Material selection
Choosing Materials for CNC Machined Parts
by MechVibe Team · 1 min read
A practical starting point for comparing aluminum, stainless steel, brass and engineering plastics.
Material selection affects machining time, stability, finish, corrosion resistance and total part cost. These are common starting points for CNC projects.
Aluminum
Aluminum alloys are widely used for housings, brackets and lightweight structures. They machine efficiently and support finishes such as anodizing, blasting and painting. Always specify the alloy and condition.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel suits parts requiring corrosion resistance, strength or repeated cleaning. Different grades behave differently in machining and finishing, so avoid specifying only "stainless."
Brass and Copper
Brass machines cleanly and is useful for fittings, contacts and appearance parts. Copper offers conductivity but may require more careful tooling and handling.
Engineering Plastics
POM, nylon, PTFE, PEEK and other plastics can serve low-friction, insulating or lightweight applications. Moisture absorption, thermal movement and workholding should be considered when tolerances are tight.
Ask Before Finalizing
When function allows several options, share the operating environment, loads, cosmetic needs and target quantity. The MechVibe factory team can review manufacturing tradeoffs before the drawing is released.
Include the required material grade in your RFQ, or ask our team to review suitable options.