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Inconel CNC Machining — Inconel 718
Inconel 718 is among the most demanding materials in aerospace machining. Work hardening, tool pressure, heat retention, and surface finish requirements on fatigue-critical features — each demands a deliberate process strategy.
/ MATERIAL OVERVIEW
Inconel 718 — Properties and Machining Characteristics
Inconel 718 is a nickel-chromium superalloy that retains high strength at temperatures up to approximately 1300°F. It is the material of choice for turbine discs, combustor components, compressor hardware, and other engine applications where elevated-temperature strength and oxidation resistance are required.
Machining Inconel requires a fundamentally different process approach than titanium or aluminum. The alloy work-hardens rapidly during cutting — a tool that dwells, re-cuts its own chip, or runs at excessive speed creates a hardened surface layer that destroys subsequent cutting edges. Cutting parameters, toolpath strategy, and chip load management must be specific to the geometry and feature type being machined.
- Density: 8.19 g/cm³
- Tensile strength (aged condition): ~185,000 psi
- Temperature capability: up to ~1300°F continuous
- AMS material specification: AMS 5662 (bar), AMS 5664 (bar, higher tensile)
/ APPLICATIONS
Inconel Aerospace Applications We Machine
Engine Hot Section Hardware
Turbine disc segments, compressor rotor components, combustor hardware, and nozzle components where elevated-temperature strength is required. These applications often combine tight dimensional tolerances with specific surface finish requirements on fatigue-critical features.
Exhaust System Components
Exhaust nozzle hardware, mixer components, and duct fittings for high-temperature exhaust gas environments. Inconel's oxidation resistance and elevated-temperature strength make it the material of choice for components exposed to exhaust temperatures beyond the capability of titanium.
Test Hardware and Development Programs
Prototype and development hardware for engine programs where the production design is not yet finalized. Design changes in Inconel are expensive, and catching manufacturability issues before the prototype is machined preserves program schedule and budget.
Submit an Inconel Part for Pricing
Upload your drawing. Pricing returned within 24 hours.
/ QUOTE RESPONSE — 24HR AFTER SUBMISSION