Applications of brass cutting processes
Posted on: 30 April 2018
Brass is composed of an alloy of copper and zinc. It is one of the most useful alloys in industrial processes because it is tough, resistant to corrosion and easily moulded into multiple structures. The ease of working with brass makes brass cutting a common industrial process.
The brass alloy can be subjected to many different cutting techniques (such as laser and plasma cutting) in order to get the right shapes and sizes for the required processes. The applications of brass cutting on an industrial scale are widespread.
Producing nuts, bolts and pipes
The nuts and bolts that are used in a wide variety of equipment are cut to size and shaped via brass cutting. An alloy called free cutting brass is mostly used for these applications.
Free cutting brass consists of a cocktail of copper, zinc and lead metals. This mixture is easy to manipulate, making it an ideal candidate for making many different machine components, both small and large. Free cutting brass is also used to shape pipes and other water infrastructure components that are used on a daily basis to supply water to homes and industries.
Decorative coatings
Brass is also commonly used as a decorative coating. The alloy is resistant to bacteria and does not form a surface where they can accumulate and cause possible infections. Therefore, brass cutting is often used to design fittings that go on door handles, dishwashers and home appliances.
The easily manipulated nature of the brass alloy makes it convenient to shape into complex designs that can fit multiple domestic applications.
Jewellery and household items
Brass also comes in handy when designing jewellery and household items such as pens, badges and ornament trims. A special mixture of the brass alloy, called red brass, is the preferred option for these applications.
This alloy is composed of 95% copper and only 5% zinc. The purpose? To create a material that has a deep bronze colour and is easy to shape and craft into multiple objects. You will therefore find that red brass is commonly used to make jewellery and other ornaments.
During the production process of appliances
Brass is also commonly used to design items that can be easily engraved. For example, appliances such as fridges, ovens and microwaves typically have brass encasings that can be engraved with logos and other designs. Brass cutting is used to shape and size these brass frames to add the engraving functionality.
Electrical and plumbing components
Brass can be modified with arsenic to add more resistance to corrosion. This brass mixture (called arsenic brass) is ideal for plumbing fixtures such as tubes, tanks, and pipes. In addition, the alloy is used to shape electrical terminals, locks and plugs after undergoing a sheet metal cutting process.
Share