Comprehensive Guide to CNC Machining Materials
CNC Machining Aluminum Alloys
Aluminum 2024 is a high-strength alloy often used in aerospace applications. It provides excellent fatigue resistance and is well-suited for high-stress components. This alloy is heat-treatable and has good machinability but requires protection against corrosion.
Aluminum 5052 is known for its exceptional fatigue strength and excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in marine environments. It is commonly used for fuel tanks, marine components, and pressure vessels. This alloy is non-heat-treatable but offers good weldability and formability.
Aluminum 6061 is a versatile, medium-to-high strength alloy with excellent corrosion resistance. It is commonly used in applications such as structural components, marine environments, and aerospace parts. This alloy offers good machinability and is heat-treatable, making it a popular choice for CNC machining.
Aluminum 6063 is often referred to as an architectural alloy due to its high-quality surface finish and excellent corrosion resistance. It is typically used in window frames, door frames, and other architectural applications. This alloy is heat-treatable and offers good formability.
Aluminum 7050 is a high-strength aerospace alloy with excellent stress corrosion cracking resistance and toughness. It is used in critical aircraft structures where strength and durability are paramount. This alloy is heat-treatable and provides good machinability.
Aluminum 7075 is one of the strongest aluminum alloys available, commonly used in aerospace and military applications. It offers excellent fatigue resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio. This alloy is heat-treatable but requires protection against corrosion.
MIC-6 is a cast aluminum plate known for its stability, flatness, and consistency. It is widely used for precision machining and applications requiring tight tolerances. MIC-6 offers good machinability and is often used in tooling, fixtures, and mold bases.
CNC Machining Stainless Steel Alloys
Stainless Steel 15-5 is a martensitic, precipitation-hardening stainless steel with high strength and good corrosion resistance. It is used in aerospace, chemical processing, and petrochemical applications. This alloy offers good machinability and can be heat-treated for enhanced properties.
Stainless Steel 17-4 is a martensitic, precipitation-hardening stainless steel known for its high strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance. It is used in aerospace, chemical, and petrochemical industries. This alloy is easily machined in the annealed state and can be heat-treated to achieve various properties.
Stainless Steel 18-8 is a general term used to describe the 300 series of stainless steels, including 304 and 304L. It offers excellent corrosion resistance, good formability, and weldability. This alloy is commonly used in food processing, chemical processing, and medical equipment.
Stainless Steel 303 is an austenitic stainless steel with excellent machinability due to the addition of sulfur. It offers good corrosion resistance and is commonly used in screw machine products, fittings, and fasteners.
Stainless Steel 316 is an austenitic stainless steel known for its excellent corrosion resistance, especially in marine environments. It is used in chemical processing, marine, and medical applications. This alloy offers good formability and weldability.
Stainless Steel 316L is a low-carbon variant of 316, offering better weldability and corrosion resistance in welded structures. It is commonly used in medical implants, chemical processing, and marine applications.
Stainless Steel 410 is a martensitic stainless steel with good hardness and moderate corrosion resistance. It is used in applications such as cutlery, fasteners, and valves. This alloy is heat-treatable and offers good machinability.
Stainless Steel 416 is a martensitic stainless steel known for its excellent machinability. It offers good corrosion resistance and is used in applications requiring high machinability and moderate strength, such as gears and shafts.
Stainless Steel 420 is a martensitic stainless steel with high carbon content, offering high hardness and moderate corrosion resistance. It is used in cutlery, surgical instruments, and tools. This alloy is heat-treatable and provides good machinability.
Stainless Steel 440C is a high-carbon martensitic stainless steel with the highest hardness and wear resistance among stainless steels. It is used in bearings, tools, and valve components. This alloy offers good machinability in the annealed condition and is heat-treatable.
Nitronic 60 is a high-performance austenitic stainless steel known for its excellent galling resistance, wear resistance, and high-temperature oxidation resistance. It is used in valve components, fasteners, and marine hardware. This alloy offers good machinability and can be used in a wide range of environments.
CNC Machining Titanium Alloys
Titanium Grade 2 is a commercially pure titanium alloy known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high ductility, and good formability. It is used in chemical processing, marine, and medical applications. This alloy offers good machinability and is suitable for welding.
Titanium Grade 5, also known as Ti-6Al-4V, is the most widely used titanium alloy. It offers high strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion resistance. This alloy is used in aerospace, medical implants, and high-performance engineering applications. It provides good machinability and can be heat-treated for enhanced properties.
CNC Machining Steel Alloys
Steel 1018 is a low-carbon steel with good machinability, weldability, and case hardening properties. It is commonly used in mechanical parts, gears, and structural applications. This alloy offers a good balance of strength, ductility, and toughness.
Steel 1215 is a low-carbon steel known for its excellent machinability due to the addition of sulfur and phosphorus. It is used in high-speed machining applications, such as fittings, bushings, and shafts.
Steel 4130 is a chromium-molybdenum alloy steel with high strength, toughness, and good fatigue resistance. It is used in aerospace, automotive, and structural applications. This alloy offers good machinability and can be heat-treated for enhanced properties.
Steel 4140 is a chromium-molybdenum alloy steel known for its high strength, toughness, and wear resistance. It is used in gears, shafts, and structural applications. This alloy is easily machined in the annealed state and can be heat-treated to achieve various properties.
Steel 4140PH is a pre-hardened version of 4140, offering high strength and toughness without the need for further heat treatment. It is used in applications requiring high strength and good machinability, such as molds and dies.
Steel 4340 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy steel with high strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance. It is used in aerospace, automotive, and structural applications. This alloy offers good machinability and can be heat-treated for enhanced properties.
A2 Tool Steel is an air-hardening tool steel known for its good toughness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability during heat treatment. It is used in dies, punches, and cutting tools. This alloy offers good machinability in the annealed state.
O1 Tool Steel is an oil-hardening tool steel with good toughness, wear resistance, and machinability. It is used in cutting tools, dies, and punches. This alloy offers good machinability and can be heat-treated to achieve high hardness.
CNC Machining Copper Alloys
Copper 101 is a high-purity copper known for its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. It is used in electrical applications, such as wiring, connectors, and electrical contacts. This alloy offers good machinability and is easy to fabricate.
Copper C110 is an electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper known for its high electrical and thermal conductivity. It is used in electrical and thermal applications, such as busbars, transformers, and heat exchangers. This alloy offers good machinability and is easy to fabricate.
CNC Machining Bronze Alloys
Copper C932, also known as SAE 660 bearing bronze, is known for its good wear resistance, high strength, and excellent machinability. It is used in bushings, bearings, and gears. This alloy offers good corrosion resistance and can be used in various industrial applications.
CNC Machining Zinc Alloys
Zinc alloys are known for their excellent die-casting properties, good strength, and corrosion resistance. They are used in automotive, electrical, and hardware applications. These alloys offer good machinability and are suitable for high-volume production.
CNC Machining Brass Alloys
Copper 260, also known as cartridge brass, is an alloy with excellent corrosion resistance, good strength, and formability. It is used in ammunition casings, electrical connectors, and decorative applications. This alloy offers good machinability and is easy to work with.
Copper 360, also known as free-machining brass, is known for its excellent machinability due to the addition of lead. It is used in high-speed machining applications, such as fittings, valves, and fasteners. This alloy offers good.
We can source additional alloys and tempers from within our network of 1 000 machine shops. If you do not see the material stock you are looking for, You can then submit your quote for manual review and our expert manufacturing team will reach out.
