05Materials24 grades
Materials we machine
Aluminum, carbon and alloy steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze and engineering plastics. Filter by family or by what the part has to do, then quote in the grade you choose. Not sure? Pick “Not sure” on the quote form and we will suggest two options.
Material list
| Grade | Tensile strength | Density | Machinability | Corrosion resistance | Typical uses | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6Aluminum | 310 MPa(45 ksi) | 2.70 g/cm³ | Very good | Good | Brackets, housings, fixture plates and frames: the default aluminum | Quote in 6061-T6 |
| 6082-T6Aluminum | 300 MPa(44 ksi) | 2.70 g/cm³ | Very good | Good | Structural plate and bar work; often stocked in place of 6061 | Quote in 6082-T6 |
| 7075-T6Aluminum | 570 MPa(83 ksi) | 2.81 g/cm³ | Very good | Fair | High-strength brackets, tooling and parts under repeated load | Quote in 7075-T6 |
| 2024-T3Aluminum | 480 MPa(70 ksi) | 2.78 g/cm³ | Good | Poor | Fittings and parts under fatigue; usually anodized or painted | Quote in 2024-T3 |
| 5052-H32Aluminum | 230 MPa(33 ksi) | 2.68 g/cm³ | Fair | Excellent | Marine parts, tanks and enclosures near salt or water | Quote in 5052-H32 |
| Cast aluminum tooling plateAluminum | 165 MPa(24 ksi) | 2.65 g/cm³ | Very good | Good | Fixture and base plates that must stay flat after machining | Quote in Cast tooling plate |
| 1018 cold-rolledSteel | 440 MPa(64 ksi) | 7.87 g/cm³ | Good | Poor, needs a coating | Pins, spacers, simple shafts and weld fixtures | Quote in 1018 |
| 1045Steel | 570 MPa(83 ksi) | 7.85 g/cm³ | Good | Poor, needs a coating | Shafts, axles, gears and studs | Quote in 1045 |
| 4140 pre-hardened, 28–32 HRCSteel | 1,000 MPa(145 ksi) | 7.85 g/cm³ | Fair | Poor, needs a coating | Tooling, high-load shafts and hydraulic parts | Quote in 4140 PH |
| 12L14 free-machiningSteel | 540 MPa(78 ksi) | 7.87 g/cm³ | Excellent | Poor, needs a coating | High-volume turned parts and fittings; not for welding | Quote in 12L14 |
| A2 tool steelSteel | 57–62 HRC after hardening | 7.86 g/cm³ | Fair | Fair | Punches, dies, wear plates and gauges | Quote in A2 |
| 303Stainless | 620 MPa(90 ksi) | 8.00 g/cm³ | Very good | Good | Fasteners, fittings, shafts and valve parts; not for welding | Quote in 303 |
| 304 / 304LStainless | 515 MPa(75 ksi) | 8.00 g/cm³ | Fair | Very good | Food equipment, brackets and enclosures | Quote in 304 |
| 316 / 316LStainless | 515 MPa(75 ksi) | 8.00 g/cm³ | Fair | Excellent | Food and pharmaceutical parts, marine and chemical service | Quote in 316 |
| 17-4 PH, H1025Stainless | 1,070 MPa(155 ksi) | 7.78 g/cm³ | Fair | Very good | Pump shafts, valve stems and high-strength fittings | Quote in 17-4 PH |
| 416Stainless | 520 MPa(75 ksi) | 7.75 g/cm³ | Very good | Fair | Valve trim, gears and screws; magnetic | Quote in 416 |
| C360 free-cutting brassBrass and copper | 385 MPa(56 ksi) | 8.50 g/cm³ | Excellent | Good | Fittings, valve bodies and electrical parts | Quote in C360 |
| C110 copperBrass and copper | 250 MPa(36 ksi) | 8.94 g/cm³ | Fair | Good | Bus bars, electrical contacts and heat sinks | Quote in C110 |
| C932 bearing bronzeBrass and copper | 240 MPa(35 ksi) | 8.93 g/cm³ | Very good | Good | Bushings, bearings and thrust washers | Quote in C932 |
| Acetal (POM)Plastics | 65 MPa(9.4 ksi) | 1.41 g/cm³ | Excellent | Does not corrode | Gears, rollers and guides; food-contact grades available | Quote in Acetal |
| UHMW polyethylenePlastics | 40 MPa(5.8 ksi) | 0.93 g/cm³ | Good | Does not corrode | Wear strips, chute liners and conveyor guides | Quote in UHMW |
| Nylon 6/6Plastics | 80 MPa(12 ksi), dry | 1.14 g/cm³ | Good | Does not corrode | Bushings, spacers and wear pads; absorbs some moisture | Quote in Nylon 6/6 |
| PEEKPlastics | 100 MPa(14.5 ksi) | 1.30 g/cm³ | Good | Does not corrode | Seals, insulators and parts running up to 250 °C (480 °F) | Quote in PEEK |
| PolycarbonatePlastics | 65 MPa(9.4 ksi) | 1.20 g/cm³ | Good | Does not corrode | Machine guards, covers and sight windows | Quote in Polycarbonate |
No material matches every filter. Clear one, or ask us: we machine more grades than this list shows.
Values are typical published figures for each grade and condition, rounded for comparison. Use the supplier's certificate or a design handbook for engineering calculations.
5.1ChoosingNotes
How we help you choose a grade
The cheapest part is usually made from the most machinable grade that still does the job. These are the trade-offs we talk through most often.
6061 or 7075 aluminum
6061 machines well, welds and anodizes evenly. 7075 is close to twice as strong but cannot be welded and costs more. Choose 7075 only where strength sets the size of the part.
303, 304 or 316 stainless
303 cuts fastest but should not be welded or used in harsh washdown. 304 suits most food equipment. 316 handles salt, brine and cleaning chemicals best.
1018 or 12L14 steel
12L14 turns very fast and makes cheap pins and fittings, but it should not be welded or case hardened. 1018 welds and carburizes well and costs slightly more to machine.
Plastics move
Plastics expand with heat several times more than metal, and nylon swells with moisture. We hold plastic parts to realistic tolerances and machine them in a stable shop temperature.
Your own material
You can supply bar or plate. Tell us the grade and send the certificate, and we will confirm the stock size gives enough clean-up before we quote.
Certificates and traceability
Ask for mill test reports at the quote stage. We record heat numbers on the traveller, so each batch can be traced to its material.
Found your grade?
Each “Quote in” link opens the quote form with that material already selected.