MATERIAL NOTES
Aluminium melting point —
and why forging cares.
660°C is where pure aluminium melts. Forging happens well below it — and the gap between the two numbers decides how your part forms.
Quick answer
Pure aluminium melts at 660°C. Alloys melt over a range — 6061, for example, starts melting around 582°C and is fully liquid near 652°C. Hot forging works the metal typically between 350–480°C: soft enough to flow into the die, far enough from melting to stay solid and controllable.
Why the forging window matters to your part
Temperature decides how the metal moves:
- Too cold — high press loads, incomplete fill, higher die wear
- In the window — clean filling of deep ribs and bosses, fine grain
- Too hot — coarse grain, incipient melting at edges, scrap
The window is one reason forging suppliers specialise by alloy family — every grade moves differently.
The grades we run
| Alloy | Melting range (°C, approx.) | Typical use at XPF |
|---|---|---|
| 6061 | ~582–652 | The structural workhorse — crank arms, brackets |
| 6063 | ~616–654 | Best anodised appearance |
| 6082 | ~570–638 | Higher strength, EN-spec structural |
| 7075 | ~477–635 | Highest strength; tighter working window |
Ranges are indicative references for grade comparison — certified values come from mill certificates per batch.
What about T6?
Melting sets the ceiling; heat treatment sets the strength. After forming, age-hardening to the T6 condition is what gives 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 their rated mechanicals. Forging shops that also control heat treatment control the final strength of your part.
Practical takeaway for buyers
You don’t need the phase diagram — you need a supplier who runs your alloy weekly and proves the result with mill certs and hardness checks. That’s a two-line question for your audit: “Which grades do you forge in volume, and show me a cert.”
FAQ
Common questions
What is the melting point of aluminium?
660 °C (1220 °F) pure. Alloys melt over a range: 6061 roughly 582–652 °C, 7075 roughly 477–635 °C.
Why does forging stay below melting?
Hot forging heats the billet to a forgeable range but keeps it solid — the metal flows like clay under press force, which is what creates the grain structure.
Is forging temperature the same as heat-treatment temperature?
No. Forging happens hot; T6 heat treatment afterwards (solution + ageing) is a separate, precisely controlled step that sets final strength.
Does 7075 melt lower than 6061?
Its range starts lower due to zinc and copper content — one reason 7075 behaves differently in processing and costs more.
Which file formats can I send for a forging quote?
STEP, STP, DWG, DXF and PDF — an engineer replies with a feasibility opinion and cost range within 3 working days.
Which alloys can you forge?
6061, 6063, 6082 and 7075 — every batch ships with a mill certificate.
Can you machine and finish parts too?
Yes — CNC finishing to Ra 0.8 (per-drawing review), plus anodising Type II/III, sandblasting, powder coating and electrophoresis.
What quality documents do you provide?
A mill certificate per alloy batch and a dimensional report with every shipment; PPAP and FAI documentation on request.
Do you support prototypes and small batches?
Yes — batches are quoted per part number depending on size and die amortisation, and prototypes are possible.
Where do you ship from?
Our factory in Guangming District, Shenzhen, with export packing and worldwide delivery.
undefinedundefined
MATERIAL GUIDES
6061 properties · 7075 properties · 6061 vs 7075 · What is billet aluminium · Forging vs casting · Forged blanks vs billet
Have a part in 6061 or 7075?
Send the drawing — we run both daily.