Is Magnesium ok?

[anthonyttu]

Magnesium is not explosive it is used for wheels on high end cars all day long. The shavings or swarf created when machining do need to be handled properly they can catch fire and burn very well once they catch. The little fire starter kits that you scrap the savings off then spark up is a block of magnesium and flint for the spark.
If you have a mentor or sponsor that has a ton of it and machines it regularly great.
If you just want an exotic metal on your robot to say you used it there are way more exotic materials with very wide range of properties i.e. hastelloy torlon.
Willing to bet 6061 Aluminum will still work