Machining Materials | CNCNOW

At CNCNOW, we specialize in CNC machining. From CNC grinding to CNC milling, CNC turning and EDM wire manufacturing, we can do it all – and we work with a wide variety of metal and materials.

CNC machining can be done with almost any metal or plastic. Less commonly, it can be used on material such as wood and glass. Below, we’ve put together a list of some of the common metals and plastics we work with at CNCNOW.

If you require CNC machining for a material that is not listed here, please contact us with details about your project. We may be able to work with more exotic materials upon request.

CNC Metal Materials

Metals are very common in CNC machining, and this manufacturing process can be used on a very wide variety of metals and materials. Here are a few of the metals we commonly work with at CNCNOW.

Aluminum alloys

Aluminum and its alloys have a great strength-to-weight ratio. They are also corrosion-resistant and relatively inexpensive, and have other benefits like good ductility. The metal is easy to machine, and the surface can be anodized for better corrosion & wear resistance, and to change the color of the part or product

They are the most widely-used non-ferrous metals in the crafting of both custom metal parts and prototypes. Among others, we work with alloys including: AL6061, Al6063, AL6082, AL7075, AL5052, A380 etc.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is widely used for consumer products, machine components, aerospace, and medical equipment, and for many other purposes. Steel is highly ductile, and has high strength, durability, and corrosion resistance

Depending on the alloy, stainless steel can be magnetic or non-magnetic. We work with:SS303, SS304, SS316, SS416 etc.

Mild steel

Mild steel is also sometimes called “low-carbon,” because it only contains about 0.05 to 0.25% carbon by weight, compared to high-carbon steel that contains up to 0.3-2% carbon. Its tensile strength is relatively low

However, it is very easy to form and is cheap, and its hardness can be increased by the process of carburization. We work with: Mild steel 1018,Mild steel 12L14

Alloy steel

This refers to any steel with alloyed elements that make up between 1-50% by weight. Depending on the alloyed metal and percentage of other elements, the mechanical properties of alloy steel can vary dramatically

We work with both low alloy and high alloy steels, such as:4140, 4340, Q235, Q345B, 20#, 45# etc

Brass

Brass is an alloy metal made of copper with zinc added. Other elements may also be desired to change its mechanical properties and color

It has a pleasing appearance and is highly ductile, as well as good corrosion resistance. We work with:HPb63, HPb62, HPb61, HPb59, H59, H68, H80, H90 etc.

Copper

Copper is highly conductive, but is relatively soft and hard to work with using CNC machines. This is why it is typically alloyed with other elements and metals like nickel, tin or aluminum

We work with coppers including:C11000, C12000, C12000, C26000, C51000 etc.

Titanium

Titanium is a non-ferrous, extremely strong metal with a high strength-to-weight ratio, and is often used for aerospace, medical devices, and high-performance automotive purposes. It is highly ductile

but its physical properties can be altered by alloying it with other metals. We work with titanium including:Titanium CP1 Titanium CP2 Titanium Grade 5

CNC Plastic Materials

Plastic is also commonly used in CNC manufacturing. Almost any plastic that is strong enough to hold up to tooling can be used in modern CNC devices. Common plastics used in CNC machining include:

Nylon PA

Nylon polyamide (PA) is a commonly-used thermoplastic. It’s used in many different fields of engineering because it has good mechanical properties, is resistant to impact and breakage, and is highly-resistant to both chemicals and abrasion. However, it is somewhat susceptible to water/moisture absorption.

ABS

ABS is a type of thermoplastic polymer that is strong, offers good impact strength, and is highly machinable due to its high heat resistance

CNC is often used to create prototype ABS parts before they are mass-produced with injection molding – which is typically a lower-cost option.

Polycarbonate(PC)

This category of thermoplastic polymers includes carbonate groups in their chemical structures, which lends them excellent durability, and a nearly-transparent appearance for many materials. It’s often used in electronics, data storage, and in the automotive/aerospace industries.

Polyoxymethylene (POM)

POM is also known under trade names such as Acetal and Delrin. It is a very strong and versatile plastic which is ideal for almost any component that must be tough and durable, but does not need the full strength of a metal part. It is inexpensive, and can easily be machined using CNC tools.

Acrylic (PMMA)

This synthetic resin is transparent and rigid, and often sold under the names Perspex, Lucite, and Plexiglas. It is extremely durable and hard, and is often used as a substitute for glass for things like skylights, aircraft canopies, and shatterproof windows, to name just a few.

PTFE

Known by its brand name Teflon, PTFE is a fluoropolymer that has many different applications. It is very strong, tough and waxy, and is nonflammable. It can easily resist temperatures exceeding 200C, and is a very good electronic insulator, so it’s often used in electronic components, as well as food processing and chemical processing.

We Can Work With Almost Any Material – Contact CNCNOW!

The above materials and grades are the most commonly used in CNC machining, but at CNCNOW, we can work with almost any metal or plastic. If you need help machining a component with a material that is not on this list, just contact us.

We can learn more about your project, and help you get the CNC machining services that you need – whether you’re building a prototype, require a short production run, or are interested in full-scale manufacturing, we’re here to help.