Materials selection

  Importance of Material Selection

The following areas will be affected:

1. Performance of the product

2.  Manufacturing cost and time

3.  Life-time of the product

　

  Criteria for Material Selection

Materials are selected on the basis of three general criteria:

1. Properties characteristics

2. Business consideration

3. Processing characteristic

 

Material Selected:
(i) Aluminium

    Advantages: light, easy to machine

    Disadvantage: soft

    Components applied: headstock, pulley

 

                 
 

 

(ii) Cast iron

      Advantages: cheap, tough
      Disadvantages: heavy, difficult to machine
      Components applied: x, y, z platforms

 

 

 

(iii) Mild steel

              Advantages: cheap, hard
              Disadvantage: heavy

              Components applied: vice, bearing housing
 

 

 

 

(iv) Brass

               Advantage: easy to machine

               Disadvantage: heavy

              Component applied: bearing cover