Machines used in manufacturing need a certain level of care put into their construction. These kinds of machines have a ton of moving parts and need to work for hours on end. Because of this, deciding what materials your machines will need is a crucial element to making them last. Choose the wrong materials and you risk your machinery breaking down more frequently and costing you more money in the long run. Here are some of the best materials for manufacturing machinery that will keep them running for a long time.
Carbon Alloys
In addition to being very stable at both high and low temperatures, carbon alloys are useful to use when your machinery will be in particularly corrosive environments. The carbon content helps to combat the effects of corrosion and oxidation. Carbon alloys also tend to be much easier to weld while still boasting the same level of strength that another metal like steel might.
Stainless Steel
Arguably the most widely used material for manufacturing machinery, stainless steel is a useful and versatile alloy that many rely on for tough jobs. Stainless steel is remarkably strong and hard, making it useful in high pressure or weight situations. This metal also has a high resistance to both heat and corrosion. This allows machinery made from stainless steel to last a long time, even in harsh conditions like being outside or in water.
Aluminum
While aluminum may not have the same strength that steel does, it does have one large benefit over steel. Aluminum is much lighter of a material that steel is while still being relatively strong. This makes it easy to use and the perfect solution for machines that won’t need to deal with a lot of weight. Aluminum is also much cheaper to use in machinery than steel because of how common it is.
Plastics
Most plastics can’t measure up to metals when it comes to heat resistance, but that isn’t what manufacturers use plastic for in the first place. Like aluminum, plastic is very lightweight and easy to shape. These qualities allow it to become more difficult shapes and slot in perfectly where they need to. Plastics can also fare quite well when it comes to moving parts, as they don’t wear down in the same way that metals do.
