PLASTICS
- ABS – Scratch resistant, great for its cosmetic value.
- ACETAL – It is compared to some metals due to its stability, impact resistance, and strength.
- ACRYLIC – Very durable and lightweight with great clarity. Good for displays and other visual applications.
- CPVC – Is a thermoplastic produced by chlorination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin.
- DELRIN – It is a great all-purpose plastic, very versatile and economical.
- ERTALYTE® – Great choice for parts requiring a close tolerance.
- G-10 – Great chemical and moisture resistance, excellent insulating and electrical properties, and very high strength composite.
- NORYL – Is a plastic developed by General Electric, can be used in electronics, coating, and machinery applications.
- NYLON – Excellent abrasion and chemical resistant. Easy to machine.
- PEEK – It has a high tensile strength and it has replaced stainless steel in some instances due to its great performance, reliability and low cost.
- PHENOLIC – Very light weight, extremely durable plastic, and moisture resistant.
- POLYCARBONATE – Virtually unbreakable, transparent glazing material.
- UHMW – Impact and abrasion resistant, very affordable.
ALUMINUM
- 6061-0 – Annealed 6061 has maximum tensile strength no more than 18,000 psi.
- 6061-T4 – T4 temper has an ultimate tensile strength of at least 30,000 psi and yield strength of at least 16,000 psi.
- 6061-T6 – it is the most commonly used alloy. It has an ultimate tensile strength of at least 42,000 psi and yield strength of at least 35,000 psi.
- 6063 – Great for extrusions, usually produced with a very smooth surface great for anodizing.
- 5052 – Very good corrosion resistant, used in marine applications.
- 7075 – It is aircraft grade. It is strong, with good fatigue strength and average machinability, but not a good corrosion resistant.
STAINLESS STEEL
- 200 Series – Austenitic iron-chromium-nickel-manganese alloys.
- 300 Series – Austenitic iron-chromium-nickel alloys.
- Type 301 – Highly ductile, for formed products. Fast hardening while is being machined.
- Type 303 – Free machining version of 304 via addition of sulfur.
- Type 304 – Very popular; also referred as 18/8 stainless steel.
- Type 316 – Very common and highly used by the sub sea industry due to its resistance to saltwater.
- 400 Series – Ferritic and martensitic alloys.
- Type 408 – Heat-resistant; poor corrosion resistance; 11% chromium, 8% nickel.
- Type 409 – Most affordable one; used in the automobile industry.
- Type 410 – Martensitic (high-strength iron/chromium).
- Type 420 – Known as “surgical steel”.
- Type 430 – Used in vehicle trims, decorative.
- Type 440 – Great cutlery quality, better edge retention due to its high carbon content.
- 600 Series – Mantensitic precipitation hardening alloys.
- Type 630 – Better known as 17-4.
STEEL
- 12L14 – Commonly used in automatic screw machines in the production of high number of parts requiring a close tolerance.
TITANIUM
- Ti-6AI-4V – The most common titanium alloy is the Ti-6AI-4V. It is very resistant to corrosion and extreme temperatures. Great tensile strength and toughness. Highly used by the military, aircraft, spacecraft, and in medical applications.
INCONEL®
- Typically used in high-temperature applications. Because of work hardening, this metal is very difficult to machine by traditional means.