Materials

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.