How do I select the right metal for both machining speed and durability?

How Do I Select the Right Metal for Both Machining Speed and Durability?

Key Selection Criteria: Balancing Speed and Strength

Choosing the right metal for CNC machining involves finding an optimal balance between machinability (how quickly and cleanly a material can be cut) and durability (its strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance). The best choice depends on your part’s functional requirements, budget, and end-use environment.

Top Metal Choices for Machining Speed and Durability

1. Aluminum 6061

   • Excellent machinability and corrosion resistance

   • Tensile strength: ~310 MPa

   • Used in aerospace, automotive, and robotics

   • Aluminum 6061 machining offers high feed rates and reduced tool wear

2. Brass C360

   • Highest machinability rating (100%)

   • Good corrosion resistance and dimensional stability

   • Ideal for automation components, valves, fittings, and connectors

   • Brass CNC machining delivers tight tolerances at high speed

3. Stainless Steel SUS303

   • Moderate machinability with high wear and corrosion resistance

   • Tensile strength: 500–700 MPa

   • Common in medical devices, food equipment, and marine parts

   • SUS303 stainless steel balances strength and ease of cutting better than SUS304

4. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

   • Excellent strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance

   • Tensile strength: ~900 MPa

   • More difficult to machine, but ideal for aerospace, medical, and oil and gas parts requiring durability

   • Titanium CNC machining needs slower speeds but yields long-lasting components

Practical Material Selection Tips

• For high-volume production with moderate mechanical requirements: Choose Aluminum 6061 or Brass C360.

• For high-strength parts in tough environments: Use Stainless Steel 303/304 or Titanium Ti-6Al-4V, understanding trade-offs in machining time.

• Consider surface treatments such as anodizing, passivation, or electropolishing to boost durability without changing the base material.

Neway’s CNC Expertise in Material Optimization

Neway’s engineers work closely with clients to select the most appropriate material for their part’s design, tolerance requirements, and working environment. We provide precision machining with ±0.01mm accuracy and multi-axis CNC services for complex geometries in any metal.

Explore material services:

• Aluminum CNC Machining

• Brass CNC Machining

• Stainless Steel CNC Machining

• Titanium CNC Machining