Difficult Materials & Machine Shop Processes at Capabilities Beyond Engineering Ltd

What Makes a Material “Difficult” to Machine?

A material is usually classed as difficult if it:

• Is very hard or very tough
• Causes excessive tool wear
• Work hardens during cutting
• Has unusual magnetic or chemical behaviour
• Needs very tight tolerances

Machining these materials needs modern machining, using high quality cutting tools with the correct approach, the right processes and people who understand material behaviour during machining.

Difficult Materials We Currently Machine

Hiperco 50

Hiperco 50 is a magnetic alloy used in the aerospace and space sector. It is strong and tends to work-harden during machining.

Toolox 44

Toolox 44 is a pre-hardened steel with very high impact toughness. It is used for:

• Mould tools
• Press tools
• General engineering where strength and stability are important

Its toughness makes it great for heavy-duty use, but also harder to machine.

Carrs P552

Carrs P552 is a tool steel used in the toolmaking industry. We machine this material in its hardened condition to alleviate post heat treatment machining.

Crosflon 905 PTFE

Crosflon 905 is a PTFE material used for seals. It is a soft material and can easily move or deform during cutting.

Machining Castings

We also machine cast components made from cast steel, cast stainless steel, and cast iron. Castings can vary in shape and surface quality, so they need careful setup and machining to achieve the right finish and accuracy.

Standard Materials We Machine

As well as difficult materials, we regularly machine aerospace aluminiums, mild steels, stainless steels, brass, and bronze. We apply the same care and attention whether the job is simple or complex, low volume or high volume.

More Than Machining

Our strength is not just in our machines, but in our people and processes. With skilled engineers, modern CNC machinery, strong quality control and a practical problem solving approach, we’re able to support customers working with demanding materials and challenging components.

Get in touch with our expert team today!