Aluminum Parts Manufacturing
This metal is popular due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance, conductivity, and recyclability.
Certification + Compliance
ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 13485:2016 | AS9100D | ITAR
Manufacturing for Custom Aluminum Parts
| We offer a number of types of aluminum materials through the following services: |
Types of Aluminum Available
| Everyone needs choices and finding the right type of aluminum is an important step in the success of your parts. Fundamentally, these alloys have these things in common: They are lightweight compared with other metals such as steel, plus aluminum alloys are strong and corrosion resistant. That’s why aluminum is our most-requested metal. |
| Material | Process | Tensile Strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al 6061-T651 | CNC Milling CNC Turning Sheet Metal Fabrication |
40 ksi (276 MPa) |
17% | 95 HBW 10/500 |
| Al 7075-T651 | CNC Milling CNC Turning |
83 ksi (572 MPa) |
11% | 85 HBW 10/500 |
| Al 5052-H32 | Sheet Metal Fabrication | 33.34 ksi (228 MPa) |
12% | 60 HBW |
| Al 5754 (Available through Protolabs Network) |
Sheet Metal Fabrication | 20-40 ksi (140-280 MPa) |
≥2% | ≥50 HRB |
| Al 2024 | CNC Milling CNC Turning |
68 ksi (469 MPa) |
19% | 120 HRB |
| Al (AlSi10Mg) | 3D Printing: DMLS High resolution (20 μm) |
39 ksi (268 MPa) |
15% | 42 HRB |
| Al (AlSi10Mg) | 3D Printing: DMLS Normal resolution (30 μm) |
50 ksi (345 MPa) |
8% | 59 HRB |
| Al (AlSi10Mg) | 3D Printing: DMLS Large format (40 μm) |
42 ksi (296 MPa) |
10% | 50 HRB |
Finishing Aluminum Parts
| One of the great things about aluminum is that it looks good on its own but can be enhanced using a variety of finishes, depending on how you manufacture your parts. |
| Image | Finish | Description | Available For |
|---|---|---|---|
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Anodizing | Types I, II, and III improve part durability and can add color |
CNC Machining |
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Bead Blasting | Light bead blast to provide uniform finish and light texture |
CNC Machining |
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Black Oxide | Improves corrosion resistance | CNC Machining |
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Brushing | Achieves uniform, stain-like surface finish | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Brushing + Electropolishing | Results in easy-to-clean parts that are corrosion resistant | CNC Machining |
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Clear Chromate | Improves corrosion resistance, adds electrical conductivity, and the ability to paint parts | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Electroless Nickel Plating | A wear-, abrasion-, and corrosion-resistance finish | CNC Machining 3D Printing Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Custom or Standard | Finishing options for 3D-printed aluminum parts | 3D Printing |
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Inserts | Used to incorporate off-the-shelf hardware components to facilitate assembly | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Masking | Using tape, rounds, and plugs, we can avoid applying finishes to specific locations on your parts | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Part Marking | Add numbers to each part to easily identify and trace them. | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Passivation | Chemical process that enhances durability and corrosion resistance on metal surfaces | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Polishing | Creates mirror-like finishes | CNC Machining 3D Printing |
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Powder Coating | Dry pigment in a wide variety of colors is blown onto metal and bonds electrostatically, the parts then get oven dried creating a thick and protective coating | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Silk Screening | Ink is forced through a stencil and fine mesh screen onto the metal surface | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Standard Finishing (CNC Machining) |
Three standard surface finish options are available for machined aluminum (edges broken, edges broken and light bead blast, or leave sharp) | CNC Machining |
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Standard Finishing (Sheet Metal Fabrication) |
Choose from orbital sander or straight grain/brushed |
Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Tin | Provides a barrier against corrosion and offers excellent weldability and electrical conductivity | Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Wet Paint | Provides a colorful coating in virtually any color | CNC Machining 3D Printing Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Yellow Chromate | A thin, iridescent yellowish film providing outstanding corrosion resistance | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
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Zinc | A protective coating that reduces chances of corrosion, even if scratched | CNC Machining Sheet Metal Fabrication |
Common Applications for Aluminum Parts
Aerospace Parts
With a high strength-to-weight ratio, aluminum is a good pick for aerospace parts, which require lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency and are strong enough to withstand heat, stress, and corrosive environments.
Automotive Parts
This industry also uses aluminum for lightweighting, to enhance range for EVs and fuel economy for standard cars. Aluminum also absorbs crash impacts effectively.
Consumer and Computer Electronics
Durability and lightness for portability are key requirements for this industry. Aluminum’s excellent thermal conductivity provides an additional benefit for high-power applications.
Medical Components
These parts require the ability to withstand frequent high-temperature sterilization, yet are lightweight, strong, and corrosion resistant. These are all qualities of aluminum.
Additional Resources
