Aluminum is a versatile and lightweight metal that is widely used in many industries. It is the third most abundant element on Earth's crust and has excellent properties that make it a popular choice for various applications. Aluminum has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it strong and durable despite its light weight. It is also corrosion-resistant, which makes it ideal for use in harsh environments. Additionally, aluminum is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, making it a common choice for electrical wiring and heat transfer applications. One of the most significant advantages of aluminum is its versatility. It can be easily formed into different shapes and sizes using a variety of manufacturing processes, including casting, forging, and extrusion. This flexibility allows it to be used in a wide range of products, including aircraft parts, automotive parts, consumer electronics, and building materials. Aluminum is also an environmentally friendly material. It is 100% recyclable, and the recycling process requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum. This makes it an excellent choice for sustainable manufacturing practices. Material Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elastic Modulus (GPa) HARDNESS(HRB) ELONGATION(%) Advantages Applications Aluminum 6010-O 125 55 68.9 30 25 to 30 ● Corrosion resistance ● Machinability ● Formability Aircraft parts, bicycle frames, automotive parts, and electrical fittings. Aluminum 1060 63 21 69 19 27 ● Good corrosion resistance ● Easily machinable Decorative items, plumbing, electrical components, musical instruments Aluminum 2024-T4 324 186 73.1 120 20 ● High strength-to-weight ratio ● Excellent fatigue resistance ● Good machinability Aircraft structural components, bolts, and fasteners. Aluminum 5052-H32 210 193 70.3 60 12 ● Excellent corrosion resistance ● Formability ● Medium Strength Marine components, fuel tanks, and sheet metal work. Aluminum 5083 310 145 72.4 75 12 ● Excellent corrosion resistance ● Good weldability ● High strength Shipbuilding, pressure vessels, and cryogenic equipment. Aluminum 6061-T6 290 240 68.9 95 8 ● High strength ● Heat-treatable ● Corrosion Resistance ● Excellent machinability Structural components, bicycle frames, and automotive parts. Aluminum 6063-T5/T6 130 to 185 55 to 165 68.9 1.6-2.0 180-250 ● Good formability ● Excellent extrudability ● Corrosion Resistance ● Anodizing ● Heat-treatable Architectural framing, window frames, and piping. Aluminum 7075-T6 570 500 71.7 150 11 ● Excellent fatigue resistance ● Wear Resistance ● High strength Aerospace components, bicycle parts, and high-performance equipment. MIC-6 241 138 72.4 60 to 703 ● Good thermal conductivity ● Excellent flatness ● Good stability Tooling plates, jigs and fixtures, and machinery components.
Plastic materials are widely used in various manufacturing processes such as CNC machining, rapid tooling, plastic injection molding, die casting, and 3D printing. Commonly used plastics for these processes include ABS, PC, Nylon, PP, PE, POM, PVC, TPU, PBT, and PMMA. Each plastic material has its unique properties such as strength, flexibility, heat resistance, and chemical resistance, which make them suitable for different applications. For instance, ABS is commonly used for 3D printing due to its strength and flexibility, while PC is often used for CNC machining due to its high heat resistance. Plastic injection molding and die casting processes typically use materials with high strength and durability, such as Nylon and POM. Rapid tooling often uses materials like PP and PE, which are affordable and easy to manufacture. Overall, plastic materials play a crucial role in many manufacturing processes, providing versatility and customization options for a wide range of products. Material Flexural Modulus (GPA) Impact Strength (J/m) Yield Strength (MPa) Density (g/cm³) Distortion Temperature (°C) Working Temperature (°C) Color Advantages Applications Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) 2.1-2.8 20-60 40-60 1.04-1.07 80-100 -40 to 80 Wide range of colors Good strength and toughness, low cost, easy to process Automotive parts, toys, electronic housings Polycarbonate (PC) 2.4-2.6 650-900 60-75 1.20-1.22 125-140 -40 to 125 Transparent, various colors High impact resistance, good optical clarity, high heat resistance Safety glasses, automotive parts, electronic components Nylon (PA) 1.0-6.0 20-80 50-90 1.01-1.15 70-250 -40 to 120 Natural, black High strength and toughness, good chemical resistance, wear resistance Gears, bearings, automotive parts Polypropylene (PP) 1.0-2.5 5-60 30-50 0.90-0.91 60-110 -10 to 100 Natural, various colors Low cost, lightweight, good chemical resistance Packaging, containers, toys Polyethylene (PE) 0.1-1.0 10-30 20-50 0.91-0.96 70-110 -10 to 80 Natural, various colors Low cost, lightweight, good chemical resistance Packaging, containers, toys Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) 2.6-3.6 20-30 50-70 1.27-1.40 70-80 -40 to 70 Transparent, various colors Good clarity, impact resistance, chemical resistance Food packaging, medical equipment Polyurethane (PU) 0.6-8.0 10-100 10-80 1.05-1.25 -40 to 80 -40 to 80 Natural, various colors Good flexibility, high abrasion resistance, good chemical resistance Wheels, seals, gaskets Polystyrene (PS) 2.5-4.5 10-50 40-60 1.04-1.06 70-95 -10 to 70 Natural, various colors Low cost, good dimensional stability, good electrical properties Disposable cups, packaging, toys Polyoxymethylene (POM) 2.6-3.3 25-50 55-75 1.41-1.43 120-140 -40 to 100 Natural, black Good dimensional stability, low friction, good chemical resistance Gears, bearings, valves Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) 2.5-4.0 18-45 40-60 1.35-1.45 65-80 -15 to 55 White, Grey, Transparent Low cost, easy to process, flame retardant, electr...
