6061-T6 is the aluminum most machined parts are made from, and for good reason: it cuts cleanly at high spindle speeds, takes anodizing evenly, welds acceptably, and is stocked in every thickness in the Pearl River Delta. If a design has no unusual requirement, 6061 is the answer until proven otherwise.
| Tensile strength | 310 MPa |
|---|---|
| Yield strength | 276 MPa |
| Hardness | 95 HB |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
| Elongation | 12% |
| Thermal conductivity | 167 W/m·K |
| Series | 6xxx series (Al-Mg-Si) |
Typical values for the standard condition (Aluminum 6061-T6). Heat treatment, temper and product form move these numbers — confirm against the mill certificate for your order.
Best balance of machinability, finish quality and cost of any common aluminum
Anodizes evenly and predictably — the reference grade for cosmetic parts
Available in plate, bar and extrusion in virtually every thickness
Weldable, so fabricated and machined assemblies can be combined
Starting parameters for carbide tooling. These are the shop's working numbers, not brochure values — adjust for machine rigidity, tool geometry and workholding.
| Surface speed | 300–500 m/min |
|---|---|
| Feed per tooth | 0.10–0.25 mm/tooth |
| Tooling | 2–3 flute carbide, uncoated or ZrN; polished flutes for chip evacuation |
| Coolant | Flood, mist or air blast; air is sufficient for finishing passes |
Machines clean at high RPM. Deep pockets need strong chip evacuation — if chips are recut, the surface finish degrades quickly and tool life drops.
The reference point for aluminum pricing. Wide availability keeps material cost stable and lead times short, and the machining cost is the lowest of any common metal.
For the full cost structure — material, programming, setup, cycle time, finishing and inspection — see CNC machining cost per hour, and for how price changes with quantity see machining by production volume.
Yes, on features that need it. ±0.01mm requires sharp tooling, a temperature-stable environment and in-process measurement, and it is priced accordingly. For most features ±0.05mm is routine and costs considerably less. Specify tight tolerances only on functional features.
Thin sections and parts cut from thick plate can move when material is removed and internal stress is released. For flatness-critical parts, order 6061-T651 (stress relieved by stretching) rather than plain T6, and expect to leave a finishing pass after stress relief.
Yes — it is the most predictable common alloy for anodizing. Color consistency is good, and Type II and Type III both work well. If the surface is highly visible, specify bead blasting before anodizing for a uniform matte appearance.
Close relatives, both free-machining. 6082 is more common in Europe and slightly stronger in yield (260 MPa versus 276 MPa for 6061-T6, with similar tensile). 6061 dominates in China and North America and is available in more stock sizes, which usually decides the question.
Tell us the grade and temper, the quantity and what the part has to do. You get a line-item quote within 24 hours, with DFM feedback on anything that is raising the cost.