Base Plate material selection
Base Plate material selection
(OP)
Greetings-
I'm designing an optical instrument and I need to select a grade of aluminum for a baseplate. The following is some information on my design:
*The instrument size is 330mm x 550mm and the baseplate thickness will either be 1/2" or 5/8" thick.
*The instrument will be light enough to pickup and move around. However, the baseplate can't flex to this will effect the optics. Optical breadboard is out of the question to use.
* the baseplate need to have a flatness tolerance of 0.005"
* There will be alot of machining to this part
I'm considering using either MIC-6 or 7075 (precision ground) I'm leaning more towards the 7075 has it has a higher yeild strength. However, the MIC-6 has a better machining and tolerance. Any suggestion?
Regards
Frank
I'm designing an optical instrument and I need to select a grade of aluminum for a baseplate. The following is some information on my design:
*The instrument size is 330mm x 550mm and the baseplate thickness will either be 1/2" or 5/8" thick.
*The instrument will be light enough to pickup and move around. However, the baseplate can't flex to this will effect the optics. Optical breadboard is out of the question to use.
* the baseplate need to have a flatness tolerance of 0.005"
* There will be alot of machining to this part
I'm considering using either MIC-6 or 7075 (precision ground) I'm leaning more towards the 7075 has it has a higher yeild strength. However, the MIC-6 has a better machining and tolerance. Any suggestion?
Regards
Frank





RE: Base Plate material selection
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I don't know whether it's applicable for your requirements you
might want to consider aluminum metal faced honeycomb panels.
Here are links to two of many suppliers of Aluminum panels. I would definately give Flatiron a call with you requirements.
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http://www.pacificpanels.com/GPpanel.html
RE: Base Plate material selection
Thanks for the tip, honeycomb panel waw looked at but can't be used in my application. The other material you mentioned I looked up and it seems similar to MIC -6
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
RE: Base Plate material selection
Then, cast the baseplate to that design with the Al listed above. Casting it "too thin" (or purchasing a plate already "too thin" and then welding !!! additional webs on the back is going to induce the stress and movement and time and money and cost you are trying to avoid. Worse, each plate after fab will be slightly different, and need additional maching time to try to get it "back to flat"