AL · aluminium
Aluminium 2017-T4
The original free-cutting high-strength aluminium, and still one of the nicest aerospace alloys to turn. Better chip control than 2024.
Quoting this material
- Typical lead time
- 10–15 working days
- Condition
- T4 - solution heat treated, naturally aged
- Achievable finish
- Ra 1.6 µm typical · Ra 0.8 µm best
Machined in-house to your drawing: see the precision CNC machining service and the machine and inspection capability it runs on.
Machinability
Our own 1–10 shop ranking, not a published index: 10 is free-cutting brass C360, 1 is Inconel 718. It ranks how a material behaves on the floor - cycle time, chip control and tool life together. Where a published index exists it is quoted in the note.
The original free-cutting high-strength aluminium, and still one of the nicest aerospace alloys to turn. Better chip control than 2024.
Properties as supplied
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 427 | MPa |
| Yield strength (0.2%) | 276 | MPa |
| Elongation | 22 | % |
| Hardness | 105 | HB |
| Thermal conductivity | 134 | W/m·K |
| Modulus of elasticity | 72.4 | GPa |
Hardness, tensile and thermal figures are typical published values for the condition stated. Actual mill certificates govern; send the specification with the drawing and we confirm against the certificate before the material is cut.
Condition
T4 - solution heat treated, naturally aged
Heat treatment
Naturally aged at room temperature; it continues to age slowly after machining. No shop-applied hardening.
Achievable surface finish
Ra 1.6 µm
Ra 0.8 µm
Anodises acceptably; for aerospace use a primer or conversion coating is normal.
Tooling and cutting parameters
Cutting speed
- 300–600 m/min (carbide)
Feed
- 0.10–0.30 mm/rev turning · 0.10–0.20 mm/tooth milling
Tooling
- Uncoated carbide, polished flutes, sharp positive rake
Coolant
- Flood
Starting points for carbide on a rigid setup, not a guarantee. The right numbers depend on the machine, the toolholder and the fixturing - ask and we will say what we would actually run.
Typical applications
- Legacy aerospace rivets and fasteners
- Aircraft fittings and clevis parts
- Machined rivet and bolt stock
- Inspection and tooling components
- Heritage vehicle and aircraft spares
DFM notes for this grade
- Often an older drawing: check the specification revision before quoting, and whether 2024 is an approved substitution
- Poor bare corrosion resistance - a coating system is part of the part, not a finish choice
- High elongation means stringy chips on turning; a chipbreaker geometry is worth specifying
Questions buyers ask
- Why would anyone specify 2017 today?
- Because an approved drawing is expensive to change. 2017-T4 is still specified on a lot of legacy aircraft and fastener parts where the qualification paperwork and the stress analysis are tied to the alloy, and re-qualifying for 2024 costs more than the material difference.
- Is 2017 weldable?
- No, and neither is 2024. The 2xxx family is not recommended for fusion welding in structural service. If a joint is unavoidable it is riveted, bolted or adhesive-bonded.