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The VMT blog is dedicated to sharing our hard-earned knowledge in prototype manufacturing. We hope these articles will help you optimize your product designs and gain deeper insight into the world of rapid prototyping. Enjoy the read!
Get an Instant QuoteYes, nickel is magnetic. As a ferromagnetic metal, nickel can be attracted to magnets and even retain magnetism under certain conditions. Its magnetism depends on atomic structure, temperature, and alloying elements. This property makes nickel essential in magnetic alloys, sensors, motors, and CNC machined parts for advanced applications.
Steel can be magnetic depending on its composition and structure. Carbon steel and ferritic or martensitic stainless steels are magnetic, while austenitic stainless steels are generally non-magnetic. Heat treatment, alloying, and crystal structure affect steel magnetism. Understanding these properties ensures proper selection for CNC machining parts and industrial applications.
Copper is not magnetic. It is classified as diamagnetic, meaning it weakly repels magnetic fields instead of attracting them. This property comes from its electron structure, making pure copper unsuitable for magnetic applications but highly valuable for conductivity and nonmagnetic environments.
Most metals conduct electricity because of their free electrons. The best conductors are silver, copper, and gold, followed by aluminum and brass. Factors such as temperature, impurities, and alloying can affect conductivity. For precision applications, CNC machining services can help manufacture conductive parts with the right balance of strength and electrical performance.
The key difference between 6061 aluminum T6, T651, and T6511 is stress relief and dimensional stability. T6 is heat-treated and naturally aged, T651 is stress-relieved by stretching, and T6511 is stress-relieved by stretching and minor straightening. These differences affect machinability, performance, and cost for aluminum CNC machined parts.
Iron comes in multiple forms—pure iron, pig iron, wrought iron, cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, ductile iron, and gray cast iron. Each has distinct properties and applications. Understanding their differences ensures optimal material selection for construction, manufacturing, and CNC machined parts production.
Metals that are magnetic include iron, cobalt, nickel, most steels, and certain rare earth metals. These materials exhibit ferromagnetism, meaning they are strongly attracted to magnets and can become magnets themselves.
6061-T6 is heat-treated aluminum without stress relief, 6061-T651 is stress-relieved T6 for improved stability, and 6061-T6511 is stress-relieved with controlled straightness for extruded shapes. Choosing depends on dimensional tolerance needs, part size, and machining requirements.
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