Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesCH95
Well, 5052 (~30-35ksi yield strength) will be half or less of the strength of 7075-T6 (68-73ksi yield strength). 5052 in similar in strength to lower grades of steel (A36, 36ksi YS for example) whereas 7075-T6 is similar in strength to alloy steels like 4130 (70-75ksi YS). I would be suspicious that plasma cutting would wreck the T6 temper in 7075 thus making it weaker, but 5052 in not heat-treatable so it would not lose any strength. That, along with it's superior formability, low cost, and wide availability, is probably why the shop suggested 5052 over 7075.
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Important note: 5052 isn't heat treatable,
but it is annealable at 345°C ("holding at temperature not required"). It will lose considerable yield strength in the heat-affected zones of the plasma cuts. 5052-H34 (half-strain-hardened and stabilized) has 31 000 lb/in
2 yield strength; 5052-H32 (quarter-strain-hardened and stabilized) has 28 000 lb/in
2 yield strength; 5052-O (annealed) has 13 000 lb/in
2 yield strength.
(See ASM Handbook, Volume 2: Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, particularly
Table 58: Typical mechanical properties of alloy 5052.)