Magnesium exhibits excellent machinability. Machining magnesium is normally limited by the speed and power of the machine rather than the tool. Machining magnesium can usually be performed up to ten times faster than steel and twice as fast as aluminium.
When machining magnesium, carbide tools are generally preferred when long production runs are expected. Magnesium conducts heat quickly away from the tool tip, so as long as the tool remains sharp, machining magnesium is an inherently fast process.
Magnesium machining can be performed without a coolant. However, if coolants are necessary, then a light mineral oil should be used, rather than a water based lubricant. After machining magnesium using a water based lubricant, the storage of the resultant swarf is more difficult, due to the risk of reaction between the swarf and the water. There are many coolants on the market that are designed for machining magnesium.
When machining magnesium, it is very unlikely that the magnesium component will ignite through the machining process, as magnesium must be heated to its melting point before it will burn. Magnesium swarf can be ignited, but a fast machining process should produce large chips which reduce this risk, as will good housekeeping practices. Cleaning machines regularly and correct storage of the resultant swarf are important aspects of machining magnesium..
For further guidance on machining magnesium, please see the Machining Magnesium PDF file or contact Magnesium Elektron.
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