Axially symmetric components can be made via metal spinning, a flexible forming method that finds use in many different sectors. The process entails utilising specialised spinning equipment to apply force to a pre-sized metal disc, which is spun at high speeds. It is essential to be familiar with the variety of accessible metals when planning your metal spinning project.
Here, we will examine the materials in further detail, both common and uncommon, building upon our earlier discussion of design tips for metal spinning projects.
Table of Contents
What Are The Components Of Metal Spinning Tops?
Metal tops spin for the longest periods. On the other hand, a long-lasting spin can be achieved with a wide range of metals. Metal spinning tops can be produced from valuable or more ordinary metals we encounter daily.
So, how can a machinist decide which of these alternatives to use? Several considerations go into deciding which metal is best for a spinning top.
Go up there and have a look. A spinning top's final appearance and feel are dictated by the metal used to make it. The material affects how heavy the top is and how it feels when spun and handled. The top's colour and sheen are also affected by the metal kind.
Simplicity of cutting. When turned on a lathe, various metals take on unique properties. Some are simple to cut, and others are more challenging. The machinability of the metal describes this quality. Factors like hardness and toughness determine a metal's machinability.
Durability. A metal spinning top of superior quality will last for many years. Various metals have various durability qualities, which means that spinning tops manufactured of different metals will also have different durability. Some metals don't corrode easily. Different ones are stronger, tougher, and harder.
Cost. Lastly, the price is a major factor when deciding which metals to employ for a spinning top. Like any raw resource, the price of metals can range widely. The demand and supply side will determine this. The machining cost of making the top is also a part of the cost element. An intricately designed and machined top will be more expensive than a basic, mass-produced one. Using specialised tools in the machining process might further drive up the price.
To that end, what are some potential components of metal spinning tops?
Commonly Spun Metals
Spin tops are typically made of aluminium, stainless steel, or brass. You can go right with these if you're looking for long-lasting, reasonably priced, machinably easy, and aesthetically pleasing tops.
Aluminium
Aluminium is a material that we encounter frequently in our daily lives. Aluminium is used in everyday items, including soda cans, foils, and building decorations.
Metals like aluminium are abundant, inexpensive, lightweight, non-toxic, and corrosion-resistant. It may also be machined with ease. It ranks high among the metals that can be worked into a pliable and flexible shape.
The interior core of the top should be made of aluminium. The combination of aluminium with a heavier metal (such as stainless steel) allows weight distribution towards the top, thanks to the former's relative lightness.
- Material: Metal with a silvery-white hue.
- Uses and Characteristics: Low density, naturally resistant to corrosion, lightweight, very ductile and malleable, and outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. The aviation, automobile, building, energy, healthcare, engineering, and food service sectors would benefit greatly.
4 Types Of Steel
Stainless steel, like aluminium, is an ingredient in countless commonplace items. The metal stainless steel is commonly used for cooking utensils, water bottles, pots, trash cans, pans, and even knives. Aerospace parts, surgical instruments, and building materials are just a few of the many industrial uses for this material.
Stainless steel is more accurately described as an alloy of iron and various other elements than a distinct metal in and of itself. A stainless steel material's characteristics are defined by its precise composition, which might vary.
- The metal has a dull, matte grey appearance.
- Characteristics and Applications: Tool steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, and alloy steel find widespread application.
Carbon Steel
The carbon content influences the characteristics. It is hard, long-lasting, and can be reinforced with carbon.
Alloy Steel
Added alloying elements improve machinability, corrosion resistance, flexibility, and strength.
Stainless Steel
Excellent resistance to corrosion, long-lasting, and simple to fabricate.
Tools and equipment used in surgery, medicine, and the automobile and food industries are commonplace. In sanitary settings, stainless steel is often the material of choice.
Hot-Rolled Steel
In terms of ease of fabrication, shaping, and shaping, hot-rolled steel outshines cold-rolled steel. During milling, known as "hot rolling," steel is heated to temperatures well over its recrystallisation point, usually more than 900 degrees Celsius.
Steel becomes more malleable and easier to shape when heated beyond the recrystallisation point.
A big rectangular piece of metal called a billet is the first step for sheet metal makers. After being heated, it is rolled out into a huge sheet and, while still hot, passed through a series of rollers until it reaches the required texture and colour.
Before the steel is left to cool at room temperature and rolled into coils for sheet metal, it undergoes a process called normalisation. This procedure releases any internal stresses that may have been caused by work-hardening or quenching.
