Materials Guide

Comprehensive guide to available materials for CNC machining and 3D printing. Choose the right material for your application.

Aluminium Alloys

Aluminium 2014

£££

Properties:

High strength copper alloy, good machinability

Applications:

  • Aerospace structures
  • Heavy-duty forgings
  • Truck frames

Aluminium 2024-T3

£££

Properties:

High strength, excellent fatigue resistance

Applications:

  • Aerospace structures
  • Aircraft fuselage
  • Wing structures

Aluminium 2618

£££

Properties:

High temperature strength, excellent forgeability

Applications:

  • Engine pistons
  • Aerospace components
  • High-temp applications

Aluminium 5083-H111

£££

Properties:

Marine grade, excellent corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Marine hulls
  • Shipbuilding
  • Offshore platforms

Aluminium 6061

££

Properties:

Good strength, excellent machinability, corrosion resistant

Applications:

  • General purpose
  • Brackets & enclosures
  • Marine applications

Aluminium 6082

££

Properties:

Medium strength, good corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Structural components
  • Bridges
  • Trusses

Aluminium 6082 T6

£££

Properties:

Heat-treated for higher strength

Applications:

  • High-strength structures
  • Automotive parts
  • Aerospace

Aluminium 7050-T7451

££££

Properties:

Ultra-high strength, aerospace grade, stress-corrosion resistant

Applications:

  • Aerospace structures
  • Thick-section parts
  • High-stress components

Aluminium 7075

£££

Properties:

High strength-to-weight ratio, aerospace grade

Applications:

  • Aerospace parts
  • High-stress components
  • Racing parts

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel 304/304L

£££

Properties:

Corrosion resistant, non-magnetic, food-safe

Applications:

  • Food processing equipment
  • Medical devices
  • Chemical processing

Stainless Steel 316/316L

£££

Properties:

Superior corrosion resistance, chloride resistant, marine grade

Applications:

  • Marine environments
  • Pharmaceutical equipment
  • Medical implants

Stainless Steel 17-4 PH

££££

Properties:

High strength, precipitation hardening, excellent toughness

Applications:

  • Aerospace components
  • Oil & gas
  • Nuclear applications

Stainless Steel 15-5 PH

££££

Properties:

High strength, precipitation hardening, good corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Aerospace fasteners
  • Pump shafts
  • Valve components

Stainless Steel 13-8 Mo

££££

Properties:

Ultra-high strength, excellent toughness, low distortion

Applications:

  • Aerospace fasteners
  • Landing gear
  • High-performance parts

Carbon & Tool Steels

Carbon Steel 1018

£

Properties:

Low carbon, excellent weldability, case-hardening

Applications:

  • Structural parts
  • Shafts
  • General machinery

Carbon Steel 1045

££

Properties:

Medium carbon, heat treatable, higher strength

Applications:

  • Gears
  • Shafts
  • Bolts & fasteners

Carbon Steel A36

£

Properties:

Structural steel, weldable, cost-effective

Applications:

  • Structural frames
  • Brackets
  • General fabrication

Tool Steel D2

£££

Properties:

Air-hardening, high wear resistance, high carbon

Applications:

  • Dies
  • Punches
  • Forming tools

Tool Steel O1

£££

Properties:

Oil-hardening, excellent machinability, versatile

Applications:

  • Cutting tools
  • Jigs
  • Fixtures

Tool Steel A2

£££

Properties:

Air-hardening, good dimensional stability

Applications:

  • Blanking dies
  • Forming dies
  • Gauges

Titanium Alloys

Titanium Grade 2

££££

Properties:

Commercially pure, excellent corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Chemical processing
  • Marine applications
  • Medical devices

Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)

££££

Properties:

Highest strength-to-weight ratio, biocompatible

Applications:

  • Aerospace components
  • Medical implants
  • High-performance racing

Exotic Alloys

Inconel 625

££££

Properties:

High temperature strength, oxidation resistant

Applications:

  • Aerospace exhaust
  • Turbine components
  • Heat exchangers

Inconel 718

££££

Properties:

Age-hardenable, high strength at elevated temperatures

Applications:

  • Jet engine parts
  • Gas turbines
  • Nuclear reactors

Monel 400

££££

Properties:

Nickel-copper alloy, excellent corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Marine engineering
  • Chemical processing
  • Valves

Hastelloy C-276

££££

Properties:

Superior corrosion resistance to acids and chlorides

Applications:

  • Chemical processing
  • Pollution control
  • Pulp & paper

Alloy Steels

Steel P20

£££

Properties:

Pre-hardened mold steel, good machinability

Applications:

  • Injection molds
  • Die casting
  • Extrusion dies

Steel S355

££

Properties:

Structural steel, weldable

Applications:

  • Construction
  • Bridges
  • General engineering

Steel 4140

££

Properties:

Chromium-molybdenum alloy, heat treatable, high strength

Applications:

  • Shafts
  • Gears
  • Tooling

Steel 4340

£££

Properties:

High strength alloy, excellent toughness

Applications:

  • Aircraft landing gear
  • Power transmission
  • High-stress parts

EN24T

£££

Properties:

High tensile strength, through-hardened

Applications:

  • Gears
  • Shafts
  • High-stress components

Steel EN9

££

Properties:

Medium carbon steel, case-hardening

Applications:

  • Shafts
  • Pins
  • Bolts

Carbon Steel C45

££

Properties:

Medium carbon, heat treatable

Applications:

  • Shafts
  • Gears
  • General machinery

Copper & Brass Alloys

Copper Alloy

£££

Properties:

Excellent electrical & thermal conductivity

Applications:

  • Electrical components
  • Heat exchangers
  • Busbars

Copper CA 104

£££

Properties:

High purity copper, excellent conductivity

Applications:

  • Electrical contacts
  • Precision components
  • Thermal management

Brass C360

££

Properties:

Free-cutting brass, excellent machinability

Applications:

  • Fittings
  • Valves
  • Precision components

Brass C260

££

Properties:

Cartridge brass, good formability and strength

Applications:

  • Hardware
  • Ammunition casings
  • Fasteners

Bronze, Zinc & Magnesium Alloys

Bronze C932 (Bearing Bronze)

£££

Properties:

High load capacity, excellent wear resistance

Applications:

  • Bearings
  • Bushings
  • Wear plates

Bronze C954 (Aluminum Bronze)

£££

Properties:

High strength, corrosion resistant, non-sparking

Applications:

  • Marine hardware
  • Pump components
  • Gears

Zamak 3 (Zinc Alloy)

££

Properties:

Good strength, excellent castability, dimensional stability

Applications:

  • Die cast prototypes
  • Hardware
  • Automotive parts

Zamak 5 (Zinc Alloy)

££

Properties:

Higher strength than Zamak 3, good corrosion resistance

Applications:

  • Marine hardware
  • Automotive components
  • Industrial parts

Magnesium AZ31B

£££

Properties:

Ultra-lightweight, good strength-to-weight ratio

Applications:

  • Aerospace components
  • Automotive parts
  • Portable electronics

Magnesium AZ91D

£££

Properties:

High strength magnesium alloy, excellent castability

Applications:

  • Automotive components
  • Power tools
  • Electronics housings

Plastics & Engineering Polymers

PTFE (Teflon)

£££

Properties:

Low friction, chemical resistant, high temperature

Applications:

  • Seals
  • Bearings
  • Chemical equipment

UHMW-PE

££

Properties:

Ultra-high molecular weight, wear resistant

Applications:

  • Conveyor parts
  • Wear plates
  • Guides

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

£

Properties:

Good chemical resistance, impact resistant, cost-effective

Applications:

  • Tanks
  • Containers
  • Marine components

Polypropylene (PP)

£

Properties:

Chemical resistant, lightweight, cost-effective

Applications:

  • Chemical tanks
  • Prototypes
  • Consumer products

Acetal/POM-C

££

Properties:

High stiffness, low friction, good machinability

Applications:

  • Gears
  • Bearings
  • Precision parts

Delrin (POM-H)

££

Properties:

Excellent dimensional stability, low moisture absorption

Applications:

  • Precision gears
  • Valve components
  • Fasteners

Acrylic / PMMA

££

Properties:

Transparent, excellent optical clarity, UV resistant

Applications:

  • Displays
  • Light guides
  • Optical components

Polycarbonate

££

Properties:

High impact strength, transparent, heat resistant

Applications:

  • Safety shields
  • Machine guards
  • Lenses

Nylon 6

££

Properties:

Good strength, wear resistant, chemical resistant

Applications:

  • Bushings
  • Gears
  • Rollers

Nylon 6/6

££

Properties:

Higher strength than Nylon 6, better heat resistance

Applications:

  • Structural parts
  • High-load gears
  • Automotive components

Nylon 12

££

Properties:

Low moisture absorption, good chemical resistance

Applications:

  • Fuel lines
  • Bearings
  • Structural parts

ABS

£

Properties:

Good impact strength, easy to machine, paintable

Applications:

  • Housings
  • Enclosures
  • Prototypes

G10/FR4 (Fiberglass)

££

Properties:

High strength, electrical insulation, flame resistant

Applications:

  • Circuit boards
  • Electrical insulation
  • Structural parts

ULTEM (PEI)

££££

Properties:

High temperature, excellent strength, flame resistant

Applications:

  • Aerospace interior
  • Medical devices
  • Automotive under-hood

Vesconite

£££

Properties:

Self-lubricating, wear resistant, low friction

Applications:

  • Bushings
  • Bearings
  • Marine applications

PEEK

££££

Properties:

High temperature, chemical resistant, biocompatible

Applications:

  • Medical implants
  • Aerospace
  • High-temp applications

Price Guide: £ = Budget-friendly | ££ = Moderate | £££ = Premium | ££££ = Specialist

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