Compare CNC Machining Materials

ABS is a low-cost engineering plastic that is easy to machine. ABS is an ideal material for structural applications when impact resistance, strength, and stiffness are required. It’s widely used for pre-production prototypes since it has excellent dimensional stability and is easy to paint and glue.

ABS Flame Retardant is an ideal material for structural applications when impact resistance, strength and stiffness are required. ABS Flame Retardant is an economical engineering plastic when flame resistant properties are needed in prototyping.

Delrin 570 is a homopolymer acetal containing 20% glass fiber filler. It has very high stiffness, low warpage, and low creep for superior performance at elevated temperatures.

Acetal is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.

Acetal Homopolymer is an engineering thermoplastic offering high mechanical strength, stiffness, hardness, and creep resistance. It often provides better wear resistance than Acetal Copolymer.

Acetal Static Dissipative is a semicrystalline engineering plastic with permanent antistatic additives for varied applications in electronics.

CPVC, also known as Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride provides excellent corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures making it ideal for self-supporting constructions where high temperatures are a concern.

HDPE is a high-density polyethylene that is lightweight, has low moisture absorption, is chemical and corrosion resistant, and has high strength. It is great for applications such as orthotic and prosthetic devices, water storage, and tanks.

LDPE is more flexible than HDPE, while still being light-weight and providing chemical and corrosion resistance. It’s extremely flexible making it great for prosthetic devices and thermoformed parts.

Nylon offers extremely good wear resistance, high tensile strength, and high modulus of elasticity, making it a great option in applications such as bearings, gears, and sprockets.

Nylon offers extremely good wear resistance and low frictional properties. It has very good temperature, chemical, and impact properties.

This 30% glass-fiber reinforced Nylon is important qualities such as high tensile and flexural strength, stiffness, and excellent heat deflection. Glass-fiber offers more than double the strength and stiffness of unreinforced nylons.

Polycarbonate is an engineering plastic that offers excellent dimensional stability over a wide range of service temperatures. It is commonly used for structural applications when clarity and impact strength are essential. It can also be used in a wide range of electrical applications since it has a low moisture absorption, good insulating properties, and an excellent flammability rating.

Polycarbonate 20% GF is a 20% glass reinforced polycarbonate with higher temperature and tensile properties than unfilled polycarbonate. Its good electrical properties combined with superior impact strength and moderate chemical resistance make it widely fitting for numerous applications.

PEEK is a unique semi-crystalline, high temperature engineering thermoplastic. Its material properties provide a wide range of applications where thermal, chemical, and combustion are critical to performance. PEEK can retain flexural and tensile properties at very high temperatures.

ULTEM is an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) material that combines exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Natural ULTEM is a translucent amber color. Key attributes include excellent mechanical strength, ability to retain strength at elevated temperatures, high heat resistance, and high stress resistance.

ULTEM is an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) material that combines exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. The addition of glass fiber reinforcement provides the material with greater tensile strength and rigidity while improving dimensional stability.

PET, also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester with excellent wear resistance, low coefficient of friction, high flexural modules, and superior dimensional stability. It it a very versatile option for mechanical and electro-mechanical parts.

Polymethyl methacrylate is a hard material sometimes referred to as Plexiglas™ and acrylic. It is often used as a lighter, shatter-resistant alternative to glass for its transparent appearance.

Polypropylene (PP) Copolymer is a common thermoplastic often used for its versatility. It is easy to fabricate, will not crack with vibration or wear, and can also be used in applications that require chemical resistance and/or FDA compliance.

Polypropylene (PP) Homopolymer is a crystalline material with a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent chemical resistance, and high performance in thermoforming and corrosive environments.

This material is a modified PPO that is a strong engineering plastic with outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Some key attributes include low moisture absorption and low thermal expansion, making it one of the most dimensionally stable thermoplastics. It is often used for electrical housings due to its high flame resistance and excellent insulating properties.

RADEL R polyphenylsulfone resins offer exceptional hydrolytic stability and toughness that is superior to other commercially available, high-temperature engineering resins. It offers high deflection temperature and outstanding resistance to environmental stress cracking. The polymer is inherently flame retardant, has excellent thermal stability, and good electrical properties.