The final size and shape can be less precisely controlled because of the minor shrinkage when hot-rolled steel cools.
Hot-rolled steel is a popular option for applications where cost is more essential than accuracy and where close tolerances are not required. It finds widespread usage in building structures and pipelines, tubes, railway tracks, and automobile chassis components.
Cold-Rolled Steel
Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel is heated to high temperatures and cooled to room temperature, but cold reduction mills roll them again at temperatures below their recrystallisation temperature.
They tend to be tougher than steels that are hot-rolled. Work hardening, also called strain hardening or cold working, strengthens metals by plastic deformation, which happens when a material is bent, compressed, tensile, or torsion/twisted under stresses that exceed its yield strength and cause it to twist, elongate, or compress, among other permanent distortions. Cold-rolled steel is already hard and resistant to tension breaking and deformation because it is formed at lower temperatures.
Cold-rolled steel is commonly used for structural components that need a higher tensile strength and for appliances, metal furniture, and aerospace constructions.
Tool Steel
Because it is long-lasting, heat-resistant, and perfect for cutting and drilling tools.
- Numerous sectors include transportation, building, military, healthcare, energy, farming, and oil and gas.
Mild Steel
- The surface has a greyish-white appearance.
- Properties and Uses: Low-carbon steel is superior to high-carbon steel in ductility, machinability, and welding. It can be enhanced with the addition of carbon for even more strength. It can be galvanised or painted, but it is not corrosion-resistant.
- Industries: building, transportation, production, home furnishings.
Galvanised Steel
- Visual Characteristics: A flat, matte grey hue.
- Steel with a zinc coating is corrosion-resistant and has a tougher surface; these are some of its uses and characteristics. Steel that is rich in carbon yet has little plasticity and flexibility. Protected from wear, tear and cracking.
- The following sectors are heating, ventilation, air conditioning, automobiles, fuel and agriculture, and road building.
304 Stainless Steel
- Visual Appeal: Seems shiny and brilliant.
- Stainless steel is a kind of metal that is versatile and extensively used. Lasts a long time and doesn't rust or oxidise. Quick to clean, weld, and construct. Medical, food, electrical, and building applications are all possible.
316 Stainless Steel
- Looks like 304, but with a lustrous, dazzling sheen.
- Property and Use: Molybdenum adds resistance to corrosion. Strong and simple to work with in fabrication, cleaning, and welding. The chemical equipment, pharmaceutical, maritime, and building sectors would all benefit from this.
Uncommonly Spun Metals
Although brass, stainless steel, and aluminium are among the metals that can be utilised for spinning tops, they are not the sole options.
Copper
Copper shares several similarities with brass. On the other hand, it costs more and is a little trickier to process than brass. Additionally, its wear qualities could be better. Therefore, why is it designed for metal spinning tops? How it appears! Copper stands out among the other materials mentioned here due to its reddish-brown colour. A spinning top can be made more eye-catching by using copper.
- Metal that appears reddish-gold.
- Uses and Properties: It is a great conductor of heat and electricity, has outstanding ductility, is antibacterial, and is very corrosion-resistant. Roofing, energy, maritime, manufacturing, plumbing, and the automotive industries are among its many widespread uses.
Brass
Brass is still a frequently utilised material in sheet metal manufacturing, even if it is less common than aluminium or steel.
The copper-to-zinc ratio in brass, an alloy, can be adjusted to provide a variety of mechanical and electrical properties. Its high strength levels retained after shaping make it a popular material.
Brass has several common uses, including in medicine (since it does not foster the growth of bacteria), plumbing fixtures, musical instruments like trumpets, horns, trombones, and ammunition (because it is used in applications requiring minimal friction).
- External look: a gleaming golden hue (may vary).
- Copper and zinc alloys have antibacterial, machinability, corrosion resistance, ductility, and high strength qualities; they are useful for various applications. Perfect for the automotive, ornamental, musical, and lighting industries.
Titanium
The Greek mythological titans are an appropriate inspiration for the name titanium. Durable, tough, and lustrous, it is. It is ubiquitous in industrial and everyday things, like culinary utensils and stainless steel, and it is also used in many other types of construction. Since it is non-toxic and bonds effectively with bone, it finds additional usage in jewellery and joint replacements.
All of these uses for titanium also make it an ideal choice for spinning tops because of its characteristics. Stainless steel isn't often chosen for metal countertops because it is more expensive than aluminium, brass, and stainless steel.
- The metal has a shiny, greyish-white appearance.
