materials

Aluminum

Along with steel, Aluminum is one of the most common materials in manufacturing, due to its relatively low cost and the speed and ease with which it can be machined.

3.0

Relative Cost of Material

1.0

Machining Degree of Difficulty

Summary

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used materials in all of manufacturing; it is fairly low cost, easy to machine, and does not require any specialized tooling to cut. It is found in virtually every industry in existence, with the parts being made ranging from extremely simplistic to some of the most complex geometries and tightest tolerances currently possible- which is where we come in.

While there is no shortage of options when looking for a manufacturer that works in aluminum, Mindrum Precision specializes in the complex geometries and high-difficulty parts that few other shops can achieve. As both a raw material for finished goods and a setup material for many of the more complex components that we manufacture from more expensive materials, we work in Aluminum on a constant basis, and are willing to take on the jobs that require the extreme levels of skill and precision that our customers have come to expect from our shop. Click here for our contact information or to request a quote, and we look forward to working with you.

Applications

It is difficult to find an industry that does not use aluminum in some shape or form, and within the Aerospace and Defense industry, it is just as prolific as it is everywhere else. Among our many other high-profile projects, we have been trusted to produce aluminum parts for NASA’s ORION, SLS, WFIRST, Mars 2020, GPM Satellite, and many more; we deliver when it matters most, and that is why so many companies and organizations turn to us with their mission-critical needs.

 

Properties

Material PropertyAluminum
Density (g/cm^3)2.7
Hardness (Rockwell B)60
Tensile Strength (MPa)276
Modulus of Elasticity (GPa)69
Flexural Strength (MPa)276
Poisson's Ratio.33
Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm @25°C)>1.0E12
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (1 x 10^-6/°C)23.4
Thermal Conductivity (W/m K)167
Specific Heat (J/kg*K)896
*Note: Properties vary by manufacturer. The above information should be used for general reference purposes only.

related Materials

  • Steel – A cost-effective, versatile metal with good strength that comes in many forms
  • Titanium – A similarly light-weght metal with superior strength and mechanical properties
  • Inconel –  A high-temperature Nickel-based superalloy, with excellent mechanical properties

With over a half-century of manned spaceflight experience, our parts have been trusted on some of mankind's proudest achievements. We look forward to working with you to bring your next project off of the drawing board and into reality.