Materials

Compare CNC machining materials by strength, weight, machinability, corrosion resistance, and cost to identify the best option for your part.

Material	Strength	Weight	Machinability	Corrosion Resistance	Relative Cost	Typical Tolerances Achievable	Best For
Aluminum	Medium–High	Low	Excellent	Good	$	±0.01 mm; thin walls may require support to prevent warping	Lightweight parts, housings, brackets
Stainless Steel	High	High	Good–Moderate	Excellent	$$	±0.01–0.02 mm; tighter tolerances require controlled cutting and finishing	Corrosion-resistant parts, shafts, fittings
Steel	High–Very High	High	Good	Moderate	$–$$	±0.01–0.02 mm; heat treatment may require secondary finishing for tight fits	High-strength machine components
Brass	Medium	High	Excellent	Good	$$	±0.01 mm; excellent machinability supports tight dimensional control	Fittings, bushings, connectors
Copper	Medium	High	Moderate	Good	$$	±0.01–0.02 mm; soft material may require optimized tooling to minimize deformation	Electrical & thermal components
Titanium	Very High	Low	Difficult	Excellent	$$$$	±0.02–0.05 mm typical; tighter tolerances require rigid fixturing, controlled cutting, and multiple finishing passes	High-performance, lightweight components

 

Need lightweight parts? → Choose Aluminum or Titanium
Need high corrosion resistance? → Choose Stainless Steel or Titanium
Need high strength at a lower cost? → Choose Steel
Need excellent machinability? → Choose Aluminum or Brass
Need high electrical/thermal conductivity? → Choose Copper

 

Not Sure Which Material to Choose?Send us your part drawing, application, and required properties. Our team can help confirm a suitable material and machining solution.

 

Different applications require different material properties. Match your part type and operating conditions with a suitable CNC machining grade.

Application	Typical Parts & Recommended Materials	Why
Aerospace Components	Aircraft Brackets — Aluminum 7075-T6 Mounting Plates — Aluminum 2024-T3 Lightweight Housings — Aluminum 6061-T6 High-Strength Shafts — Titanium Grade 5	High strength-to-weight ratio, fatigue resistance, and dimensional stability
Automotive Components	Engine Brackets — Aluminum 6061-T6 Shafts — Alloy Steel 4140 Bushings — Carbon Steel 1045 Fittings — Stainless Steel 304	Strength, wear resistance, machinability, and durability
Medical Components	Surgical Instrument Components — Stainless Steel 316L Implant Components — Titanium Grade 5 Precision Housings — Stainless Steel 316L	Corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and dimensional stability
Electronic Components	Busbars — Copper C11000 Electrical Terminals — Copper C10100 Connectors — Brass C36000 Heat Sinks — Copper C11000	High electrical/thermal conductivity and good machinability
Marine Components	Propeller Shafts — Stainless Steel 316L Bushings — Aluminum Bronze C46400 Valve Components — Aluminum Bronze C63000 Fasteners — Titanium Grade 2	Excellent corrosion resistance and durability in marine environments
Industrial Machinery	Machine Shafts — Alloy Steel 4140 Gears — Carbon Steel 1045 Housings — Aluminum 6061-T6 Valve Components — Stainless Steel 316L	High strength, wear resistance, machinability, and service life
Robotics Components	Robot Arms — Aluminum 6061-T6 Joint Housings — Aluminum 7075-T6 Shafts — Alloy Steel 4140 Mounting Plates — Aluminum 6061-T6	Low weight, high strength, and dimensional stability
Thermal Components	Heat Sinks — Copper C11000 Cooling Blocks — Copper C12200 Thermal Plates — Aluminum 6061-T6	High thermal conductivity, heat transfer efficiency, and machinability

Material selection should be based on actual operating conditions, not application alone. Load, temperature, corrosion exposure, dimensional requirements, surface finish, and machining cost should also be considered.

 

Your Requirement	Our Sourcing Support
Specific Grade	Source requested grades such as Aluminum 7075-T6, Stainless Steel 17-4 PH, Titanium Grade 5, Brass C36000, and other specified materials.
Special Material Grade	Support less common or customer-specified grades based on your part requirements and applicable material standards.
Specific Standard	Supply material according to ASTM, EN, DIN, JIS, AMS, or customer-specified standards.
Required Temper / Condition	Confirm the required material condition, such as T6, T651, annealed, normalized, or heat-treated, where applicable.
Specific Stock Size	Confirm suitable bar, plate, sheet, tube, or other stock dimensions based on your part size and machining requirements.
Material Certification	Provide MTC / material certificates and traceability documentation when required.
Customer-Specified Material	Review your drawing, BOM, or material specification and confirm material compatibility before machining.
Material + Machining	Coordinate material sourcing and CNC machining as one process, so the specified material is confirmed before production.

 

Can't find your required material? Send us the grade, specification, or drawing. We'll confirm material availability, sourcing options, and the applicable documentation before production.

 

 

Choose a surface finish based on your material, functional requirements, appearance, and dimensional tolerances. We can provide common finishing options for CNC machined parts and confirm finish compatibility before production.

