Numerical control machining is the main process for producing copper parts in many industries. Copper has good ductility, conductivity, and thermal conductivity, and is widely used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical industries for various machined copper parts. And copper is also one of the materials that is easy to machine.

Copper 101

Copper 101 is pure copper, containing 99.9% copper, commonly used to make bronze and brass.

bronze

Bronze is an alloy of tin, copper, and phosphorus with good hardness and strength, which can be used to produce bearings and gears.

brass

Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, with good workability and hardness. Suitable for processing low friction and complex components, such as valves, gears, bearings, and locks, and can also be used to make some outdoor parts.

Advantages and disadvantages of CNC Machining of copper parts

advantage

Has good processability, ductility, and impact strength, and has good formability in hot and cold processing. In addition, copper parts processed by CNC are compatible with various cost-effective surface treatment technologies.

shortcoming

When spot welding copper materials, processes such as coated metal arc welding cannot be used. In addition, copper of different grades has different corrosion resistance. Therefore, some CNC machined copper components are prone to corrosion in environments containing active substances.

Precautions for CNC machining of copper

Choose the right copper

Copper is one of the very expensive materials, and when choosing, one should consider its application characteristics and cost-effectiveness.

Set feed rate

Feed rate is the speed at which the cutting tool engages with the workpiece. Therefore, before processing copper parts, it is necessary to set the correct feed rate, as it will affect the quality, service life, and surface smoothness of the copper parts. In addition, copper has efficient heat conduction, and a high feed rate will increase tool wear over time.

Manufacturability design

Before processing copper, it is necessary to organize design requirements and specifications, which helps to achieve the functionality of copper components. This includes reducing the number of component settings, conducting size checks, and preventing deep cavities with smaller radii.

Choose the correct tool material

Many bronze plates are processed softer than aluminum and steel of equal strength. This may result in blade formation and tool wear. Therefore, choosing the appropriate tool material is very important. High speed steel is a tool material suitable for CNC machining of copper.

Post processing options

Generally speaking, copper is used for thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Therefore, many surface finishes are not suitable for other processed metals because they suppress these characteristics. The surface treatment suitable for copper is as follows.

Electrolytic polishing

Copper can be electropolished to achieve a very smooth and shiny surface. This process typically removes small material layers between 0.0001 inches (0.00254 millimeters) and 0.0025 inches (0.0635 millimeters) from the surface. Electrolytic polishing can further improve corrosion resistance, but it will not affect conductivity.

electroplate

Copper electroplating, while maintaining electrical and thermal conductivity, often helps prevent oxidation of its outer surface. Especially, precious metal electroplating (such as silver or gold plating) can provide low contact resistance to maintain excellent conductivity and soldering performance.