Machining Zinc

[RJT]

Being asked to quote modifying some zinc Anodes. I'm thinking it will be gummy, kind of like copper, am I on the right track? I would need to drill and bore some 7/8 diameter holes through 1" thick bars, then press in some steel parts we are making. Any tips or secrets that will help? I've never machined zinc.

 

[Limy Sami]

Can't help much but ;-

IM ltd E it can be gummy, like pure aluminium roof flashing, zinc is also very prone to fracture especially along a scratch or score line, so be careful on the press fit

 

[Phil in Montana]

no, machines nice, sharp tools and light feeds, chips flake off like dust...Phil

 

[AD Design]

-Cuts very easy, may be gummy/stick to the cutter. Cutting fluid advised if I need to say that. A lot depends upon the composition.

+1 per Limi Sami's advice about fracturing.

 

[Bill D]

Watch out for the dust and heavy metal poisoning.
Bill D

 

[Limy Sami]

RJT Are these for anodes by any chance??

 

[john.k]

A zinc casting with big shiny crystals,but zinc can also be drawn out into a wire just like brass ,with similar tensile strength.

 

[TedinNorfolk]

Watch out for the dust and heavy metal poisoning.
Bill D

Not sure that zinc is dangerously toxic,unlike lead or tin. When I was young we had zinc oxide ointment-calamine.

 

[RJT]

RJT Are these for anodes by any chance??

Yes. We are modifying them.

 

[Bill D]

Not sure that zinc is dangerously toxic,unlike lead or tin. When I was young we had zinc oxide ointment-calamine.

You may be right. I just threw it out after a quick search said very little except for high doses. The swarf is going to worth recycling so keep it out of your lungs
Bill D

 

[Georgineer]

Perhaps people are thinking of Zinc Fever, or Metal Fume Fever, which you can read up on line. In the final analysis though, none of these things is poisonous unless it gets inside your body.

 

[boslab]

Cast zinc is like cast brass, no surprise there, it is a brittle material, seems grabby on drilling.
Mark

 

[Strostkovy]

Are they pure zinc? Because sometimes alloying elements (copper content, usually, but not always) used for die casting can make the material very brittle, almost like acrylic. Machinable, but also easy to crack apart when hand drilling like acrylic is.
I've previously asked about some white die castings I was struggling with and it seemed to be common experience die cast "zinc" is brittle and pure zinc is not.