We offer precision CNC machining of bronze parts. Our quality management system is certified according to the ISO 9001 standard. We work with tolerances up to 0.01 mm on all axes and use raw materials supplied by our partners from the EU.
Our engineers can read the drawings of any format. The average time for a response from us is up to three hours after receiving the request. The quotation is usually ready within 3 business days. The batch of manufactured bronze parts may be delivered to you within a week. We are also ready to provide you with all the necessary certificates upon your request.
Types of bronze alloys we machine
Bronze is an alloy composed of copper with tin or sometimes with other metals. It is the oldest material – people have been using it for more than seven thousand years. Copper is resistant to abrasion and corrosion, and tin gives the alloy some hardness. However, the price of bronze is much higher than that of ferrous metals or aluminum.
Therefore, it is used only as part of expensive products e.g. in instrument making, aerospace industry, medicine.
We work with all types of bronze and other copper-based alloys. But mostly our customers order the manufacturing of parts from the following bronze types:
- Bronzes processed by pressure.
- Foundry bronzes (two-phase).
- Aluminum bronze.
- Flint bronze.
- Beryllium bronze.
Designing Bronze Parts: Things to Remember
We have extensive experience in processing this alloy. We are happy to share our observations with you so that you can avoid possible problems at the design stage.
Bronze can be well soldered, but quite difficult to weld
This metal and most of its alloys have excellent ductility. This makes it both strong and flexible. A real catch for an engineer. If the bronze product is soldered, there will be no problems. But when you weld it, some issues may start to show up. The main difference between the welding process and the soldering process is that during welding the material also starts to melt, as the melting point of bronze is in the range of 930–1140°C. Do not forget to take this information into account when designing parts.
Bronze is usually more expensive than brass
Sometimes you need to change production processes. For example, the original material changes. This may be due to changes in legal requirements, sanitary regulations or other regulations. If in this case you switch from brass to bronze, consider the price difference. Although the main component of both alloys is copper, their cost can vary significantly. The second largest component of bronze, tin, costs about $ 10 per kilogram. And the second component of brass, zinc, costs 10 times less – about $ 1 per kilogram. Therefore, bronze is more expensive than brass. As a rule, the difference in price does not exceed 10%. Especially when it comes to standard workpieces used in the manufacture of parts by CNC milling and turning machines. However, the price difference between these two materials is significant. Therefore, from time to time the difference goes beyond these limits.
Bronze has a high electrical conductivity
In terms of electrical conductivity, copper is second only to silver. That is why it is so widely used in electrical appliances especially, in the production of cable products. The electrical conductivity of bronze is also high. Engineers who have no experience working with bronze may forget about this characteristic. This factor may cause some consequal problems, especially if the bronze part is surrounded by aluminum. The transition in the network from aluminum to copper or vice versa is a constant source of troubles for all electricians.
Nickel-aluminum bronze is one of the hardest alloys of non-ferrous metals
We have already mentioned the plasticity of bronze. Most engineers rely on this indicator when designing. Bronze samples are very different. For example, the C95500 alloy, the so-called nickel-aluminum bronze, is considered to be perhaps the strongest of all non-ferrous metal alloys. This bronze demonstrates excellent compressive strength, high hardness. Bearings or their parts are usually made of this alloy. It is perfectly suitable for use in difficult operating conditions, resistant to falls and shocks, heat resistant, and salty water also does not affect it. It lends itself well to processing and even welding. As you can see, almost all the properties of nickel-aluminum bronze differ from other varieties of this alloy. Therefore, we recommend you to make it a habit to go deeper into the material specifications before including it in your project.