Drawing rack / Materials Science
Materials Science
Part specs filed under Materials Science.
Materials Science
Why Steel Still Beats Aluminum for Most Mechanical Designs
MaterialMedium-carbon steel (e.g., 1045)
Tolerance±0.005 in (±0.13 mm)
ProcessCNC milling
When specifying materials for mechanical designs, engineers often face the choice between steel and aluminum.
Materials Science
Stop Obsessing Over Strength: Design for Stiffness First
Materialmedium-carbon or alloy steel (e.g., 1045 or 4140) in normalized or quenched-and-tempered condition
Tolerance±0.025 mm on critical locating bores and mounting faces; ±0.05 mm on general milled features
ProcessCNC milling and boring, followed by finish boring or reaming of bearing bores
Most designers reach for yield strength when they size a part, because strength is the number printed on the certificate and the number that shows up in a failure headline.
Materials Science
Material Choice Isn't About Strength: Stiffness Rules Mechanical Design
Material6061-T6 aluminum
Tolerance±0.05 mm on critical features
ProcessCNC milling
In mechanical design, strength often takes center stage, but stiffness is frequently the governing factor.
Materials Science
Picking the Right Metal: Why Stiffness and Strength Aren't the Same
Materiallow-carbon steel, 6061 aluminum, or 304 stainless steel
Tolerance±0.05 mm on thickness and hole location
ProcessCNC milling with drilling and finishing passes
Engineers and machinists often use the words stiffness and strength as if they were interchangeable, but they describe two different material behaviors.