Cobalt Machining
Cobalt
Cobalt-based alloys exhibit corrosion and wear resistant characteristics. Most of the produced cobalt is consumed for cobalt-based superalloys. Cobalt is a chemical element and is found only in chemically combined form, with the exception of small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. It is mainly used as the metal in the preparation of magnetic, wear-resistant and high-strength alloys. Cobalt-based machining alloys are used in turbine blades for gas turbines and jet aircraft engines due to their temperature stability. The temperature stability characteristic and the wear-resistance of cobalt machining make it useful in the medical field for orthopedic implants. This application is often used along with titanium.
Usage
Cobalt machining alloys are used in the medical industry for prosthetic parts such as hip and knee replacements. They are also used in the dental field for dental prosthetics, as they are useful to avoid allergies to nickel. Cobalt machining is used to increase heat and wear-resistance in various high speed steel drill bits. Alnico, a combination of special alloys of aluminum, nickel, cobalt and iron and of samarium and cobalt are used in permanent magnets. When alloyed with 95% platinum, it produces an alloy that is slightly magnetic and suitable for fine detailed casting in jewelry applications.
Machining Cobalt
The following guidelines are recommended for cobalt machining:
- To minimize tool overhang, work piece and tool should be held rigid.
- Machine should be overpowered and rigid as much as possible
- To maintain positive cutting action, use heavy, constant feeds
- Soluble oils are suggested as lubrication when using carbide tooling.
- Even sharpened tools should be changed at regular intervals as 0.015 inch wear land is considered dull. For most machining operations, positive rake angle tools are used. High-speed tools can be used, with lower productions rates, often recommended for intermittent cuts. For most applications, carbide-tipped tools are suggested.
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