- Lightweight, extremely resistant to corrosion, and able to withstand high and low temperatures are some of its useful properties. Apt for use in the manufacturing, aerospace, energy, maritime, healthcare, and defence sectors.
Inconel 625
- Description: This silver metal has the look and feel of stainless steel but is lighter than aluminium.
- Properties and Uses: Very weldable, resistant to corrosion and fatigue, and high tensile strength. Used frequently in the chemical processing, engineering, petroleum and gas extraction, automotive, nuclear, and industrial sectors.
Monel
- Looks like metallic shine on a grey background.
- The nickel-copper alloy has excellent resistance to acids and corrosion, making it a useful material. Easily brazed, soldered, and shaped into many shapes. Various chemical, engineering, marine, aerospace, and processing sectors use it.
Hastelloy
- Looks like grey with a metallic sheen, like Monel.
- This nickel alloy has a low silicon concentration, which makes it ideal for welding and is very resistant to corrosion and high temperatures. Apt for use in the mining, oil & gas, chemical, waste treatment, and maritime sectors.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a beautiful, silvery-white metal with exceptional hardness and corrosion resistance. Sadly, it's not easy to machine and costs a pretty penny. For the most part, spinning tops use it for aesthetic purposes.
Bronze
Bronze is a metal that has copper and tin in it. In addition to being resistant to corrosion, it has a very smooth surface. When both practicality and aesthetics are paramount, they find a home in sculptures and musical instruments. For the same reasons, it might be used as a material for spinning tops.
Unique And Precious Metals
Spinning tops can also be crafted from rare and precious metals. While they may be pricier, these high-end tops will turn heads and make wonderful display pieces or mementoes. Rather than wearing a piece of jewellery, you spin a top of precious metal.
Among these metals are beryllium, tellurium, gold, and platinum. They also contain one-of-a-kind alloys engineered to withstand stress, retain strength, and withstand high temperatures without oxidation or corrosion.
Conclusion
Metal spinning is a versatile shaping technique that is used in many fields, such as aerospace, automobile, building, energy, healthcare, engineering, and food service. Different metals, like aluminium, stainless steel, and brass, can be used to make parts of metal spinning tops.
Because it is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, ductile, pliable, and has a great strength-to-weight ratio, aluminium is often used for spinning tops. It is common, cheap, light, safe, doesn't react with other things, and doesn't rust. Stainless steel is a mixture of iron and other metals that is often used to make knives, water bottles, pots, trash cans, and other kitchen items. These tools and equipment are used in surgery, medicine, the auto and food businesses. They have a dull, matte grey look.
If you heat steel past its recrystallization point, it becomes more malleable and easier to shape, making hot-rolled steel the best choice for manufacturing and shaping. Because it is made at lower temperatures, cold-rolled steel is stronger and less likely to break or deform when stretched. It is often used for tools, metal furniture, aerospace constructions, and structural parts that need to have a high tensile strength.
Metal spinning tops can be made from a number of metals, such as aluminium, stainless steel, and brass, based on their strength and durability. When picking the right metal for a spinning top, machinists should think about how it looks, how easy it is to work with, how long it will last, and how much it costs.
Tool steel, mild steel, galvanised steel, 304 stainless steel, and 316 stainless steel are all metals that are often used for spinning tops because they are strong, don't rust, and can be used in many ways. Low-carbon steel is better at being able to bend, cut, and weld, while galvanised steel has a matte grey colour and doesn't rust. Stainless steel can be used in a lot of different fields, such as the building, electrical, medical, and food businesses.
Copper, Brass, Zinc, Titanium, Inconel 625, Monel, Hastelloy, Tungsten, and Bronze are some metals that aren't often spun. Copper is like brass in some ways, but it costs more and is harder to work with. In addition to being a great conductor of heat and energy, it is also very flexible, antibacterial, and doesn't rust. The shiny, greyish-white metal known as brass is used to make sheet metal. Titanium is strong, long-lasting, and shiny, and it is used in many industrial and everyday things. Because it costs more, stainless steel is not used as much.
Monel is an alloy of nickel and copper that is very resistant to acids and rust and can be used in many areas. Hastelloy is a silver metal that shines like metal. It is great for welding and doesn't rust or melt at high temperatures. Tungsten is a beautiful silvery-white metal that is very hard and doesn't rust. However, it is very expensive and hard to work with. Bronze is made from copper and tin, which is why it can be used for spinning tops.
Some rare and valuable metals, like beryllium, tellurium, gold, and platinum, can also be used to make spinning tops. It is made so that these high-end metals can handle stress, keep their strength, and handle high temperatures without rust or corrosion.
