Material Properties Comparison Chart

Aluminum 6061-T6 is the most popular CNC machining material due to its excellent machinability (rating 90/100), good strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. For higher strength, consider 7075-T6. For corrosion resistance, stainless steel 316 or titanium.

Higher machinability ratings mean faster cutting speeds, longer tool life, and lower cost per part. Aluminum (85-95 rating) machines 3-5x faster than titanium (25-35 rating). A part that costs $10 in aluminum might cost $30-50 in titanium due to slower speeds and faster tool wear.

For lightweight parts: Aluminum 7075-T6 offers the best strength-to-weight ratio among common metals. Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is 40% lighter than steel with comparable strength. Engineering plastics like PEEK offer even lower density with good mechanical properties.

For corrosion resistance, top choices are: Stainless Steel 316L (marine/chemical environments), Titanium Grade 2/5 (seawater, body fluids), Hastelloy C-276 (extreme chemical exposure), and Inconel 625 (high-temperature corrosion). Aluminum 6061 with anodizing also provides good corrosion protection.

6061-T6 has tensile strength of 310 MPa and is the most versatile, weldable, and cost-effective aluminum alloy. 7075-T6 has tensile strength of 572 MPa (nearly double) but costs 50-80% more and is harder to weld. Choose 7075 when strength is critical; 6061 for general purposes.

Yes, but consider galvanic corrosion when dissimilar metals contact each other in the presence of an electrolyte. Use insulating washers or coatings between dissimilar metals. Common safe pairings: aluminum + stainless steel (with insulator), steel + brass. Avoid: aluminum + copper direct contact.