GlossaryKind of term: Manufacturing termEN AW-6082
What is EN AW-6082?
EN AW-6082 is a heat-treatable aluminium alloy with magnesium, silicon and manganese, widely used for milled frames, plates and machine parts.
EN AW-6082 (chemical designation AlSi1MgMn, on older drawings AlMgSi1 or 3.2315) is a 6000-series wrought alloy in which magnesium and silicon provide strength after heat treatment. In Europe it is one of the most widely used alloys for milled frames, housings, plates and machine parts. Bar and extrusions mostly come in T6, plate often in T651. It can be welded, with a loss of strength in the heat-affected zone, and anodised to a good protective layer, though the colour is less even than on 6060 or 6063.
What does the standard say about EN AW-6082?
The chemical designation and composition are in EN 573-3, the tempers in EN 515, and the mechanical properties per product form in the product standards, such as EN 485-2 for plate and EN 755-2 for extruded bar and profiles. T6 means solution heat treated and artificially aged. T651 means solution heat treated, stress relieved by controlled stretching, then artificially aged. Guaranteed strength depends on product form and thickness, so 6082-T6 without form and size does not fix a single value.
How does EN AW-6082 behave in the shop?
In T6, 6082 machines well; in soft tempers such as O or T4 it smears more and chips get longer. Thick plate in T651 carries less residual stress than unstretched material and so usually distorts less when machined from one side, although heavy stock removal or thin walls can still make it move. Anodising changes dimensions, because the layer grows partly into and partly out of the surface; allow for that on tight tolerances. Because machining time in aluminium is often short, material can be a large share of the cost; how large depends on blank size, clamping margin, price per kilo and quantity.
What is EN AW-6082 often confused with?
6082 is not 6061: both are Al-Mg-Si alloys, but 6061 has more copper and less manganese and is the usual choice in North America. Substituting one for the other needs the designer's approval. 6060 and 6063 are different alloys again: softer, mostly used as extrusions and better suited to decorative anodising.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 6082 T6 and T651?
Both are solution heat treated and artificially aged. T651 has also been stretched between solution treatment and ageing, so less residual stress remains. For plate that has to stay flat after machining from one side, T651 is the usual choice.
Can 6082 aluminium be anodised?
Yes. 6082 takes a good protective anodised layer, black included. For an even decorative colour 6060 and 6063 usually suit better. The layer changes dimensions, so agree whether the tolerances apply before or after anodising.
Can 6082 be welded?
Yes, with the usual aluminium welding processes. Next to the weld, strength drops because the heat partly undoes the ageing. If that zone needs full strength, the designer decides whether the weld or the design has to change.