Service Robot Shock Absorber Link CNC Milling Turning Heat Treatment and Surface Treatment Full Process Case Study

This case study details the complete machining process of an aluminum alloy suspension shock absorber link for a service robot. Through strict process control encompassing CNC milling, turning, heat treatment, and surface treatment, we ensured the link's high precision, high strength, and exceptional durability from rough blank to finished product.

1. Material Preparation: 6061-T6 aluminum alloy bar stock is selected and cut to the required length.

2. Rough Machining: Initial contour milling is performed on a 3-axis CNC mill to remove the bulk of the material and drill holes.

3. Heat Treatment (If required): T6 solution and aging treatment is applied if higher strength is specified by the client.

4. Precision Machining: Conducted on a 4-axis CNC machining center. All critical features, including finish milling, reaming, and tapping, are completed in a single setup, strictly ensuring the coaxiality and position tolerance of the bearing holes at both ends.

5. Deburring: Manual and mechanical methods are combined to remove all sharp edges and burrs, preventing stress concentration.

6. Surface Treatment: Hard anodizing in black is applied to enhance surface hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.

7. Quality Inspection: Key dimensions are 100% inspected using a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) to ensure full compliance with drawing tolerances. A cleanliness check is also performed.

8. Packaging & Shipping: Each part is individually packaged in anti-rust bags and placed in custom foam boxes to prevent damage during transportation.

• Challenge 1: Ensuring Coaxiality of End Holes.
  • Solution: Abandoned the traditional multi-setup process. Utilizing a 4-axis CNC machining center allowed machining both end holes in a single setup, fundamentally eliminating errors from secondary alignment.
• Challenge 2: Aluminum Thread Strength.
  • Solution: Used thread-forming taps. The resulting threads have continuous grain flow, offering approximately 30% higher strength than threads cut with thread-cutting taps.
• Challenge 3: Anodizing Color Consistency.
  • Solution: Strictly controlled electrolyte concentration, temperature, and current density. Monitored the cleaning steps in pre-treatment to ensure a uniform oxide layer and consistent color.

The product fully met all technical requirements on the client's drawing. The links are lightweight, strong, and have a uniform, aesthetically pleasing surface coating. They have been batch-applied in a commercial delivery robot chassis, with customer feedback confirming smooth operation and excellent performance in endurance tests.