Twelve grades we machine every month, each with real cutting parameters, honest cost indexing and the limitations that show up after the parts arrive — not just the datasheet numbers.
Most material questions resolve by working backwards from what the part has to do. Find your requirement, take the shortlist.
| Your requirement | Shortlist | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost per part | 6061 / 6063 Aluminum | Fastest to machine, widest availability |
| Highest strength, low weight | 7075 Aluminum | 572 MPa at 2.81 g/cm³ |
| Strongest overall | 17-4 PH Stainless (H900) | 1310 MPa after aging |
| Best corrosion resistance | Titanium Grade 2 / 316L | Seawater and chemical service |
| Will be welded | 5083 Aluminum / 304 / 316L | 7xxx and 2xxx are effectively unweldable |
| Cosmetic anodized finish | 6061 / 6063 Aluminum | Uniform color; 5xxx anodizes blotchy |
| High temperature (200°C+) | PEEK / Titanium | PEEK to ~250°C continuous |
| Electrical or thermal conductivity | Copper C110 / Brass C360 | 101% IACS for C110 |
| Chemical resistance (plastics) | PTFE | Inert to almost all chemicals |
| Food contact equipment | 304 / 316L / PEEK (food grades) | Confirm the applicable standard |
Material decisions interact with tolerances and quantity — a grade that is right for a 50-piece batch may not be right at 5,000 pieces. Our guide to aluminum grades goes deeper on the metal options, and machining by production volume covers how quantity changes the economics.
Why aluminum parts cost less than titanium parts, in one column. These are shop starting points for carbide tooling.
| Material | Surface speed | Feed per tooth | Relative cycle time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 Aluminum | 300–500 m/min | 0.10–0.25 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| 7075 Aluminum | 250–400 m/min | 0.10–0.20 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| 5083 / 5052 Aluminum | 250–450 m/min | 0.10–0.20 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| 304 Stainless Steel | 60–120 m/min | 0.05–0.15 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| 316L Stainless Steel | 50–100 m/min | 0.05–0.12 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| 17-4 PH Stainless | 60–100 m/min (Condition A) | 0.05–0.12 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| Titanium Grade 5 | 30–60 m/min | 0.05–0.12 mm/tooth | 0.1× 6061 |
| Titanium Grade 2 | 40–80 m/min | 0.05–0.15 mm/tooth | 0.1× 6061 |
| PEEK | 200–400 m/min | 0.10–0.30 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| PTFE | 300–600 m/min | 0.10–0.30 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| Brass C360 | 200–400 m/min | 0.08–0.20 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
| Copper C110 | 150–300 m/min | 0.05–0.15 mm/tooth | 0× 6061 |
"Relative cycle time" is a rough comparison against 6061 aluminum at 450 m/min — the single biggest reason a titanium part costs several times the same geometry in aluminum.
Start from the requirement, not the material. Define what the part has to do — load it carries, environment it lives in, whether it is welded, whether the finish is visible, temperature range — and the shortlist usually falls out. 6061 aluminum covers most machined parts; reach for 7075 for strength, 316L for chlorides, 5083 for welded marine structures, PEEK for high temperature or chemical exposure.
Aluminum 6063 and 6061 are the cheapest by finished part cost, not because the raw material is cheapest per kilogram but because they machine fastest and have the widest stock availability. Brass C360 has a higher material price but machines so easily that turned brass parts are often cheaper than expected.
Yes. The twelve grades on this page cover most work, but we machine other aluminum, stainless and plastic grades, plus carbon steel and alloy steel. If your drawing calls for something not listed, send it — the material grade and temper are part of the quote either way.
Yes. Mill certificates with heat number and chemistry are supplied with the order for metals, and the batch is traceable from material lot to finished parts. If your quality system requires specific documentation, tell us at the RFQ stage so it is included in the quote rather than added later.
Send the drawing and tell us what the part has to do — load, environment, welding, finish. Those four answers usually settle the material, and if 6061 will do the job we will say so rather than quote you 7075.