Material Properties Comparison Chart
Compare 33 CNC machining materials side-by-side. Sort by tensile strength, hardness, density, machinability, or cost to find the right material for your application.
All Materials at a Glance
Showing 33 of 33 materials. Click column headers to sort.
| Material | Category | Tensile Strength | Density | Machinability | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass C360 (Free-Cutting Brass) | Brass | 385 MPa (56 ksi) | 8.49 g/cm³ | 100 | $$ |
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | Aluminum | 310 MPa (45 ksi) | 2.70 g/cm³ | 90 | $ |
| Delrin (POM / Acetal) | Plastic | 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) | 1.42 g/cm³ | 85 | $ |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) | Plastic | 44 MPa (6.4 ksi) | 1.05 g/cm³ | 82 | $ |
| Stainless Steel 303 | Stainless Steel | 620 MPa (90 ksi) | 8.03 g/cm³ | 78 | $$ |
| Carbon Steel 1018 | Carbon Steel | 440 MPa (64 ksi) | 7.87 g/cm³ | 78 | $ |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Plastic | 65 MPa (9.4 ksi) | 1.20 g/cm³ | 75 | $ |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | Aluminum | 572 MPa (83 ksi) | 2.81 g/cm³ | 70 | $ |
| Aluminum 2024-T3 | Aluminum | 483 MPa (70 ksi) | 2.78 g/cm³ | 70 | $ |
| Nylon 6 (PA6) | Plastic | 79 MPa (11.5 ksi) | 1.14 g/cm³ | 70 | $ |
| Nylon 66 (PA66) | Plastic | 82 MPa (11.9 ksi) | 1.14 g/cm³ | 68 | $ |
| Alloy Steel 4140 | Carbon Steel | 655 MPa (95 ksi) | 7.85 g/cm³ | 66 | $ |
| PTFE (Teflon) | Plastic | 27 MPa (3.9 ksi) | 2.15 g/cm³ | 65 | $ |
| Carbon Steel 1045 | Carbon Steel | 585 MPa (85 ksi) | 7.85 g/cm³ | 64 | $ |
| Aluminum 5052-H32 | Aluminum | 228 MPa (33 ksi) | 2.68 g/cm³ | 60 | $ |
| PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) | Plastic | 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) | 1.31 g/cm³ | 60 | $ |
| Alloy Steel 4340 | Carbon Steel | 745 MPa (108 ksi) | 7.85 g/cm³ | 57 | $ |
| Ultem (PEI) | Plastic | 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) | 1.27 g/cm³ | 55 | $ |
| Stainless Steel 17-4 PH | Stainless Steel | 1,070 MPa (155 ksi) | 7.78 g/cm³ | 50 | $$ |
| Stainless Steel 304 | Stainless Steel | 515 MPa (75 ksi) | 8.00 g/cm³ | 45 | $$ |
| Tool Steel S7 | Tool Steel | 1,517 MPa (220 ksi) | 7.83 g/cm³ | 42 | $$$ |
| Tool Steel A2 | Tool Steel | 896 MPa (130 ksi) | 7.86 g/cm³ | 40 | $$$ |
| Tool Steel H13 | Tool Steel | 1,380 MPa (200 ksi) | 7.80 g/cm³ | 38 | $$$ |
| Stainless Steel 316 | Stainless Steel | 515 MPa (75 ksi) | 8.00 g/cm³ | 36 | $$ |
| Titanium Grade 2 (CP) | Titanium | 345 MPa (50 ksi) | 4.51 g/cm³ | 30 | $$$$ |
| Brass C260 (Cartridge Brass) | Brass | 338 MPa (49 ksi) | 8.53 g/cm³ | 30 | $$ |
| Tool Steel D2 | Tool Steel | 862 MPa (125 ksi) | 7.70 g/cm³ | 27 | $$$ |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | Titanium | 950 MPa (138 ksi) | 4.43 g/cm³ | 22 | $$$$ |
| Titanium Grade 23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI) | Titanium | 860 MPa (125 ksi) | 4.43 g/cm³ | 20 | $$$$ |
| Copper C101 (OFE Copper) | Copper | 220 MPa (32 ksi) | 8.94 g/cm³ | 20 | $$ |
| Copper C110 (ETP Copper) | Copper | 220 MPa (32 ksi) | 8.94 g/cm³ | 20 | $$ |
| Inconel 625 | Superalloy | 827 MPa (120 ksi) | 8.44 g/cm³ | 12 | $$$$ |
| Inconel 718 | Superalloy | 1,241 MPa (180 ksi) | 8.19 g/cm³ | 12 | $$$$ |
Material Selection Guide
Not sure which material to choose? Use this decision tree based on your primary requirement:
Need corrosion resistance?
Need lightweight + strong?
Need cost-effective?
Need heat resistance?
Need wear resistance?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best material for CNC machining?
Aluminum 6061-T6 is the most popular CNC machining material due to its excellent machinability (rating 90/100), good strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. For higher strength, consider 7075-T6. For corrosion resistance, stainless steel 316 or titanium.
How does machinability rating affect cost?
Higher machinability ratings mean faster cutting speeds, longer tool life, and lower cost per part. Aluminum (85-95 rating) machines 3-5x faster than titanium (25-35 rating). A part that costs $10 in aluminum might cost $30-50 in titanium due to slower speeds and faster tool wear.
What material should I choose for lightweight parts?
For lightweight parts: Aluminum 7075-T6 offers the best strength-to-weight ratio among common metals. Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is 40% lighter than steel with comparable strength. Engineering plastics like PEEK offer even lower density with good mechanical properties.
Which materials offer the best corrosion resistance?
For corrosion resistance, top choices are: Stainless Steel 316L (marine/chemical environments), Titanium Grade 2/5 (seawater, body fluids), Hastelloy C-276 (extreme chemical exposure), and Inconel 625 (high-temperature corrosion). Aluminum 6061 with anodizing also provides good corrosion protection.
What is the difference between 6061 and 7075 aluminum?
6061-T6 has tensile strength of 310 MPa and is the most versatile, weldable, and cost-effective aluminum alloy. 7075-T6 has tensile strength of 572 MPa (nearly double) but costs 50-80% more and is harder to weld. Choose 7075 when strength is critical; 6061 for general purposes.
Can I mix materials in a single assembly?
Yes, but consider galvanic corrosion when dissimilar metals contact each other in the presence of an electrolyte. Use insulating washers or coatings between dissimilar metals. Common safe pairings: aluminum + stainless steel (with insulator), steel + brass. Avoid: aluminum + copper direct contact.
Not Sure Which Material to Choose?
Our engineering team can recommend the optimal material based on your part's functional requirements, budget, and production volume.