MIC-6 aluminum machining is the go-to route for plates that must stay flat after heavy material removal. MIC-6 is a cast aluminum tooling plate that is stress relieved during manufacture, so it does not spring or warp the way rolled plate can when pockets are cut into it. Wexmar machines MIC-6 into fixture bases, gauge plates, vacuum chucks and equipment mounting plates at our shop in Canastota, in Central New York.
MIC-6 Machinability
MIC-6 has an approximate machinability rating of about 180 against AISI 1212 steel at 100, the same range as 6061-T6. It cuts quickly with little tool wear, and the cast structure produces short, fine chips instead of long strings. Because the plate arrives with precision-milled faces and tight thickness tolerance from the mill, many parts need no facing at all, which saves both setups and stock.
Flatness, Tolerances and Finish
The main reason to specify MIC-6 is dimensional stability. After pocketing, drilling and tapping, a MIC-6 plate typically stays much closer to its original flatness than rolled 6061 plate would. Typical machined tolerances are plus or minus 0.001 in. on hole locations and plus or minus 0.002 in. on pocket features. The as-supplied faces are typically around 20 Ra, and machined surfaces typically run 32 to 63 Ra. These figures are typical, not guaranteed, and very large or thin plates still need careful support.
What to Watch When Machining MIC-6
- Protect the mill faces. The supplied surfaces are often used as finished datums. We fixture on clean pads, avoid clamp marks and keep chips from being dragged across the face.
- Lower strength. MIC-6 is a casting and has lower tensile strength than 6061-T6. It is a poor choice for threads under high load; helical thread inserts are a common fix for tapped holes that see repeated assembly.
- Balanced removal. The plate is stable, but removing most of one side still invites small movement. For precision gauge plates we rough both faces evenly and finish in a final light pass.
- Tooling. Standard aluminum carbide geometry works well. Chips are fine and dusty, so coolant filtration and chip washdown on the horizontals keep pallets and locators clean.
- No hardening. MIC-6 is not intended for heat treating, so wear-critical features are usually handled with steel inserts, bushings or hardcoat.
Finishing Options
Finishes are coordinated through qualified outside processors:
- Type II and Type III anodize, with the caveat that cast plate anodizes to a mottled gray appearance rather than a uniform color
- Chemical film conversion coating
- Electroless nickel plating for wear and corrosion protection
- Paint or powder coat on non-datum surfaces
If a cosmetic, evenly colored anodize is required, rolled 6061 plate is usually the better alloy and we will point that out when quoting.
Common MIC-6 Parts and Processes
- Fixture and jig base plates
- Inspection and gauge plates
- Vacuum chuck plates and manifold covers
- Machine and equipment mounting bases
- Instrument and optics breadboards
MIC-6 plates run on our Mazak horizontal machining centers, where the part stands vertically on a tombstone or angle plate and chips fall away from the work. Pallet changers load the next plate while one is cutting, and 4-axis indexing reaches edge holes without a second setup. More on the equipment is on our CNC milling page, and flatness and hole-position results are documented with CMM reports described on our inspection and quality page.
Cost Index: MIC-6 Compared With Rolled Plate
| Material | Approx. machinability (1212 = 100) | Cost index vs 6061 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIC-6 cast plate | ~180 | 1.2 | Stress-free, stays flat after pocketing |
| 6061-T6 aluminum | ~180 | 1.0 | Baseline; stronger, may move when pocketed |
| 5052-H32 aluminum | ~120 | 1.1 | Gummy; corrosion resistant |
| 7075-T6 aluminum | ~170 | 1.3 | High strength, higher residual stress |
| 1018 steel (cold drawn) | ~78 | 1.1 | Heavy steel base alternative |
| A2 tool steel (annealed) | ~42 | 2.5 | Hardenable wear plates |
These values are typical and illustrative for a comparable part; actual quotes depend on geometry, quantity, tolerances and mill pricing.
Applications and Industries
Precision MIC-6 fixture plates support industrial automation builders, instrumentation makers, inspection departments and equipment OEMs. Where strength matters more than stability, 6061 aluminum is the usual alternative, and for corrosive outdoor service 5052 aluminum may suit better.
Getting a quote
For MIC-6 plates, upload a drawing for an instant estimate using a PDF or STEP file, or call (315) 400-2654. A human estimator confirms every quote and checks plate size, flatness callouts and finish before it is released.