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General
A soft metal which is both lightweight and strong, aluminium has become
second only to steel in the commoness of its use. More expensive than
steel but considerable cheaper than some rarer materials. Easy to work
and readily available through commercial outlets such as RS or Farnell
or through metal merchants and scrapyards.
Properties
Forming
Cutting
Can be cut using
simple jigsaw and drilled using hand or bench drills with HSS drill bits.
Keep speeds down to reduce friction and prevent a build up of heat which
leads to softening and deformation of the material. Parafin can be used
during cutting to ease the way.
Bending
Can easily be formed by gentle heating .
Casting
Casting is common with aluminium. Often impurities are added such as silver,
lead or copper, to change the characteristics of the material
Welding
Aluminum can be MiG or TiG welded, using Argon as a shield. Because it
is so soft
Grinding/Filing
Can be filed or ground using general abrasives, however it softens as
it gets hot and as such becomes trickier to grind. Keeps speeds down and,
if necessary, provide a heat sink.
Joining
Welding or chemical bonding are best ways to join. Bolts and rivets are
also used for non-permanent joins.
Handling and Storage
Aluminium does not rust,
hence its usage in the aircraft and shipping industries. No special handling
requirements, but care must be taken not to mark the surface.
Links
| rswww.com |
Supplier, look under Mechanics/Engineering Materials |
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If you have further information on this area, please email it to us at
robotwars101@lineone.net
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