CNC Machining Materials
We can manufacture your prototypes and parts out of most CNC machining materials on the open market. If you submit a special request, we can use a specific material that you provide.
About CNC Materials - metal and plastics
CNC machining can produce parts from almost any metal or plastic. The common material used for CNC machining parts are listed in the below tables, along with their applications.
Also, you can check out matweb.com, an online searchable materials property database, for very specific information regarding materials.
If you require a material that is not on the list or have specific questions, please feel free to contact us.
CNC metal:
The below list shows the most commonly use metal for CNC machined parts and prototypes,
| Material | Overview | Grade | Description | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum alloys | Aluminum alloys have a high strength-to-weight ratio, good ductility, good corrosion resistance, availability and low cost. They can be easily machined and can be anodized, creating a hard, protective layer on their surface, so theyare the most widely used non-ferrous metals in producing custom metal parts and prototypes. | Aluminum 6061 | It is with Medium strength.Containes magnesium and silicon, good formability, weldability and excellent machinability. | General purpose Aircraft components Automotive parts Bicycle frames Food containers |
| Aluminum 6082 | It has similar composition and material properties to 6061. It is more commonly used in Europe, as it is compliant with British Standards. | General purpose Automotive parts Food containers |
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| Aluminum 7075 | It has higher strength than 6061,also has excellent fatigue properties and can be heat treated to high strength and hardness, comparable to steels. | Aircraft components Aerospace components Automotive parts Marine applications Sports equipment |
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| Stainless steel | Stainless steels have a high resistance to corrosion,high strength, high ductility, and can be easily welded, machined and polished. Depending on their composition, they can be either (essentially) non-magnetic or magnetic. | Stainless steel 304 | it is most commonly used stainless steel,low carbon, and has excellent mechanical properties and good machinability. It is resistant to most environmental condition and corrosive media. | General purpose Medical devices Food industry Marine applications Chemical processing |
| Stainless steel 316 | It is another common stainless steel alloy with similar mechanical properties to 304,but has a higher corrosion and chemical resistance than 304. | Food preparation equipment Marine applications Aerospace components Surgical implants Chemical containers |
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| Stainless steel 17-4 | It has higher magnetism than 304 and 316, It can be precipitation hardened to a very high degree,also has better oxidation and corrosion resistance. | Turbine blades Marine applications Chemical vessels Oil & Gas Nuclear applications |
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| Mild steel | Mild steel is also known as low-carbon steels,it has a relatively low tensile strength, but it is cheap and easy to form,surface hardness can be increased through carburizing. | Mild steel 1018 | It is a plain low carbon steel with good machinability and weldability | General purpose Machinery parts Jigs & fixtures |
| Mild steel 12L14 | A low carbon mild steel with added lead. Excellent machinability, suitable for machining using both automatic and CNC machines. | General purpose Machinery parts |
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| Alloy steel | Alloy steel is steel that is alloyed with a variety of elements in total amounts between 1.0% and 50% by weight to improve its mechanical properties. Alloy steels are broken down into two groups: low alloy steels and high alloy steels. | Alloy steel 4140 | It is a versatile alloy with good atmospheric corrosion resistance and reasonable strength. It shows good overall combinations of strength, toughness, wear resistance and fatigue strength. | General purpose Machinery parts Tooling |
| Alloy steel 4340 | It is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy steel known for its toughness and its ability to attain high strengths in the heat-treated condition. It has very good fatigue resistance. | Aircraft landing gear Transmission gear Tooling |
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| Brass | Brass is mainly an alloy that consists of copper with zinc added. Brasses can have varying amounts of zinc or other elements added. These varying mixtures produce a wide range of properties and variation in color. | C260 | It has the highest ductility in the yellow brass series. It is an attractive material with a smooth, yellow brass finish and it can have a polished or brushed (satin) finish. | Automotive parts Valves & nozzles Architecture Electrical parts Plumbing |
| C36000 | It is known as Free Cutting Brass/ Free Machining Brass,It has good resistance to corrosion.It is ideally suited for high speed machining operations with its superior machinability, thread rolling and knurling characteristics. | Automotive parts Valves & nozzles Architecture Electrical parts Plumbing |
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CNC plastics:
The below list shows the most commonly use plastic for CNC machining parts and prototypes,
| Material | Overview | Grade | Description | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | ABS is a common thermoplastic polymer materials offering good mechanical properties, excellent impact strength, high heat resistance and good machinability. | ABS | It has low density, making it ideal for lightweight applications. CNC machined ABS parts are often used as prototypes prior to mass-production with injection molding. | Automotive Electronic enclosures Pipes & fittings Consumer products |
| Nylon | Nylon is also known as polyamide (PA) and is a thermoplastic that is often used for engineering applications, due to its excellent mechanical properties, good impact strength and high chemical and abrasion resistance. It is susceptible to water and moisture absorption though. | Nylon 66 | It is common use Nylon with Fair flame resistance and good machinability | Automotive parts Mechanical parts Fasteners |
| Polycarbonate(PC) | Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures. | PC | Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent.It has very good heat resistance and can be combined with flame retardant materials without significant material degradation. | Lenses in eyewear Automotive components Enclosures Food containers Lighting fixtures |
| Polyoxymethylene(POM) | Delrin, Acetal, and its many trade names is a material properly known as Polyoxymethylene or POM. It is one of the strongest plastics and is a good go-to material when you want the best properties of plastic, and don’t need the full strength of a metal part. | POM(Delrin) | It is often the best choice when CNC machining plastic parts that require high precision, high stiffness, low friction, excellent dimensional stability at elevated temperatures and very low water absorption. | Mechanical parts Electronic enclosures Bushings & fittings |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. The well-known brand name of PTFE-based formulas is Teflon by Chemours. | PTFE (Teflon) | It is a strong, tough, waxy, nonflammable synthetic resin.It is one of the few plastics that can withstand operational temperatures above 200oC and is an outstanding electrical insulator. | High temperature applications Chemical processing Electronic enclosures Food processing |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer produced from the monomer ethylene. | HDPE | It is a thermoplastic with a high strength-to-weight ratio, high impact strength, and good weather resistance.Suitable for outdoor use and piping. Like ABS, it is often used to create prototypes before Injection Molding. | Chemical containers Pipes & fittings Consumer products |