Aluminum

Introduction to Aluminum

Aluminum is a versatile material with properties that make it ideal for CNC machining. Aluminum has excellent machinability, welding and electroplating properties as well as good corrosion resistance. The metal is also characterized by a high strength-to-weight ratio and good temperature resistance. After machining, aluminum has a low risk of deformation or defects and is easy to polish and color.

Because of these properties, aluminum is a broadly used metal in many industries, including automotive, defense, aerospace, transportation, construction, packaging, electronics, consumer goods and more.

Information of Aluminum

		Features	Info
		Subtypes	6061-T6, 7075-T6, 7050, 2024, 5052, 6063, etc
		Process	CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication
		Tolerance	With drawing: as low as +/- 0.005 mm No drawing: ISO 2768 medium
		Applications	Light & economic, used from prototyping to production
		Finishing Options	Alodine, Anodizing Types 2, 3, 3 + PTFE, ENP, Media Blasting, Nickel Plating, Powder Coating, Tumble Polishing.

Available Aluminum Subtypes

Subtypes	Yield Strength	Elongation at Break	Hardness	Density	Maximum Temp
Aluminum 6061-T6	35,000 PSI	12.50%	Brinell 95	2.768 g/㎤ 0.1 lbs / cu. in.	1080° F
Aluminum 7075-T6	68,000 psi	11%	Rockwell B86	2.768 g/㎤ 0.1 lbs / cu. in	380° F
Aluminum 5052	23,000 psi	8%	Brinell 60	2.768 g/㎤ 0.1 lbs / cu. in.	300° F
Aluminum 6063	16,900 psi	11%	Brinell 55	2.768 g/㎤ 0.1 lbs / cu. in.	212° F

Surface Finishes for Your Choosing

Name	Description	Materials	Color	Texture	Link
Anodizing	Anodizing improves corrosion resistance, enhances wear resistance and hardness, and protects the metal surface. Widely used in mechanical parts, aircraft, and automobile parts, precision instruments, etc.	All materials	Clear, black, grey, red, blue, gold.	Smooth, matte finish.	Learn More
Bead Blasting	Bead blasting results in parts with a smooth surface with a matte texture. Used mainly for visual applications and can be followed by other surface treatments.	ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel	n/a	Matte	Learn More
Powder Coating	Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. Unlike conventional liquid paint which is delivered via an evaporating solvent, powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat or with ultraviolet light.	Aluminum	Black, any RAL code or Pantone number	Gloss or semi-gloss	Learn More
Electroplating	Electroplated coating preserves the surface of parts and resists rusts and other defects from causing decay by applying electric currents to reduce metal cations.	Aluminum, steel, stainless steel	n/a	Gloss or semi-gloss	Learn More
Polishing	Ranging from Ra 0.8~Ra0.1, polishing processes use an abrasive material to rub the part’s surface to make the shine more less shiny, depending on your requirements.	All materials	n/a	Smooth, glossy finish	Learn More
Brushing	Brushing is a surface treatment process in which abrasive belts are used to draw traces on the surface of a material, usually for aesthetic purposes.	ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel	n/a	Stain	Learn More
Painting	Painting involves spraying a layer of paint onto the surface of the part. Colors can be matched to a Pantone color number of the customer’s choosing, while finishes range from matte to gloss to metallic.	Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Steel	Custom	Gloss, semi-gloss, flat, metallic, textured	Learn More