why are metals like AR500 and Titanium used so much for weapons
AR steels are often used because they have a decently hard surface while retaining a soft core, making it ideal for weapons as it will not crack upon large hits. Titanium I only find used for weight saving over hardox or other steels for weapons, as it rounds off quicker.
What are some budget materials
Are you looking to source materials to cut yourself, looking for pre made blades or looking at getting a service such as pcbway to cut your parts?
I’m looking to use PCB way
Potentially more so than material is the process you wish to use and the design you have.
Simple things like thinking about geometry and setups required can have a knock on effect on cost. Without getting too into the weeds poor or unfamiliar design choices may seem innocuous but could mean the difference between a single setup on a CNC mill or EDM for a profile, then setup in a 4axis.
I haven’t designed the weapon yet right now I am trying to work out what I should use as I am make my first drum spinner and I can’t use AR500 or titanium
Titanium generally isn’t suitable for weapons in anything larger than antweights anyway. Way too soft.
For a drum you’re mostly going to be looking at a machined aluminum body with inserted teeth.
Some form of wear plate or hardened steel would be preferable to use as an impacting surface but many people have success by using a large high tensile countersunk screw as a removable tooth. These are cheap, disposable and pretty easy to implement.
That’s honestly a strong candidate for the Hardox’s/AR500’s/Wearplate equivalent but I can see a realistic case being made for 4140 - potentially left unhardened.
However;
That design ties in very neatly to what I was mentioning earlier about DFM (How is someone going to make that part? Has it been drawn with that in mind? Have you made your life as easy as possible?)
First off - without selecting a material it would have been impossible to know how much weight you have tied up in the weapon itself. Definitely something you want to check ASAP once you have settled.
Coming back to the ease of producing the part you wish, you’re going to want to consider getting a radius in those corners. Twofold, one being that it’s so much stronger than a sharp 90 degree finish (sharp internal geometry is where stress will be concentrated and cracking can appear) but also that it’s much much easier to produce. Think of how things are going to be machined, with a circular cutter which will leave a radius of its own diameter but can easily cut a rad larger.
That part as drawn can be produced but it would require more expensive and slower processes and ultimately end up with something less good potentially costing more money.
Now that we have a better idea of what you are trying to achieve I’m sure people will be able to add their input.
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I would just like to say that image is a concept which I made in 5 minutes to show you the kind of weapon I want to make
To be honest I have no idea how to make this kind of weapon I am just making it up
Consider having a look at the Bulbaroar build log for how to build a beetleweight beater without having to go multiple axis on the machining