Choosing the Right Materials for CNC Precision Machining

In order to choose the best materials to work with for CNC precision machining, you need to consider the following factors below.

Determine What You Must Have In Your Part

Determine exactly what you need in the part you want to produce. Identify what features must be there and what features would be beneficial, but not essential. This includes considering the conditions your part will work in and will not, how it is supposed to fit into an assembly, and more.

Additional Factors to Consider

Some other factors to consider include environmental factors such as cold and heat resistance, chemical tolerance, ultraviolet tolerance, and flame retardance. Another factor that must be considered is electrical, particularly if the part needs to insulate from electricity or conduct electricity. Mechanical factors should be considered as well; does the part need to be rigid, flexible, or somewhere in-between those two extreme qualities?

Know the Qualities of the Various Materials Available

To further identify what materials would be best for your process, consider the qualities of the most used machining materials:

• Acetal provides low moisture absorption, good dimensional stability, and high mechanical strength.
• ABS has low heat conductivity, a low friction coefficient, and high impact strength.
• Ultem (PEI) provides extreme strength, high dielectric strength, chemical resistance and stiffness.
• PEEK provides low moisture absorption, a low friction coefficient, and high wear and abrasion resistance.

CNC (or “computer numerical control”) is very important in modern manufacturing for a number of reasons. Learn why this is the case below.

Aluminum 6061 provides low cost, versatility, and excellent machinability.

Aluminum 7075 provides low weight, high strength, heat tolerance, and hardness.