SMA Shape Memory Alloys - What's the larges stocked diameter?

[Shockdesigner331]

Hello all,
I'm new to working with SMA's so bear with me. I've got this question out to SMA suppliers already and am awaiting their response, but i'm impatient... What's the largest bar stock OD that can be supplied in SMA? I'm looking for something in the 1" to 1-1/2" O.D. range. Actually SMA tubing (1-1/2" OD X 1-1/4" I.D.) would be perfect for my application. As far as length goes I would only need about 1.5 inches per part. Has anyone used SMA's in this large of a size? While I'm asking questions about SMA's, any tips for machining these materials? When I get responses from the manufactures I'll post them in this thread. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[macmet]

Sorry I can't help you with your question, but I'm curious as to what sort of application this might be for. Back a few years ago, as a matls eng student, I heard quite a bit about these alloys, but since getting a job and working in the energy/power industry I haven't heard much about their real world applications.

Good luck in your search.

 

[prdave00]

Macmet: Coming from a medical device background, we used the super elastic properties of Nitinol for peripheral stents, coronary guide wires, as baskets to capture plaque during carotid stenting, etc. We didn't really leverage the shape memory utility of this alloy. Other non-medical applications are as the wire in under wire bras, eye glass frames, and cell phone antenna (when they used to have them).

Shockdesigner331: Per their respective websites, NDC says they have bar stock up to 3.5" and SAES Memry says they have made round bars up to 2.5". Regardless you may be looking at a custom run. I'd say talk to SAES Memry first since they also own one of the largest producers of Nitinol ingots (i.e. the SMA Division of Special Metals Corp).

NDC (

http://nitinoluniversity.com),

SAES Memry (

http://www.memry.com/resources/index.php),

and Johnson Matthey (

http://www.jmmedical.com/resources.html)

all have pretty good resources including machining tips.

I'm kind of curious to your application, too. I've only dealt in product forms such as tubing, wire, and sheet stock.

 

[EdStainless]

The last that I knew most of the stent guys were starting with 1.77" bar. This seems to be a common size.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube