tech/inconel718.pdf

Waspaloy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waspaloy

Haynes alloys (but not #49 for some reason!)

http://www.haynesintl.com/pdf/h3061.pdf

Monel stuff:

http://www.lenntech.com/Monel.htm

All these were found (and many more) using google with "XXX material properties" where "xxx"= the material you listed

[dertsap]

Originally Posted by heisawoman Well I’m in the development part of the company so we’re sort of going to investigating exotic materials to mill in and (if I understand right) depending on materials maybe to use for end mills. But first I need to find out the basics and get the right compitence and that is what I have a problem with.

your making endmills ?

what is your reason to need to develope a product or part with an exotic material , can you not find a standard material to use ? there would be a great economic benefit to it if you can
exotics are generally much more expensive due to the fact the demand isn't high plus the cost of materials that are in it , not to meantion the wait that you may face in ordering material

[heisawoman]

The reason is that the custemers are asking for it (or to have an alternative), so we're considering, and we're doing reasearch on what materials exotic or not that could be used.

Thanks for the links ImanCarrot.

[heisawoman]

Though your information have helped I don't know if I'm more confused now or before I started.

I have a new question
Does any one know what the most common exotic alloys to mill are (what kind you use the most of the exotic materials)?

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by heisawoman Though your information have helped I don't know if I'm more confused now or before I started. I have a new question Does any one know what the most common exotic alloys to mill are (what kind you use the most of the exotic materials)?

Everything listed in my first post plus Titanium Pure, Alpha, Alpha/Beta and Beta Alloys, Tungsten Steels, Green Carbides, and Chromium Nickels.

Anything NASTY!!

There is a company that works specifically with Exotic Materials in this area called Refracto Technologies.

Ask for Kenneth. 631-563-8580

These guys work with all the nasty materials.