Oil and gas equipment does not give a machined part much room for error. A component may need to contain pressure, maintain a seal, guide another component, control fluid flow, or keep two mating parts aligned while exposed to corrosion, heat, vibration, or repeated loading. That is why CNC machining...
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What Is Billet Metal? How It Is Made, Machined, and Used
If you have searched for billet metal, billet aluminum, or a billet machined part, you may have noticed that the word “billet” is used in several different ways. That can make the term confusing. A billet is not a metal grade like 6061 aluminum, 7075 aluminum, or 17-4 PH stainless...
What Is Billet Aluminum? Billet vs. Cast vs. Forged
What Is Billet Aluminum? Billet aluminum is not a grade of metal. The word “billet” describes the form of the material. In most machining applications, it means solid aluminum stock that a manufacturer cuts or machines into a finished part. When a product is sold as a billet aluminum part,...
Precision Machining for West Africa: How Mines, Oilfields and Plants Cut Downtime on Critical Parts
When a critical part fails, the biggest problem is often not the part itself. It is the time spent waiting for a replacement. A mine can have a crusher, conveyor or pump ready for operation, but if one shaft, bushing, sleeve or mounting component is unavailable, the equipment may remain...
How to Compare CNC Machining Services for Industrial Applications
Choosing a CNC machining supplier is easy if price is the only requirement. Industrial sourcing rarely works that way. A buyer may send the same STEP file to five machine shops and receive five very different quotes. One supplier prices two setups, another assumes four. One includes material traceability and...
Thin Wall Machining for Aluminum Housings: How to Control Tight Tolerances and Chatter
A thin-wall housing does not become difficult simply because one wall is 1.2 mm thick. The real difficulty is how the part changes as material is removed. A housing can begin as a rigid aluminum billet and finish as a structure with walls only slightly over 1 mm thick. During...