What is the top plate?

[AllanMarcus]

Hi,

I've made a few cracks and a Mainline. I'm wondering, what is the top plate on these made from? Aluminum? 5052? 6061?

THanks,

Allan

[Paul Birkeland]

The laser shop mostly uses 5052, but we don't specify an alloy.  For what it's worth, I can barely tell the difference between a piece of 5052 and a piece of 6061 if I have one of each in front of me. 

[Doc B.]

Yeah, I spec'd 6061 for the first plates we did 25 years ago. But since then it has varied between 6061 and 5052. Unless you are welding it into an airplane it really doesn't matter.

[AllanMarcus]

Thanks for the info!

I was expecting: the audio qualities of the 5052 greatly exceed the negative resonance coefficient of the vibration index on the 6061. The electromagnetic reflective throwback of the 5052, when polished improperly, can interfere with certain tubes and op-amps in a non-measurable, but clearly "night and day" audible way.

:-) 

[Paul Birkeland]

I was expecting: the audio qualities of the 5052 greatly exceed the negative resonance coefficient of the vibration index on the 6061. The electromagnetic reflective throwback of the 5052, when polished improperly, can interfere with certain tubes and op-amps in a non-measurable, but clearly "night and day" audible way.

:-)

Either one can be pressed really thin and made into a nice hat.