Materials for CNC Machining & Sheet Metal

Plastics for CNC

Plastic CNC Machining: Guide to Materials, Machines & Cutting Strategies

Understanding Plastic CNC Machining When most people think of CNC machining, metals come to mind first, aluminum, steel, titanium. But plastic CNC machining has quietly creeped into many industries. Why? Because plastics are lightweight, versatile, and cost-effective, making them an ideal option for places where the best performance is needed on the best budget. CNC for plastic is now as common as CNC for metal. At JLCCNC, we don't just work with metals, we also provide CNC machining of plastic parts ......

Sep 03, 2025

Plastics for CNC

ABS vs Polycarbonate: Which Plastic Is Better for CNC Machining?

● Choose ABS for lower cost, faster machining, and stable tolerances (non-transparent parts). ● Choose PC for impact resistance and transparency, but expect higher machining risk and cost. ● For thin walls + tight tolerances, ABS is usually safer. ● For clear guards/windows, PC is the only practical option (often needs polishing). This guide compares ABS and polycarbonate specifically from a CNC machining perspective, helping engineers select the right plastic based on machining behavior, tolerance ri......

Jan 30, 2026

Metals for CNC

Brass vs Bronze for CNC Machining: How to Choose the Right Material

Brass and bronze metal billets placed side by side in a CNC machining factory, highlighting their different color and surface appearance. Choosing between brass vs bronze in CNC machining isn’t about memorizing alloy charts or academic definitions. It’s about what actually happens once the cutter hits the material. Tool wear. Cycle time. Surface finish. Scrap risk. Cost per part. On paper, brass and bronze look similar enough to confuse buyers and even junior engineers. In practice, they behave very d......

Jan 21, 2026

Plastics for CNC

Frequently Used Plastic Material for CNC Machining

Computer-controlled machinery is used in CNC machining, a popular manufacturing process, to remove material from a workpiece. