Does it matter if a metalworking material is ferrous or nonferrous? The most important factor is understanding how any material works with your cutting tools in your machines—and that does matter, find tooling makers with metallurgy knowledge. Find out what you need to know about the major differences in metal types for machining.
Ask any machinist to define the word “ferrous” and you’ll likely hear the same answer: Ferrous metals are the ones that rust—carbon steel, cast iron, tool steel and so on. This statement, though true, is incomplete, as the metallurgical definition is both more specific and encompasses a much broader range of metals.
“Simply put, ferrous materials contain iron,” says Aaron Schade, program manager for Kennametal’s Knowledge Center Americas. “So of course this includes cast iron and steel, but you’re also looking at metals that don’t typically rust, such as stainless steel and most superalloys.”
But looked at another way, the nonferrous group of materials includes aluminum, copper, brass, plastic, and composites, and anything not in this group can be classified as ferrous. But whether ferrous or nonferrous, they both contain a huge variety of materials that require a wide range of different design features, speeds and feeds, explains Schade.
A purist might argue that many aluminum alloys and even some coppers and bronzes are therefore ferrous because these also contain small amounts of iron. But that is likely an oversimplification. It isn’t only whether iron is present: It’s the amount of iron, notes Schade.
Nonferrous metals do not contain an iron base or significant amounts of iron at all. For example, 316 stainless steel contains roughly 62 to 72 percent iron; Inconel 718 is a nickel base, but still contains 17 percent iron and 6061-T6 aluminum only contains a maximum of .7 percent iron. This is why Schade says it’s difficult to make sweeping statements about such a deeply technical topic.
“What’s more relevant is identifying which tools work best for a given material, regardless of its nomenclature,” says Schade.
Binky Sargent, manager of materials analysis at Kennametal, agrees. “Whether ferrous or nonferrous, 304 stainless or 6061-T6, the most important thing to consider is how the cutting tool interacts with the material,” she says. “You need to know how the chip is formed and the most effective ways to remove it from the work zone, what effect the material’s thermal and chemical properties will have on the tool, and the shape of the part feature relative to the shape and geometry of the cutter.”
Essentially, proper tool selection depends on far more than the workpiece material’s metallurgical classification.
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I just knew about Ferrous Metal Casting Machine Market.
And i think it's really cool!
53Thanks for your informative site…
I have to cut 8 pieces of brass that are 8”x 1/2” x 20’ long in half.
can you tell me the easiest way to cut these?
I have 110 power but must use saw…. Cannot use torch.
Thanks in advance.
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