Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

Do you mean at certain speeds, you can melt end mills milling 6063? Would this be with cooling? I ask because one of those "certain extrusions" is what we're planning to use in our drive train wheel trucks. We would be pressing in bearings too.

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

David is correct.

DampRobot (real name/team # would help), even with coolant and such. 6063 is gummy stuff. Its also weaker and will bend easier. You can easily crush it in a vise (while true with 6061, its a bit harder). I'd steer clear away from it.

What are you looking at that you can't get in 6061?

-RC

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

I believe this is because 6063 is rarely available with a strong temper/heat treatment. I have had the displeasure of post-weld machining 6061 with even worse results because it has nearly been annealed. 3003 and 1100 are also garbage to machine for the same reason I think.

Extra strong alloys, like 2024 and especially 7075, machine like butter in my experience.

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

Have you tried Westbrook Metals? Online they are Metals4U.com. I've had good luck with the Austin store, but wasn't purchasing aluminum.

Greg McKaskle

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

Not melting the endmill itself, but melting the chips and fusing them to the endmill. You can machine 6063, but 6061 makes a much better chip and comes out much nicer.

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

Both 6061-T6 and 6063-T6 are rated "C" for machinability by the Aluminum Association; it's likely a pretty broad range on the scale. I don't have any personal experience machining 6063-T6 so I'd defer to those who do.

Re: Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing
 

I just found out last week that they have a Dallas store as well... I called them and while they don't have it in stock they are able to get it for me for a great price. They also quoted me a great price on some 7075. Finding a good local source is so nice...