Mounting Plate Example

Aluminum CNC Machining Examples

Custom-machined aluminum components with stock selection, machining allowance and finished seating surfaces considered together.

Product Overview

GPT Precision manufactures custom aluminum components to customer drawings, including plates, brackets, housings and precision mechanical parts.

Aluminum alloy, temper, stock form, geometry and finishing requirements influence the manufacturing approach.

A machined mounting plate provides a useful example of how the starting stock condition can affect finished flatness.

Consider a plate that must seat flat against another component.
The selected stock must provide sufficient material for the required dimensions and finished surfaces, taking into account incoming thickness variation and flatness.
Starting with material close to the final thickness can reduce cutting time, but only when enough stock remains to achieve the required final condition.

Removing material may redistribute residual stresses in the stock.
Heavy machining on one side of a plate can contribute to movement after the part is released from its fixture.
Where appropriate, rough machining may be planned on both sides, followed by finishing operations that account for the observed movement.
The approach depends on material condition, part geometry and dimensional requirements.

Final thickness and seating-face flatness are different requirements and should be evaluated separately.
Where the drawing specifies free-state flatness, the plate should be supported without forcing the surface into an artificially flat condition.
Locating-hole patterns and other critical features are checked against their drawing datums.

Starting stock	Confirm alloy, temper, stock form and machining allowance.
Seating face	Specify flatness and the required free-state support condition.
Finished dimensions	Confirm thickness and locating-hole positions from drawing datums.

Identify the mating surface and the locating features that control fit.

Send your drawing with the aluminum alloy, temper, finished dimensions, critical surfaces and required quantity.