Are you looking for the best material for CNC machining? Look no further, brass is one of the top CNC machining materials. What makes brass a remarkable metal for CNC machining? Brass is a remarkable material or metal with various properties. It’s an alloy of copper and zinc that makes it achieve different properties. The material has good mechanical properties, malleability, strong corrosion resistance, and top acoustic characteristics. These properties make brass one of the widely used materials in CNC machining. Let’s look at the types of brass for CNC machining. This guide will help you to learn types of brass and their composition and select the right one for your machined parts.
Free Cutting Brass ( 360 Brass)
360 brass is one of the common types of brass for CNC machining. What does the free-cutting brass contain? This type of brass contains a small percentage of lead. The lead percentage makes it easy to machine. It’s a key property in enhancing an excellent cutting performance. The free-cutting brass is ideal in the production of parts requiring a high degree of precision and accuracy. For instance, you can use it to produce bushings, valves, and gears.
Pros
- Excellent machinability due to the presence of lead
- Good electrical conductivity
- High corrosion resistance
- Ideal for producing parts requiring a high degree of precision and accuracy
Cons
- Lower strength compared to other alloys
- Lead may trigger health hazards
Applications
- Hardware
- Electrical and plumbing components
- Bushings, valves, and gears in the automotive industry
Naval Brass
It’s a common brass for CNC machining. Naval brass contains a higher percentage of tin and zinc than free-cutting brass. Besides the higher percentage of tin and zinc, this type of brass has other properties. It has excellent corrosion resistance properties. This property makes it a common metal for marine applications, including offshore drilling and shipbuilding. Why should you consider naval brass for CNC machining? This material is popular in CNC machining due to its durability and high strength.
Pros
- Good machinability
- High strength and durability
- Excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments
Cons
- Higher production cost than the other brass alloys
- Contain higher zinc percentage, which might result in dezincification
Applications
- Marine Hardware
- Offshore drilling and shipbuilding
- Electrical and plumbing components
Red Brass (230 Brass)
230 brass is a common material for CNC machining. What are the components of the red brass? Red brass contains a higher percentage of copper compared to the other brass alloys. In addition, this brass alloy for CNC machining has a distinctive reddish-brown color. How important is the color for your project? It’s a popular choice for ornamental and decorative applications. Most individuals prefer it due to its excellent corrosion resistance. The property makes it vital in the production of musical instruments, plumbing fixtures, and electrical components.
Pros
- The distinctive reddish-brown color makes it ideal for ornamental and decorative applications.
- High strength
- Good corrosion resistance
Cons
- Higher production cost than other brass alloys
- Higher copper content
- Less machinable
Applications
- Musical instruments
- Plumbing fixtures
- Electrical components
- Decorative Hardware
Cartridge Brass ( 260 brass)
Most individuals refer to this material as the 260 brass. What is cartridge brass? It’s a special type of brass alloy with a higher percentage of zinc and copper. You can use it for a wide range of projects or applications. For instance, you can use it for the production of ammunition casings. The alloy’s corrosion resistance and excellent strength make it a viable option. Cartridge brass is a remarkable metal for CNC machining due to its high machinability and ductility.
Pros
- Good corrosion resistance
- Excellent strength and durability
- High ductility
- Higher machinability
Cons
- Higher cost compared to other brass alloys
- Contains leads
- May result in health hazards if you don’t have proper precautions
Applications
- Hardware
- Ammunition casings
- Electrical and plumbing components
Yellow Brass
It’s a popular Brass alloy with a higher percentage of zinc than copper. What does the yellow brass look like? It has a distinctive yellow color. Besides the attractive yellow color, it has an attractive appearance. Thus, you can use it for ornamental and decorative applications. For instance, for making jewelry, musical instruments, and hardware. In addition, yellow brass has good corrosion resistance and is easy to machine.
Pros
- Distinctive yellow color
- Ideal for ornamental and decorative
- Good machinability
- Good corrosion resistance
- Relatively low production cost than the other alloys.
Cons
- Lower strength than the other alloys
- Higher zinc content may result in dezincification
Applications
- Jewellery
- Hardware
- Decorative components
- Musical instruments
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most commonly used type of brass for CNC machining?
A free cutting (360 brass) is the common and most popular type of brass for CNC machining. This type of brass is popular due to its excellent cutting performance and machinability. Thus, you can use it for various projects.
What is the use of naval brass in CNC machining?
Naval brass is common in CNC machining for marine applications. For example, it’s a popular material for shipbuilding and offshore drilling. This type of brass has excellent corrosion resistance properties, high durability, and strength. These properties make it effective for marine projects and applications.
Is yellow brass suitable for CNC machining?
Yes. Yellow brass is suitable for CNC machining. It’s good machinability and corrosion resistance makes it a key CNC machining material. You can use it for decorative and ornamental applications. For instance, it’s the best material for marking jewelry, musical instruments, and hardware.
What are the advantages of using red brass in CNC machining?
Red brass has a distinctive reddish-brown color. This color makes it ideal for ornamental and decorative applications. In addition, the red brass also has high strength and good corrosion resistance.
Does cartridge brass contain lead?
cartridge brass contains a small percentage of lead. The small lead percentage may cause health hazards if you don’t use it well. Despite the drawback, it’s an excellent choice for CNC machining. It possesses various sophisticated properties like machinability, durability, and high strength.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right type of brass is essential for achieving the desired outcome in CNC machining. Free-cutting brass, naval brass, red brass, cartridge brass, and yellow brass are the most commonly used brass alloys in CNC machining. These brass alloys have unique properties and characteristics. It’ll be good to understand the differences between these alloys. With a proper understanding, you can make an informed decision and get the best alloy for your brass CNC machining parts.
