Alloy identification

[Bob W.]

I have an aluminum part I am reverse engineering and I need to determine what alloy the aluminum is. It is a cast automotive part. Is there a place I can send this to get a positive identification? Not really a Mastercam question but I figured I would get a pretty good answer in this forum.

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

A metalurgist is the only way I can figger.

 

HTH

[BernieT]

You can narrow it down a bit if you can tell if it is a die cast, investment cast or sand cast part.

 

Automotive parts are usually die cast or sand cast.

 

Investment cast would probably be A386 alum.

 

Looks like die cast uses A380 - A386 quick Google search

 

 

 

You might call a foundry and ask them what alloys they normally use.

[Bob W.]

This is a sand cast part and the quality looks pretty good.

[Newbeeee™]

If it was over here in the UK, it would probably be made of LM25

http://www.uk-racing-castings.co.uk/lm25data.htm

 

Off the top of my head, I'd have thought if you're going to copy like for like from solid, you wouldn't have a problem using a 6000 series alloy (such as 6082-T6)

[Robert Ouellette]

they sell a laser that will tell you what the material is. you just point it at the part. pull the trigger. and it burns a small spot and from the light emitted from it it will tell you what it is. here is a link to the one i have seen in use.

http://www.azonano.com/equipment-details.asp?EquipID=24

very cool. the last shop i was in got caught by it. we made parts out of 7075 instead of 2024 and that laser caught it and we remade them. we then bought one for ourselves shortly after.

[Hardmill]

Isnt there kits that do this with chemicals ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEACE

[Bob W.]

they sell a laser that will tell you what the material is. you just point it at the part. pull the trigger. and it burns a small spot and from the light emitted from it it will tell you what it is. here is a link to the one i have seen in use.

http://www.azonano.com/equipment-details.asp?EquipID=24

very cool. the last shop i was in got caught by it. we made parts out of 7075 instead of 2024 and that laser caught it and we remade them. we then bought one for ourselves shortly after.

 

Do you know of a business with this capability that I could send a sample for analysis?

[M. Anderson]

Check with your local scrap yards, some of the ones here have them...

 

Also call local material suppliers.

 

Also look for local non-destructive testing companies, some here do this type of testing.

 

HTH

 

Mark