Thin wall 6061 aluminum tubing

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Not true. In my opinion, 6063 machines terribly. It is somewhat "gummy". The chips like to melt to cutting tools and it's sometimes tough to get a nice surface finish. I try to avoid it when I can, but certain extrusions are not available in 6061.

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.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Not true. In my opinion, 6063 machines terribly. It is somewhat "gummy". The chips like to melt to cutting tools and it's sometimes tough to get a nice surface finish. I try to avoid it when I can, but certain extrusions are not available in 6061.

Originally Posted by DampRobot

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.

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

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Not true. In my opinion, 6063 machines terribly. It is somewhat "gummy". The chips like to melt to cutting tools and it's sometimes tough to get a nice surface finish. I try to avoid it when I can, but certain extrusions are not available in 6061.

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.

[Greg McKaskle]

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

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

Do you mean at certain speeds, you can melt end mills milling 6063? Would this be with cooling?

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.

[Gary Dillard]

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.

[Brian Selle]

Originally Posted by Greg McKaskle

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

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...