Senior Member
Location: Kingsbury, NW London
Posts: 1,232
I'm Clive.
Steel or Aluminium for casework?
Just arrived at Clive towers is a PS Audio Stellar Phonostage which is cased in steel. All my other kit is cased in Aluminium. If I tap the Phonostage it rings slightly. If I tap my other kit it doesn’t ring. I know that steel is heavier than aluminium. I also know steel can be bent easily while aluminium can’t be bent. Thinking about this is giving me a headache and I wonder if any of you guys have any pearls of wisdom.
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Drunken Moderator
Location: Staffordshire, England
Posts: 37,932
I'm Martin.
I think it's the other way around, I know steel is stronger than aluminium weight for weight.
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Senior Member
Location: Much Wenlock
Posts: 1,523
I'm Gary.
Steel is good for rejecting interference and cheap to manufacture into cases, perhaps allowing more to be spent on the internal components.
It’s resonance can be nullified by judicious use of sound deadening material. Remember this can be insulating too, so take heat into consideration.
IIRC there was a thread on here recently about suitable materials.
Gary
It is easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission
Rules are meant for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men
Senior Member
Location: Much Wenlock
Posts: 1,523
I'm Gary.
Oh, and you’re wrong aluminium is more ductile than steel so is more easily bent.
Gary
It is easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission
Rules are meant for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men
Super Moderator
Location: W Lothian
Posts: 99,005
I'm Grant.
aluminium or copper are better for magnetic field shielding
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Fount Master & Moderator
Location: Essex
Posts: 32,043
I'm openingabottleofwine.
For magnetic shielding, the order is: steel (the best); copper, then aluminium.
For 1/16 inch thickness, the shielding factor (in dB) at 1KHz is:
- Steel, 23dB
- Copper, 7.2dB
- Aluminium, 5.8dB
whereas at 10kHz the figures become:
- Steel, 34dB
- Copper, 29dB
- Aluminium, 23.5dB
The problem comes in trying to shield against magnetic fields at low frequencies (< 100Hz). You need to use steel or copper of greater thickness (say 1/8 inch). At 50Hz the figures become:
- Steel, 32dB
- Copper, 4.5dB
Barry
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