Aluminum Bar｜Stronger, Lighter, and Ready for CNC & Mold Applications

Main Challenges in the IndustryIn the mold-making, machinery, and lightweight structural industries, common problems often arise from using standard aluminum, which generally lacks sufficient strength. After machining or forming, standard aluminum may bend or deform, and its low impact and tensile resistance prevents it from meeting high-precision design requirements. This is especially problematic in applications that demand extreme dimensional accuracy such as mold components, aerospace structures, or high-speed machinery leading to increased production time and higher costs due to rework or part failure.

Root Cause of the Problem

Pure aluminum grades such as A1050 or A1100 are lightweight and easy to form, but they have very low mechanical strength (only 60–100 MPa). As a result, they cannot withstand torsional loads, machining stress, or heavy-duty industrial usage. For this reason, most industries turn to aluminum–copper alloys (Al-Cu), particularly A2017 (Duralumin), which can be heat-treated to significantly enhance strength and mechanical stability up to 3–4 times higher than general aluminum.

Yamaichi Special Steel (Thailand) Solution

Yamaichi Special Steel (Thailand) supplies aluminum round bars manufactured through hot rolling and T6 heat treatment (Solution Heat Treatment + Artificial Aging) under the JIS H4040 standard. This ensures the perfect balance between ・strength, light weight, and machinability・. Each bar offers a smooth surface and high dimensional accuracy, making it ideal for mold parts, machinery components, and engineering structures that require high precision.

Technical Properties of A2017

• Composition: Aluminum + Copper (≈4%) + Magnesium + Manganese
• Material Condition: T6 (Heat-Treated + Artificial Aging)
• Tensile Strength: 400–450 MPa
• Surface Hardness: HB 120–130
• Density: 2.8 g/cm³ (≈65% lighter than steel)
• Surface Finish: Bright Finish – smooth, glossy, and machining-ready

Key Features of Yamaichi A2017 Aluminum

• Several times stronger than standard aluminum while remaining lightweight
• T6 heat-treated to increase hardness and mechanical stability
• Excellent machinability ideal for CNC and precision machining
• Suitable for polishing and anodizing
• Balanced in strength, toughness, and electrical conductivity

Recommended Applications

A2017 aluminum is ideal for high-strength, lightweight applications such as

• Mold & Die: Plates, spacers, and internal components
• Machinery Parts: Shafts, pins, jigs, and fixtures
• Aerospace Components: Structural parts and load-bearing elements
• Electronic Parts: Heat sinks, brackets, and frames

Advantages of Yamaichi Aluminum

• Manufactured under Japanese standards with ISO 9001:2015 quality management
• Smooth and highly accurate surface (Bright Precision Finish), ready for immediate use
• Cut-to-Length service available for all industrial applications
• Strict hardness and heat-treatment control (T4/T6 condition)
• Suitable for general industrial use as well as specialized fields such as aerospace and precision molds

※ For more details, please contact us or download the brochure.

Glossary

• Duralumin: A heat-treatable aluminum–copper alloy
• T6 Condition: Solution heat-treated and artificially aged to achieve maximum strength
• Anodizing: Electrochemical surface treatment that enhances durability and appearance
• Bright Finish: Smooth, glossy surface ready for machining without additional polishing

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