From fashioning hardware and fixtures to artwork, musical instruments, machine parts, and much more, brass machining offers a nearly limitless range of applications. The process involves cutting, shaping, and finishing brass into desired shapes to satisfy your design requirements and specifications.
Why choose brass, though? Its affordability, high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and durable malleability are some of the benefits associated with this widely used copper-zinc alloy.
5 Key Benefits of Brass for Parts Manufacturing
1: Performance
As an alloy of copper and zinc, these shared properties make brass well suited for use in a wide range of applications, including plumbing and electrical wiring. But what exactly gives brass its desirable mechanical properties? The key lies in the interaction between the copper and zinc atoms.
When combined in the correct proportions, these atoms form a lattice structure that is both strong and flexible. This makes brass ideal for use in situations where strength and durability are important, such as in plumbing fixtures and door handles.
In addition, the lattice structure of brass allows it to resist wear and tear, making it an excellent solution for applications where reliability is critical, such as in electrical wiring. Thanks to its unique combination of properties, brass is one of the most versatile engineering materials available.
2: Corrosion-Resistant
For use cases where part longevity is non-negotiable, brass’s inherent corrosion resistance properties make it an attractive choice for many applications.
Unlike pure copper, brass does not readily corrode in the presence of oxygen. This is due to the formation of a thin protective layer of zinc oxide on the surface of the metal.
The added zinc oxide layer provides protection to the underlying metal from further oxidation. Brass is also resistant to saltwater corrosion and can be used in a variety of marine applications.
3: High Malleability
Brass shares many of the properties of both of its parent metals. Like copper, brass is highly malleable; meaning that it can be easily shaped and molded. When heated, it becomes far less brittle and retains much of its structural integrity when forming into various part designs.
Brass has a relatively low melting point, which allows it to be worked at room temperature with little effort. In contrast, metals like steel have a much higher melting point, which makes them tougher to shape and work with.
Thanks to this high malleability, brass can prove a suitable material for a wide variety of parts where unique, complex, or nonstandard shapes are required. From door knobs to musical instruments and machine parts, there are few limits to its versatility.
4: Excellent Conductivity
One of the most important properties of brass is its electrical conductivity. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, but it is also quite soft. Adding zinc to copper makes it much harder, and as a result, brass is often used for electrical connectors.
This is important in applications like electrical wiring, where materials must be able to carry a current without resistance. Pure metals are generally the best conductors of electricity, but they can be expensive and difficult to work with.
This is where brass comes in. As an alloy, brass has many of the same properties as copper, including excellent electrical conductivity. It is also cheaper and less challenging to work with than pure copper.
As a result, brass is a popular choice for electrical applications. This applies particularly in situations where aesthetics are important, such as light fixtures and door hardware. Its natural color mimics the appearance of gold without the price tag.
5: Cost-Effective Manufacturing
Working with pure metals can quickly drive up the costs of parts manufacturing. In turn, this can significantly raise the price of the finished product for your customers.
As an alloy, brass offers a far more cost-effective part manufacturing option than a pure metal. With its added benefits of high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and malleability, the value that this material provides makes it a go-to choice for a long list of industries and applications.
Work with a Brass Machining Partner for Your Manufacturing Needs
At Advance CNC, our team of expert machinists serves as the trusted parts manufacturing partner for businesses across the United States and throughout the rest of the globe. All of our brass machining operations are completely fulfilled in-house from our two Ohio locations in Grove City and West Chester.
Our brass machining solutions provide you with the ability to source large quantities of parts in a cost-effective and scalable manner. To learn more about how we can partner with your business, contact us today.