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), is a low cost plastic material that is easy to machine. It is often used for low strength structural applications when impact resistance, machinability, and low cost are required. It is a great material choice for prototyping due to its dimensional stability and ability to paint and glue.

PTFE is a crystalline polymer commonly known by its trade name, Teflon. Properties include very high melting point and exceptional resistance to chemicals. Being hydrophobic, non-wetting, non-stick, high density, and resistant to high temperatures, it is incredibly versatile.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is an extremely versatile polymer and used widely across many industries due to its exceptional corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and cost efficiency.

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene provides a unique combination of wear and corrosion resistance, low friction surface, and impact strength. It is resistant to chemical attack and moisture absorption and retains key physical properties in cold temperatures. It is also a cost-effective solution for food handling applications as it meets FDA and USDA guidelines.

Aluminum 6061 is a versatile and widely used alloy renowned for its excellent mechanical properties and weldability. The "T6" and "T651" designations refer to specific tempering processes that enhance its strength and stress relief capabilities. Both variations of Aluminum 6061 are highly sought after in industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and general manufacturing due to their combination of strength, machinability, and corrosion resistance.

Aluminum 7075 is an alloy with zinc as the primary alloying element. It has excellent mechanical properties and exhibits high strength, toughness, and resistance to fatigue. It has higher corrosion resistance than other aluminums, making it a great option for aerospace applications.

Aluminum 7075 is an alloy with zinc as the primary alloying element. It has excellent mechanical properties and exhibits high strength, toughness, and resistance to fatigue. It has higher corrosion resistance than other aluminums, making it a great option for aerospace applications.

Aluminum 2024 is heavily utilized in aircraft applications because it has good machining characteristics and higher strength than other aluminums. Its machinable properties are strong, making it essential for precision fittings and parts.

Brass is an alloy consisting of both copper and zinc. The gold material is weather and corrosion resistant with tensile strength like mild steel. It is also an easy to machine material, so feed rates can remain high and coolant need is minimal. Brass C260, or cartridge brass, contains 70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc. The brass alloy has high ductility and is considered the most general purpose of all brass alloys.

Brass is an alloy consisting of both copper and zinc. The gold material is a weather and corrosion resistant metal with tensile strength similar to mild steel. It is also an easy to machine material, so feed rates can remain high and coolant need is minimal. Brass C360 remains the industry standard for general machining and high-volume production.

Copper C101 is also known as HC or high conductivity copper. It has a nominal conductivity of 100% and has high thermal conductivity making it a popular choice for all types of electrical components and conductors. It also offers high ductility and impact strength, making it a versatile and useful material.

Low carbon steel, also known as mild steel, contains up to 0.30% carbon. This gives the material low strength while making it more malleable and ductile compared to high carbon steels.

Stainless steel is well suited for a wide range of applications due to its excellent machinability and outstanding uniformity. It has good workability and weldability. This metal has very high tensile strength, and has high resistance to corrosion and wear.

Stainless steel 303 is well suited fora wide range of applications due to its excellent machinability and outstanding uniformity. SS 303 was designed to exhibit improved machinability while maintaining high corrosion and oxidation resistance. It is a non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel which does not harden with heat treatment.

Stainless 304 is the most common stainless steel. The steel contains both chromium and nickel metals as the main non-iron constituents. It has good resistance to oxidation, corrosion, and provides superior part surface quality.

Stainless steel 316 offers good machinability and outstanding uniformity. This material offers faster machining speeds, longer tool life, and improved part quality at a lower total cost.

Steel Alloy 4140 is a low alloy steel containing chromium, molybdenum, and manganese. It is widely used across numerous industries and is an excellent material choice for machining due to its toughness, high fatigue strength, and abrasion and impact resistance.

Titanium is extremely strong and boasts a high strength-to-weight ratio. It also has excellent corrosion resistance, high operating temperatures (up to 1,000°F) and is nontoxic. Another key is its low thermal expansion and high melting point that is roughly 3,000° F. Machining titanium will be more costly than other metals such as aluminum.