Material selection drives a part's strength, weight, cost, corrosion resistance and machinability. Choosing deliberately — rather than defaulting to a familiar alloy — produces better parts at the right price.
Aluminum Alloys
6061 is the all-round workhorse; 7075 offers aerospace strength; 5052 suits forming; 6063 suits extrusion. Aluminum is light, corrosion-resistant and the most economical metal to machine.
Stainless Steel
303 is the most machinable grade; 304 offers better corrosion resistance; 316 adds marine and chemical resistance. Stainless is strong and durable but harder to machine than aluminum.
Carbon & Alloy Steel
45# and 40Cr are economical choices for shafts, gears and structural parts. Alloy steels like 42CrMo add strength after heat treatment.
Titanium
Titanium (TC4/TA2) offers the best strength-to-weight ratio and excellent biocompatibility, but it is difficult to machine and expensive. Use it for aerospace and medical implants.
Brass & Copper
Brass machines beautifully and suits decorative and electrical parts; copper offers high conductivity for connectors and terminals.
Engineering Plastics
POM, ABS, PC, PEEK and nylon provide lightweight, insulating, low-cost alternatives where metal is unnecessary.
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