machining material

Machining 7075 aluminum and other materials

CNC machining is one of the most common manufacturing methods used to fabricate and manufacture parts and products. The use of computer numerical control (CNC) allows machine parts, sub-parts and mechanical products to be produced using a highly automated process, which has an advantage over conventional manufacturing methods in terms of speed. , productivity and accuracy. However, determining the right materials for CNC milling and turning can be a difficult task for many machining suppliers

Popular CNC machining materials

There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing a material for a part or product, including workability, material price, resistance to corrosion, durability, weight and aesthetics. Although there are hundreds of metals and alloys that can be used for CNC machining, pay attention to the most common machining materials below:

Aluminum 7075

Aluminum 7075 is superior to other aluminum grades. Aluminum 7075 is one of the strongest aluminum alloys. Unlike 6061 aluminum, 7075 aluminum has average workability, making it difficult to bend into difficult and complex shapes. This material is ideal for high-intensity recreational equipment, automotive frames, and aerospace applications – applications requiring metal will be subject to constant pressure. However, aluminum 7075 should be avoided in the case of part fabrication but welding is required.

Aluminum 6061

Aluminum 6061 is the most common type of aluminum and is often used for auto parts, bicycle frames, sportswear, vehicle frames, RC vehicles, and more. Similar to other aluminum alloys, it has a good hardness to weight ratio and is naturally resistant to corrosion in the air thanks to the outer layer of aluminum oxide. While this material has excellent workability and good machinability, it can be more expensive than other metals. It also doesn’t work well when exposed to salt water or other chemicals, which is something to be aware of depending on the use of 6061 aluminum material for CNC machining.

6061 aluminum material product

Brass-Copper material

Brass is often found in plumbing fittings, home décor, and musical instruments. Mainly due to the soft material and the ability to work easily. Due to its high gloss, it is often found in cosmetic applications and as a material for interior decoration use. It also doesn’t spark when struck with other metals, making it ideal for use in potentially explosive environments. Brass cuts easily, so in the past lead was added to aid in machining but can now be machined without lead. Naval brass is generally much more difficult to fabricate than free-cut brass, but it has a very high gloss. It is also resistant to natural corrosion at sea.

Magnesium material AZ31

Magnesium AZ31 is an alloy with aluminum and zinc, magnesium AZ31 is up to 35% lighter than aluminum with equivalent strength. However, this material is usually more expensive and is often used for aircraft parts. While the material is easy to work with, it has flammable properties. Due to its light weight and high bearing capacity, it is also commonly used for laptop cases, power tools, camera bodies, and other uses on household appliances.

Stainless steel material 303

 (Inox 303 / Stainless steel)
Perhaps the most important thing to know about 303 stainless steel (304 stainless steel) is that it looks a lot like other stainless steel materials, so it’s important to check the material to make sure it really is. 304 stainless steel. Because sulfur is used to fabricate materials, 303 stainless steel is not ideal for cold forming or heat treatment. This material is commonly used for nuts, bolts, shafts, and gears.

Stainless steel material 304

 (Stainless steel 304 / Stainless steel)
304 stainless steel, sometimes referred to as 18/8, is the most common of the stainless steel grades. 304 stainless steel is very hard, non-magnetic, easy to work, and often corrosion-resistant, ideal for kitchen accessories, petroleum storage tanks, chemicals, and piping used in industry, architecture and car details. It is found in a wide range of parts and consumer and industrial products. Stainless steels 304 and 303 have an almost identical metallurgy process. Type 303 usually has a small sulfur content to aid in machining and usually only for machining from round bar billets; while 304 stainless steel is mainly used for the machining of flat, plate and bar materials. These two materials are interchangeable.

316 stainless steel material

 (316 stainless steel / Stainless steel)
316 stainless steel is generally considered marine stainless steel, 316 is very durable and easy to weld. This material has very high corrosion resistance, is ideal for architecture, marine installation, industrial pipes and painted concrete, chemical tanks in the paint line of cars, motorcycles, all kinds of spray nozzles chemistry.

Japanese D2 steel material

Japanese D2 steel is a high-carbon, high-carbon air-hardening tool steel with high wear resistance. It can be heat treated and provide a strong hardness range (hardness). D2 steel is ideal for making parts and products that need to be easily bent, but also difficult.

Carbon steel material 1045

Carbon steel 1045 is a strong and tough material, is mild steel, usually cheaper than stainless steel. The material can be hardened, and heat-treated, making it easy to machine and weld. It is commonly used in industrial applications and mechanical parts requiring high strength such as nuts and bolts, gears, shafts, and connecting rods.

Titanium material

Titanium – Perhaps most famous for being a material with high strength, lightweight and toughness, titanium can be easily welded and anodized to protect surfaces. However, its luster is not that good and is a poor conductor of electricity, even though it is a good conductor of heat. This material is usually more expensive than other metals. It is abundant in the Earth’s crust but is difficult to purify. It is commonly used for military, aerospace, industrial, and medical applications.

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