CNC Dural Milling: The Strength of Steel, The Lightness of Aluminium at Metalone.eu

In the world of modern mechanical engineering and industrial design, the perfect compromise between weight and durability is constantly sought. While steel is strong but heavy, pure aluminium is light but lacks the necessary hardness. The solution driving the aerospace, automotive, and robotics industries is dural (an alloy of aluminium, copper, and magnesium).

At Metalone.eu, we specialise in precision CNC machining and milling of dural. Thanks to our experience and modern machine park, we can extract the absolute maximum from this material.

Why is Dural so Popular?

The name dural comes from the English durable aluminium, and it accurately describes its properties. Compared to pure aluminium, it has significantly different characteristics due to the addition of copper and other elements:

Property	Advantages of Dural for Your Project
High Strength	After heat treatment, it achieves tensile strength approaching that of some types of structural steel.
Low Density	It maintains a low weight (approximately 2.8 g/cm³), which is a fraction of the weight of ferrous metals.
Excellent Machinability	It produces short, brittle chips, making it an ideal material for fast and precise CNC machining.

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Challenges in CNC Dural Milling (And How Metalone Addresses Them)

Although dural is excellently machinable, it can cause problems for an inexperienced manufacturer. At high cutting speeds, it tends to "smear" and stick to the cutting tool (forming what is known as built-up edge). This leads to poor surface quality and rapid tool wear.

How do we prevent this at Metalone.eu?

1. Special Cutting Tools

We do not use universal milling cutters. For dural, we employ special carbide tools with polished flutes for improved chip evacuation. These tools feature sharp cutting edges and specific coatings that minimise friction and prevent material adhesion.

2. High-Speed Machining (HSM)

Dural thrives on speed. We utilise our modern CNC milling machines for High-Speed Machining (HSM). Rapid feed rates and high spindle speeds ensure that heat is carried away with the chips and does not remain in the workpiece. This prevents deformation and maintains micron-level precision.

3. Perfect Cooling and Lubrication

We employ advanced high-pressure cooling systems that direct the emulsion precisely onto the cutting edge of the tool. This instantly cools the dural and rapidly and effectively flushes chips away from the cutting zone.

Where are Our Dural Components Used?

Aerospace Industry: Structural elements, frames, covers, and precision clamping mechanisms, where every gram counts.
Robotics and Automation: Robot arms, movable line components, and grippers.
Automotive Industry (Motorsport): Lightweight axle components, engine mounts, and custom components for racing specials.
Optics and Measurement Technology: Robust and stable bases for sensitive instruments.

Metalone.eu: Ready for Your Projects

Whether you need to produce a single prototype of a complex dural component or are seeking a partner for reliable series production, Metalone.eu is ready. We combine first-class materials, cutting-edge CNC technologies, and years of experience to deliver results you can rely on.