Machining of Cast Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys at Extreme Cutting Speeds.

Cast aluminum and magnesium materials are advantageously used for many applications in machine engineering, precision engineering and lightweight construction. Besides the need for reducing weight or inertia, the reasons for using these materials can be found in their qualities, such as good heat conductivity, good thermal properties, high corrosion resistance, and non-magnetic properties. In recent years, the use of these materials has also gained in interest due to their potential of being faster and easier to machine as compared with ferrous materials. These materials are currently often processed by die-casting. Frequent applications for cast aluminium alloys are G-Al-Si6Cu4 for cylinder heads and gearbox casings, G-AlSi12 (Cu) for extremely thin-walled housings and G-Al-Si7Cu4 for pistons of internal combustion engines and for wear-resistant parts. G-MgAl18Zn1, a cast magnesium alloy which is by one third lower in specific weight, is primarily used for die-casting of housings and mounting parts.