Content Summary
- Metal spinning is a versatile forming method that creates axially symmetric components for various sectors.
- Specialised spinning equipment applies force to a pre-sized metal disc, spinning it at high speeds.
- Understanding the range of metals available is crucial for planning metal spinning projects.
- Metals used in spinning tops can vary from common everyday metals to valuable ones.
- The choice of metal impacts the top's appearance, weight, and feel.
- Machinability, or how easily a metal can be cut on a lathe, varies across different metals.
- Durability is a key consideration, as metals have different strengths and corrosion resistance.
- Cost factors into the decision, influenced by both raw material prices and machining expenses.
- Aluminium, stainless steel, and brass are commonly chosen for their balance of properties.
- Aluminium is abundant, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and easily machinable.
- It's often used in daily items and is ideal for the interior core of spinning tops.
- Stainless steel is an alloy with uses ranging from kitchenware to industrial components.
- It offers excellent corrosion resistance and durability, with a dull, matte grey appearance.
- Carbon and alloy steels are versatile, with properties like hardness and flexibility.
- Hot-rolled steel is preferred for its ease of fabrication and cost-effectiveness in certain applications.
- Cold-rolled steel, formed at lower temperatures, boasts higher tensile strength.
- Tool steel is chosen for its durability and heat resistance, ideal for cutting and drilling tools.
- Mild steel is known for its ductility and machinability, used widely in construction.
- Galvanised steel features a zinc coating for increased corrosion resistance.
- 304 Stainless Steel is versatile, durable, and used in a range of applications including medical and food industries.
- 316 Stainless Steel offers added corrosion resistance due to molybdenum, suitable for chemical and marine uses.
- Uncommon metals like copper and brass offer unique aesthetics and properties for spinning tops.
- Copper stands out for its reddish-brown colour and excellent conductivity.
- Brass is appreciated for its antibacterial properties and high strength, used in various applications.
- Titanium is tough, corrosion-resistant, and used in industries from aerospace to healthcare.
- Inconel 625 is noted for its high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion and fatigue.
- Monel, a nickel-copper alloy, excels in resistance to acids and corrosion.
- Hastelloy is distinguished by its welding properties and resistance to high temperatures and corrosion.
- Tungsten, though hard and corrosion-resistant, is challenging to machine and expensive.
- Bronze combines copper and tin for corrosion resistance and a smooth surface, suitable for artistic and musical applications.
- Precious metals like gold and platinum can be used for high-end spinning tops.
- Beryllium, tellurium, and unique alloys offer high-stress resistance and temperature tolerance.
- The choice of metal significantly affects the spinning top's performance and longevity.
- Factors such as appearance, machinability, durability, and cost influence metal selection.
- Aluminium's lightness and strength make it a popular choice for spinning tops.
- Stainless steel's diverse applications highlight its versatility and durability.
- The differences between hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel lie in their fabrication processes and properties.
- Tool steel is essential for industries requiring durable and heat-resistant components.
- Mild steel's low carbon content makes it ductile and easy to work with.
- Galvanised steel's zinc coating protects it from corrosion, extending its lifespan.
- The choice between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel depends on the required corrosion resistance level.
- Copper and brass are less common but valued for their unique properties and aesthetics.
- Titanium offers a combination of lightness and strength, though it's more expensive than other metals.
- Inconel 625, Monel, and Hastelloy are specialised alloys used for their specific properties.
- Tungsten and bronze provide distinct advantages for spinning tops, despite their machining and cost challenges.
- Rare and precious metals add luxury and uniqueness to spinning tops.
- The functionality and beauty of a spinning top are greatly influenced by the metal used.
- Innovations in metal spinning techniques continue to expand the possibilities for using different metals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Besides the commonly mentioned metals, other alloys such as titanium, nickel, and various specialised alloys can be spun depending on specific project requirements and material properties.
Factors such as the desired mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, appearance, and intended application play significant roles in determining the choice of metal for metal spinning projects.
While many metals and alloys can be spun, certain materials with high hardness or brittleness may pose challenges during the spinning process and require specialised equipment or techniques.
Thinner metals are generally more malleable and easier to form through metal spinning. Thicker metals may require more force and pose challenges in achieving desired shapes without wrinkling or cracking.
Environmental factors such as recyclability, sustainability, and the energy required for extraction and processing may influence the choice of metal for metal spinning projects, particularly in industries with stringent environmental regulations and sustainability goals.