AL · aluminium
Aluminium 5052-H32
Soft and gummy - it forms and welds beautifully, and that is exactly what makes it unpleasant to machine to a tolerance. Expect built-up edge and burrs.
Quoting this material
- Typical lead time
- 7–12 working days
- Condition
- H32 - strain hardened and stabilised
- Achievable finish
- Ra 3.2 µm typical · Ra 1.6 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.
Soft and gummy - it forms and welds beautifully, and that is exactly what makes it unpleasant to machine to a tolerance. Expect built-up edge and burrs.
Properties as supplied
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 228 | MPa |
| Yield strength (0.2%) | 193 | MPa |
| Elongation | 12 | % |
| Hardness | 60 | HB |
| Thermal conductivity | 138 | W/m·K |
| Modulus of elasticity | 70.3 | 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
H32 - strain hardened and stabilised
Heat treatment
Not heat treatable. The H temper comes from cold work, so any annealing (welding, for example) softens it permanently in that area.
Achievable surface finish
Ra 3.2 µm
Ra 1.6 µm
Finish is limited by the material, not the machine. If the drawing calls Ra 0.4, the alloy should be 6061.
Tooling and cutting parameters
Cutting speed
- 300–600 m/min (carbide)
Feed
- 0.15–0.35 mm/rev turning · 0.10–0.25 mm/tooth milling
Tooling
- Sharp uncoated carbide, high rake, polished flutes; avoid coatings that increase friction
Coolant
- Flood or heavy mist - this alloy needs lubrication more than cooling
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
- Marine panels and tanks
- Sheet-metal enclosures welded after machining
- Fuel and hydraulic tank components
- HVAC and ducting hardware
- Electronic chassis
DFM notes for this grade
- Not the alloy for a tight tolerance: 60 HB and gummy means a burr and a moving dimension - specify 6061 or 6082 for anything with a fit
- Excellent weldability is the reason to use it, so design the joint for welding and machine the datum faces afterwards
- Deburring is a real operation on this alloy, not a wipe with a file - budget for it
Questions buyers ask
- Can you hold a press fit in 5052?
- We would rather not. 5052 is soft enough that a press fit deforms the bore during insertion, and the resulting grip is unpredictable. If the design needs a bearing or a dowel in a press fit, use 6061 or a steel and keep 5052 for the panels and tanks it is good at.
- Does 5052 need a different coolant?
- It needs lubrication more than cooling, and it reacts badly to a lean coolant that is mostly water. Keep the concentration where it should be and keep the tool sharp; a dull tool on 5052 smears metal rather than cutting it.