Magnesium Suppliers and Machining in Orlando, FL

Yes, when the shop is set up for it. Magnesium chips and dust are combustible, so a qualified supplier uses dry machining or mineral-oil flood coolant rather than water-based fluids, keeps tooling sharp to limit frictional heat, and segregates and removes chips frequently rather than letting swarf pile up. Class D fire extinguishing media is kept at the machine. Done correctly, magnesium is one of the easiest metals to cut, with low cutting forces and excellent surface finish. The real risk comes from shops that treat it like aluminum and use water-based coolant, which can react with fine magnesium fines. For Orlando's defense and aerospace programs, ask suppliers directly about their magnesium handling procedures and whether they have a dedicated cell, because that single answer separates shops that genuinely run the metal from those that will subcontract it elsewhere.

For sustained service above roughly 120 to 150 C, specify WE43. It is alloyed with yttrium and rare-earth elements that preserve tensile and creep strength out past 250 C, far beyond what AZ91D or AZ31B can hold. WE43 is widely qualified on aerospace and defense programs, including airborne electronics common to the Orlando primes, so it usually clears program material reviews without a fight. The tradeoff is cost and lead time: WE43 stock is expensive, supply is thinner, and you should plan for full chemistry and mechanical certification on every lot. If your housing sees only moderate temperatures, AZ91D die casting or AZ31B fabrication will save substantial money. Match the grade to the actual thermal duty cycle rather than defaulting to the premium alloy, and have your supplier confirm material traceability back to the mill for any controlled program.

Local Central Florida shops handle the machining, finishing, and assembly of magnesium parts, but most production die casting is done at specialized foundries that ship castings into the region for finishing. AZ91D is the standard die-cast alloy because it fills thin walls cleanly and has a controlled high-purity chemistry for corrosion resistance. Expect die-cast tooling lead times of 8 to 12 weeks and a tooling investment that only pays back at volume, so castings make sense for production runs, not one-off prototypes. For prototypes and low volumes, an Orlando CNC shop can machine the same geometry from AZ91D or AZ31B billet, getting you functional parts in days instead of months. Use ManufacturingBase to find casting partners with the right alloy capability and certifications, then route finishing and final machining to a qualified local supplier.

Magnesium corrodes readily if left bare, and Central Florida's heat and humidity make finishing non-negotiable for any part that sees the environment. The two main routes are chromate conversion coatings, which give a thin corrosion-resistant and paint-ready layer, and anodize-type treatments such as Tagnite or other hard-anodic processes that build a tougher ceramic-like surface for wear and corrosion. High-purity die-cast AZ91D resists corrosion better than older alloys because its iron, nickel, and copper levels are tightly controlled, but it still needs a coating for outdoor or marine-adjacent service. Many defense programs also specify a chrome-free conversion coating to meet environmental rules. When you quote a magnesium part in Orlando, include the full finish callout in your RFQ, because the coating choice affects both cost and which suppliers can deliver, and bare machined magnesium should never be the final state for a fielded part.