Machining Materials Guide

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Type General Characteristics Alloy Common Applications Tolerances for a 1/2" Dia. Bar Material Cost Factor Machining Cost Factor
Aluminum
Designed for machining
2011
Electronic hardware, endless commercial products
Cold finish
+/-.0015
3.8 .6
Improved strength, high fatigue and cracking resistance
2024
Electronic hardware, aircraft components, automotive parts, structural applications
+/-.0015 5.8 .7
Good formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance
6061
Electronic hardware, recreation equipment, piping, aircraft components
Cold finish
+/-.0015

Extruded
+/-.009
1.9 .8
Higher strength
7075
Aircraft components
+/-.0015 6 .9
Brass
Strength, corrosion and wear resistance, and excellent machinability
C35300
Well suited for parts with knurling or threading
+0015 3.5 .7
Low cost, low strength, heavy, free machining
C36000
Electronic hardware and contacts, fittings, and numerous commercial products
+/-.0015 3.4
(High scrap return provides cost savings )
.6
Copper
High corrosion resistance, conductivity, and finish
C11000
Transformers, electrical contacts, fittings
+0015 3.4 3
Excellent electrical conductivity
TeCu C14500
Electrical contacts
+/-.0015 4.1 .8
Non-magnetic and has a very low permeability
BeCu C17200
Magnetic housings, Electrical contacts, Bushings, Bearings, Pump components
+.0015 21.6 3
Excellent electrical conductivity and the strength
BeCu C17300
Marine environments, Electrical contacts, Fasteners, Valve components, Pump components
+.002 21.6 1
Excellent electrical conductivity and the strength
BeCu C17500
Marine environments, Electrical contacts, Fasteners, Valve components, Pump components
+.002 21.6 1.5
Plastics
Similar to nylon, better machinability
Acetal
Insulators, bearings, gears, bushings
Ground 4.4 .7
Similar to nylon, better machinability
Delrin
Insulators, bearings, gears, bushings
+/-.02 4.8 .7
Good machining, high friction resistance
Nylon, extruded
Insulator, bearing, short runs of products that will be converted to injection molding
Ground
+/-.002
6.7 .8
High strength plastic resin, extremely high resistance to heat, moisture, and chemicals
PEEK
Bearings, Bushings, Pump components, Medical implants, Aerospace components
+0.004-0 71.6 .9
High impact strength and durability, resistance to frictional wear, weathering, flame, heat, chemical, and radiation
PTFE and Teflon
Insulators, Bearings, Spacers, Valve components, low moisture absorption rate, making it suitable for use in wet environments
+0.005-0 12.1 1.2
Low cost, lightweight plastic
PVC
Insulators, fittings, bushings, pump, and valve components
Ground
+/-.003
32.8 6
One of the highest dielectric strengths of any thermoplastic
ULTEM
Aerospace and electronics components
+.002-000 16.5 .7
Extremely high resistance to wear and abrasion, resistant to most corrosive materials
UHMW
Bushings, Bearings, Sprockets
+0.005-0 5 .7
Stainless Steel
Designed for machining, non-magnetic
303
Electronic hardware, automotive, aerospace, medical instruments, and many applications requiring corrosion resistance
Cold finished
+/- .002
1.9 2.7
Better weldability and formability, slightly more corrosion resistant
304
Applications needing formability or weldability
Cold finished
+/-.002
1.8 5
Better corrosion resistance
316
Medical implants and surgical instruments, aerospace
Cold finished
+/-.002
2.3 6.3
Corrosion resistance and high electrical resistivity
430 FR
Excellent corrosion resistance in fresh water, gaseous, moderately acidic, and low chlorine environments
+.002 3 2.7
High carbon, can harden to RC 60
440
Applications requiring stainless steel with highest hardness
+.002 3.1 6.3
Excellent corrosion resistance and heat treatable
17-4 PH
Medical, aerospace, applications needing corrosion resistance and hardness
+/-.002 3.5 5
Special Alloy
High magnetic permeability and highest saturation flux density
Carp 49
Electronic components
Instruments
Communications devices
+ .002 -- 6
High heat resistance
Greek Ascoloy
Aircraft / Aerospace components
+ .002 7.1 4
Resistance to pitting, stress, oxidation, chemicals, acids, and saltwater
Hastelloy
Oilfield parts, pipes, valve components
+ .002 17.2 10
Maximum electromagnetic permeability and minimum hysteresis loss
Hymu 80
Electrical components
MRI equipment
+ .002 32.3 10
Stress cracking, chloride pitting, seawater, and gall resistances
Nitronic 60
Bushings, shafts, pins, pump and valve components
MRI equipment
+ .002 5.8 9
Steel
Moderate strength and low-stress applications.
1008
Good matte surface finish that makes it suitable for exposed parts
+ .002 1.2 3.5
Plain low carbon steel, poor machinability but good formability and weldability. Case harden only
1018
Rivets and parts requiring strong welds
Cold drawn
0
0.9 2.4
Strength, impact resistance and higher tensile strength. 
1045
Responds to heat treatment extremely well, but it not recommended for case hardening
+ .003 0.9 3
Higher carbon, higher strength, direct hardening
1137
Higher stress applications, gears, shafts, studs, etc.
Cold drawn
0
1.6 2.7
Strength and machinability
11L37
Easily machined and can be annealed, quenched, tempered, and heat treated
+ .003 5.1 2.2
Strength and hardness and a more uniform surface hardness
11L41
Axles, shafts, bolts, and pins
+ .003 2.5 2.3
Designed for excellent machinability. Case hard only
12L14
Endless commercial products; probably more pounds used in turned products than any other bar stock
Cold drawn
0
1 1
Designed for good machinability. Case harden only
1215
Parts needing better formability or weldability than 12L14
Cold drawn
0
1 1.2
Strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance
4130
Military and commercial aircraft parts
Norm AQ
HT Condition F4
1.5
2
2.7
--
Popular general-purpose alloy. Direct hardening
4140 or 4142
Gears, shafts, pins, bolts and nuts, pump and valve components
Cold drawn
0
1.1 2.9
Designed for better machining w/lead additive; direct hardening
41L40
Couplings, shafts, tooling, bolts
Cold drawn
0
2.5 2.8
.55% Ni, .50% Cr, .20% Mo, heat treatable and case hardening
8620
Shafts, bushings, pins, gears, bolts
Cold drawn
0
2.5 2.9
Very high 1% carbon, .25% Ni,1.4% Cr, .08% Mo
52100
Bearing applications
Cold drawn
Spheroidize annealed
+/- .006
1.8 4.8
Titanium
High strength, light weight
Ti-6Al-4V
Aircraft and aerospace parts
Ground & polished
+/-.002
21.3 6
High strength, light weight, good bio-compatibility
Ti-6Al-4VEli
Medical implants
Ground & polished
+/-.002
30.2 6

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