Machining Soft Magnetic Alloys – Hiperco® 50A & Core Iron (VIM VAR)

The EFINEA Guide to Machining Soft Magnetic Alloys reviews the machining of CarTech® Hiperco® 50A and Core Iron (VIM VAR).

Soft magnetic alloys can be machined by all of the common metal machining processes. No special equipment or procedures are required to produce parts with accurate dimensions with excellent finishes.

Soft magnetic alloys that are primarily nickel-iron alloys, e.g. EFINEA Alloy 79 (Magnifer 7904), HyMu 80, Hipernom, Moly-Permalloy, Permalloy 80, EFINEA Alloy 50 (Magnifer 50) and High Permeability 49 can be machined in accordance with the information found in our Machining Nickel-Iron Alloys Guide.

 

Guide to Machining CarTech® Hiperco® 50A

Tools

The choice between high-speed steel and carbide tools depends largely on production quantities. When using carbide tools, surface speed feet/minute (SFPM) can be increased between 2 and 3 times over the high-speed suggestions. Feeds can be increased between 50 and 100%.

The following charts include typical machining parameters used to machine CarTech Hiperco 50A. The data should be used as a guide for initial machine setup only.

Turning – Single Point & Box Tools


SFPMIPR
High Speed Tools30 - 400.003 - 0.010
Carbide Tools120 - 1300.005 - 0.010

Turning – Cut-Off & Form Tools


Cut-Off Tool WidthSFPMIPR
1/16"250.001
1/8"250.002
1/4"250.003
Form Tool Width SFPMIPR
1/2"250.004
1"250.0025
1-1/2"250.002

Die Threading


Threads per InchSFPM
3 - 7-1/28
8 - 1510
Over 1615

Milling


SFPMIPR
20 - 300.001 - 0.005

Drilling


Drill DiameterSFPMIPR
3/8"300.005
3/4"300.010

Reaming


SFPMIPR
Under 1/2"650.005
Over 1/2"650.010

Tapping


Threads per InchSFPM
3 - 7-1/26
8 - 157
16 - 2411
Over 2515

Broaching


SFPMIPR
Chip Load8 - 150.002
Over 2515

 

Guide to Machining Core Iron (VIM VAR)

The following charts include typical machining used to machine electrical iron. The data listed should be used as a guide for initial machine setup only.

Turning – Single Point & Box Tools

High Speed Tools

Depth of Cut inchesSpeed IPMSpeed IPRTool Material
0.150800.015M-2
0.0251100.007M-2
Carbide Tools

Depth of Cut inchesSpeed IPM
Brazed
Speed IPM
Throw Away
Feed IPRTool Material
0.1503504000.020C-6
0.0254004900.007C-7

Turning – Cut-Off & Form Tools

Cut-Off Tool Feed IPR

Speed FPMWidthWidthWidthTool Material
1/16"1/8"1/4"
70.001.015.002M-2
250.003.0045.006C-6
Form Tool Feed IPR

Speed FPMWidthWidthWidthWidthTool Material
1/2"1"1-1/2"2"
70.0015.001.001.0007M-2
250.003.0025.0025.0015C-6

Drilling

Feed IPR

Speed FPMHole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Hole Dia.*Tool Material
1/16"1/8"1/4"1/2"3/4"1"1-1/2"2"
70.001.002.004.007.010.012.015.018M-42

*Nominal Hole Diameter

 

Figures used for all metal removal operations covered are average.  On certain work, the nature of the part may require adjustment of speeds and feeds.  Each job has to be developed for best production results with optimum tool life. Speeds or feeds should be increased or decreased in small steps.

Items as supplied from the mill exhibit only a fraction of the soft magnetic properties which they are capable of attaining. To optimize their full magnetic properties, further heat treatment is a necessity.

Optimal heat treating procedures vary depending on the type of soft magnetic alloy – recommended heating temperatures, hold times, cooling rates, cycles, and types of atmospheres are all specific to each alloy.  For the recommended heat treatment procedures refer to our Hiperco 50, 50A & 50 HS Ferromagnetic Annealing Guide, Core Iron (VIM VAR) Ferromagnetic Annealing Guide, EFINEA Alloy 50 Ferromagnetic Annealing Guide, or EFINEA Alloy 79 Ferromagnetic Annealing Guide.