 

Surface Finish	Compatible Materials	Main Benefits	Typical Parts
Anodizing	Aluminum	Corrosion resistance · Wear resistance · Color options	Housings · Brackets · Plates
Hard Anodizing	Aluminum	Higher hardness · Wear resistance · Improved durability	Shafts · Housings · Machine Components
Electropolishing	Stainless Steel · Titanium	Smooth surface · Corrosion resistance · Easy cleaning	Medical Parts · Fittings · Precision Components
Passivation	Stainless Steel	Improves corrosion resistance · Removes free iron	Shafts · Fittings · Fasteners
Polishing	Stainless Steel · Aluminum · Brass · Copper · Titanium	Smooth surface · Improved appearance	Decorative Parts · Housings · Fittings
Brushing	Aluminum · Stainless Steel	Uniform directional finish · Improved appearance	Panels · Housings · Covers
Plating	Steel · Brass · Copper · Stainless Steel	Corrosion resistance · Wear resistance · Electrical performance	Connectors · Pins · Fasteners
Powder Coating	Aluminum · Steel · Stainless Steel	Protective coating · Color options · Surface durability	Brackets · Frames · Housings
Bead Blasting	Aluminum · Stainless Steel · Steel · Titanium	Uniform matte texture · Removes machining marks	Housings · Panels · Brackets

 

Material & Finish Selection

The same surface finish is not suitable for every material. For example, aluminum is commonly anodized, stainless steel can be passivated or electropolished, while steel parts may require plating or coating for additional corrosion protection.

 

Send us your material grade, required finish, and drawing, and we can confirm the suitable finishing process and requirements before production.

 

 

 

Equipment	Main Capability
3-Axis CNC Machining Centers	Milling, drilling, tapping, pocketing and contour machining
4-Axis CNC Machining Centers	Multi-sided machining and complex features
5-Axis CNC Machining Centers	Complex 3D geometries and multi-surface machining
CNC Turning Centers	OD/ID turning, facing, boring, threading and grooving
Swiss CNC Machines	Small-diameter, long and precision components
CNC Turn-Mill Centers	Combined turning, milling, drilling and threading
CNC Grinding Machines	Precision grinding and tight-tolerance finishing
CMM	Dimensional and geometric inspection
Optical Measuring Equipment	Small features, profiles and dimensional inspection
Surface Roughness Tester	Surface finish measurement
Material Testing Equipment	Material identification and verification

 

 

 

Packaging

We use suitable packaging methods to protect CNC machined parts from scratches, impact, moisture, and contamination during storage and international transportation.

Packaging Method	Application
Individual Plastic Bags	Small precision parts and finished components
Protective Foam	Parts with machined or finished surfaces
Bubble Wrap	Additional impact protection
Cartons	Small and medium-sized orders
Wooden Cases	Heavy, large, or bulk shipments
Custom Packaging	Packaging based on part size, weight, and customer requirements

 

Lead Time

Lead time depends on part complexity, material availability, quantity, machining process, surface treatment, and inspection requirements.

Order Stage	Typical Lead Time
Drawing & Engineering Review	1–2 business days
Prototype / Sample Parts	7–15 business days
Small-Batch Production	10–20 business days
Production Orders	15–30 business days
Surface Treatment	Additional time depending on the finish

1. What materials can you use for CNC machining?

We commonly CNC machine aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, copper, and titanium in a range of standard and customer-specified grades. Material availability depends on the required grade, specification, quantity, and project requirements.

 

2. What is the best material for CNC machining?

There is no single best material. Aluminum is often selected for lightweight parts and easy machining, stainless steel for corrosion resistance, steel for strength and wear resistance, brass for excellent machinability, copper for electrical and thermal conductivity, and titanium for high strength-to-weight performance.

 

3. Which aluminum grades are available for CNC machining?

Common options include 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 2024, and 6082. The appropriate grade depends on required strength, weight, corrosion resistance, machinability, and application.

 

4. What stainless steel grades can you CNC machine?

Common stainless steel grades include 303, 304, 316L, 17-4 PH, and 420. We can also review customer-specified grades and applicable standards for production.

 

5. Can you CNC machine copper and brass?

Yes. Common options include C11000 and C12200 copper, as well as C36000 and other brass grades. Material selection depends on electrical or thermal conductivity, machinability, strength, and application requirements.

 

6. Can you source a material grade that is not listed on your website?

Yes. Send us the required material grade, standard, temper or condition, dimensions, and quantity. We can confirm material availability and sourcing options before production.

 

7. Can you provide material certificates for CNC machined parts?

Yes, material certificates / MTC and related material documentation can be provided when required. Certification requirements should be specified when requesting a quote.

 

8. Can you machine parts according to ASTM, EN, DIN, JIS, or AMS material standards?

Yes. We can review your specified material grade and applicable standard and confirm the material requirements before production.

 

9. How does material selection affect CNC machining cost?

Material affects both raw material cost and machining cost. Difficult-to-machine materials such as titanium or some stainless steels may require more specialized tooling, slower cutting parameters, and additional machining time.

 

10. Can you recommend a material based on my application?

Yes. Provide your part application, operating environment, required strength, weight limitations, corrosion exposure, temperature, and other performance requirements. We can help identify suitable material options.

 

11. Can you machine customer-specified materials?

Yes, subject to material availability, machinability, and technical requirements. Provide the material specification or drawing so we can review it before production.

 

12. Can surface finishing be applied to all CNC machining materials?

No. Surface finish compatibility depends on the material. For example, aluminum is commonly anodized, stainless steel can be passivated or electropolished, and steel may require plating or coating. We can confirm a suitable finish based on your material and part requirements.

Get a CNC Machining Quote

 

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