Stainless inverter housings... why not carbon steel?

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Today I discovered that the housings on all the school's Lincoln inverters are non magnetic.  I had a small LED flashlight that had a magnet on the side and was going to set it on the inverter for a moment.  I went over and checked four Millers and they also seemed non magnetic although one might be called weakly magnetic.  All the wire feeders had magnetic covers.  Anyone have ideas why?   I am guessing the metal must be stainless or some austentic alloy.
Reply:OK I did some looking around and austenetic stainless alloys 100 times less permiable to magnetic fields than carbon steel.  I don't have a proper understanding of permiability.  My guess it is shielding people and nearby equipment from the extremely high frequency magnetic fields in the inverter.  No one is going to put stainless alloy covers on a machine considering that cost would be up to ten times the price of mild steel, unless there is a reason, especially when it is painted.
Reply:For magnetic shielding, at least at low frequency, you want something with high magnetic permeability.  It doesn't matter much at high frequencies.http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?...ding-materialshttp://www.ets-lindgren.com/pdf/emctd_1293_weibler.pdf"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I'm sure the main reason to use aluminum is weight savings. One of the main perks of an inverter is the light weight and portability. Most inverters have the " guts" mounted to a rigid bottom panel and the top and sides are mainly something to just cover up electronics.
Reply:Kind of how suitcase feeders use high impact plastic. Aluminum would dent or tear in that application. Kind of like how the Thermal Dynamics plasmas have a roll cage type frame.