Steel is a widely-used material in CNC machining due to its excellent mechanical properties, such as high strength and durability. The type of steel employed depends on the specific requirements for each component - strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance included. Stainless steel is a popular choice for CNC machining due to its corrosion resistance and ability to remain strong at high temperatures. Tool steel also makes an excellent CNC cutting material due to its high hardness and wear resistance. Other steel types used in CNC machining include carbon steel, which is cost-effective and easy to machine; and alloy steel which has improved mechanical properties due to the addition of elements like chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. In conclusion, when selecting steel type for CNC machining it's important to take into account your component's requirements as well as any properties needed for final product. Material Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elastic Modulus (GPa) Hardness (HB) Advantages Applications 1018 Steel 440-790 370 190 126-183 Good machinability, low cost Bolts, nuts, studs, gears 1020 Steel 420-690 350 190 121-170 Good weldability, low cost Shafts, axles, pins 1045 Steel 585-800 330 205 163-229 Good strength and wear resistance Gears, shafts, bolts 4130 Steel 670-980 435 205 197-235 High strength-to-weight ratio, good weldability Aircraft parts, bicycle frames 4140 Steel 655-1065 415 205 197-235 High strength, toughness, and wear resistance Gears, axles, shafts 4340 Steel 745-1130 470 205 201-269 High strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance Aircraft landing gear, crankshafts A2 Tool Steel 670-1280 360 190 217-235 High wear resistance, good toughness Punches, dies, cutting tools A36 Steel 400-550 250 200 70-80 Easy to machine, weld, and form. Affordable and widely available. Structural applications, including buildings, bridges, and machinery. D2 Tool Steel 1700-2200 1200-1400 190-210 60-64 High wear resistance and toughness. Holds an edge well. Cutting tools, knives, shear blades, and dies. S7 Tool Steel 1600-2000 1400-1700 190-210 50-60 High impact resistance and toughness. Tooling applications that require shock resistance, such as hammers, punches, chisels, and shear blades. 303 Stainless Steel 620 - 860 260 - 420 190 160 - 180 Good machinability and corrosion resistance Aerospace, automotive, food processing, and medical industries 304 Stainless Steel 515 - 1035 205 - 515 193 70 - 92 Corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength Chemical processing, food processing, and medical industries 316 Stainless Steel 515 - 1035 205 - 515 193 70 - 90 Superior corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength Chemical processing, food processing, and medical industries 416 Stainless Steel 550 - 860 275 - 485 200 262 - 302 Good machinability and wear resistance Aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries 15-5 PH 1100 - 1380 860 196 363 - 388 High strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance Aerospace, chemic...
We also have several materials used for CNC machining besides aluminum, steel, plastic, and urethane. Some examples include: Copper and brass: These materials are good conductors of electricity and are often used in electrical applications. Titanium: This metal is strong, corrosion-resistant, and biocompatible, making it ideal for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. Magnesium: This material has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is commonly used in parts where strength is desired at the expense of weight. Wood: CNC machines can also be used to carve and shape wood, making it a popular material for artistic and decorative projects. Ceramics: These materials are often used in industrial applications due to their high-temperature resistance and durability. Composites: Materials such as carbon fiber composites are used for their strength and lightweight properties in applications ranging from sports equipment to aerospace. Material Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elastic Modulus (GPa) Density (g/cm³) Distortion Temperature (°C) Working Temperature (°C) Advantages Applications Copper 220-350 40-220 130-150 8.96 200-250 -200 to 1000 ● High thermal and electrical conductivity ● Corrosion resistance Electrical wiring, plumbing, electronics, roofing, cookware Brass 250-800 100-600 100-120 8.4-8.73 500-600 -200 to 500 ● Good corrosion resistance ● Easily machinable Decorative items, plumbing, electrical components, musical instruments Titanium 830-1100 400-550 116-170 4.5 600-650 -250 to 400 ● High strength-to-weight ratio ● Corrosion resistance Aerospace, military, medical implants, sporting goods, automotive applications Magnesium 120-220 80-170 44-45 1.74-1.85 200-300 -40 to 150 ● Lightweight ● Good damping capacity ● Easily machinable Aerospace, automotive parts, electronics, power tools Zinc 150-380 40-310 96-110 7.13 150-200 -50 to 150 ● Corrosion resistance ● Recyclable Building materials, automotive parts, electrical components Nickel 550-880 170-690 200-210 8.9 300-400 -196 to 1000 ● High strength ● Corrosion resistance Aerospace, marine engineering, chemical processing, power generation Carbon fiber composites 600-1500 500-1200 120-220 1.6-2.0 180-250 -55 to 250 ● High strength-to-weight ratio ● Stiffness ● Fatigue resistance Aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, construction, industrial applications Ceramic 200-4000 20-3000 50-400 2-10 500-1500 up to 2000 ● High temperature resistance ● Hardness ● Wear resistance Cutting tools, bearings, electronic components, medical implants, aerospace applications Wood 25-50 10-20 10-20 0.4-1.2 120-200 up to 100 ● Natural appearance ● Lightweight Furniture, flooring, construction, decorative items