We all know that after companies complete the design of a new product, they will choose to make a prototype first to see the effect, mainly to test whether the product design meets the usage requirements. The main materials used for CNC metal prototype processing include: aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, red copper, brass, steel, etc. Among them, aluminum alloy is widely used in prototype processing. So let’s talk about the advantages and processing procedures of aluminum alloy prototypes.

Advantages of aluminum alloy prototypes

  1. Aluminum alloy prototypes not only have the characteristics of light weight and good strength, but also have better appearance after oxidation treatment.
  2. Aluminum alloy has low density but relatively high strength, close to or exceeding high-quality steel. It has good plasticity and can be processed into various profiles. It has excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. It is widely used in industry, and its usage is second only to aluminum alloy. steel.
  3. The aluminum alloy prototype can reflect the information expressed in the drawing very accurately, and the surface quality of the CNC prototype is high, especially after surface spraying and silk screen printing, it is even more radiant than the product produced after the mold is opened.

Aluminum alloy prototype processing process

  1. Programming: Write processing programs based on 3D drawings provided by customers.
  2. CNC processing: CNC processing equipment is used to process according to the program written by the programmer, and the prototype of the product is produced from the material.
  3. Polishing: The surface of the prototype that has just been processed by the machine will have many knife marks and sharp edges and needs to be polished with sandpaper.
  4. Sandblasting: Spray a layer of sand-like effect on the surface of the prototype to make the prototype sample look more high-end and perfect.
  5. Oxidation: Let the surface of the prototype undergo an oxidation reaction to form a film, making the product less likely to be scratched.
  6. Quality inspection: After the aluminum alloy box prototype is inspected by the QC department and there are no problems, it can be packaged and shipped.

Surface treatment process of aluminum alloy prototype

  1. During the proofing process of aluminum alloy prototypes, the programmer first needs to write a program according to the drawings, and then remove the remaining parts of the data through machine processing to obtain the prototype of the prototype. The processing marks (knife marks and textures) of the aluminum alloy prototype processed from the machine are then polished with sandpaper to make the appearance of the prototype smooth and smooth.
  2. When the aluminum alloy prototype is sandblasted, the surface of the prototype is sprayed with a layer of sand, making the prototype sample look more textured. Then the aluminum alloy prototype undergoes an oxidation reaction to form a thin film that makes it less likely to be scratched, making the prototype highly protective and visual.

The above is an introduction to matters related to aluminum alloy prototypes. I hope it will be helpful to everyone. Most companies will choose CNC prototypes when choosing prototypes. As a type of CNC prototype, aluminum alloy prototypes have many advantages of CNC prototypes. In addition to the advantages of aluminum alloy itself, they are a very good choice.

PROTO MFG provides a wide range of manufacturing capabilities and other value-added services for all of your prototyping and production needs. Visit our website to learn more or to request a free, no-obligation quote.

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