Aluminum 6061
ExcellentThe default prototype alloy — easy to machine, stable, and the only one most prototype drawings should start from.
Read the machining notes Materials
Twelve materials, and the argument for each one
A material page here is not a brochure. It records what the material does when you cut it, what tolerance it holds after it moves, and where a different alloy would have been the better call. Where a grade is not stocked, we say so and confirm before quoting.
Material comparison
| Material | Machinability | Achievable tolerance | Lead time | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061 | Excellent | ±0.05 mm on critical features, ±0.10 mm typical | 3–7 working days | Enclosures, heat sinks, fixtures, brackets, housings |
| Aluminum 7075 | Good | ±0.05 mm on critical features | 4–8 working days | Aerospace brackets, robot links, load-bearing fixtures |
| 316 Stainless Steel | Fair | ±0.05 mm achievable with care | 5–9 working days | Medical instruments, marine fittings, chemical parts |
| 304 Stainless Steel | Fair | ±0.05 mm achievable with care | 5–9 working days | General brackets, food-contact parts, housings |
| Grade 5 Titanium | Difficult | ±0.05 mm achievable, cost rises sharply below that | 7–12 working days | Lightweight structural parts, medical implants, aerospace hardware |
| PEEK | Fair | ±0.05 mm achievable on filled grades, ±0.10 mm typical | 7–12 working days | High-temperature insulators, seals, semiconductor and medical components |
| POM | Excellent | ±0.05 mm achievable, ±0.10 mm typical | 3–6 working days | Bearings, rollers, precision slots, gears, bushings |
| Nylon PA | Fair | ±0.10 mm typical, needs conditioning time | 3–6 working days | Gears, bushings, wear strips, electrical insulating parts |
| Brass | Excellent | ±0.05 mm achievable | 3–6 working days | Connectors, RF parts, inserts, valve components |
| Copper | Good | ±0.05 mm achievable | 4–7 working days | Busbars, heat spreaders, RF shielding, electrodes |
| ABS | Good | ±0.10 mm typical, ±0.05 mm on critical features | 3–6 working days | Housings, brackets, enclosures, snap-fit covers |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Fair | ±0.10 mm typical | 4–7 working days | Transparent covers, guards, lenses, housings, fixtures |
All materials
Aluminum 7075
GoodThe strength option — roughly twice the yield of 6061, at a real cost in corrosion resistance and machining.
Read the machining notes316 Stainless Steel
FairThe medical and marine grade — better chloride resistance than 304, and harder to cut because of it.
Read the machining notes304 Stainless Steel
FairThe general-purpose stainless — the right answer unless the environment is chloride-heavy or the part is welded.
Read the machining notesGrade 5 Titanium
DifficultHigh strength, low density, and a cutting cost that has to be planned for rather than discovered.
Read the machining notesPEEK
FairThe high-performance polymer — chemically inert and heat resistant, and a machining problem until the tooling strategy is right.
Read the machining notesPOM
ExcellentDimensionally stable, low friction and easy to machine — until you try to bond it to anything.
Read the machining notesNylon PA
FairTough and easy to machine, but it moves after you cut it — moisture, not the machining, is what changes the dimension.
Read the machining notesBrass
ExcellentMachines beautifully and holds a fine finish — with one corrosion trap worth knowing about.
Read the machining notesCopper
GoodExcellent thermal and electrical conductor, and one of the harder metals to machine cleanly because it is soft and gummy.
Read the machining notesABS
GoodThe general-purpose enclosure material — impact resistant, bonds well, and machines with a slightly rough surface that needs attention.
Read the machining notesPolycarbonate (PC)
FairTough and optically clear, with one failure mode that catches almost every first-time machinist.
Read the machining notesTolerances above are for a single prototype part. Volume pricing, certification and material availability change the picture — send the drawing and we will confirm the grade before quoting.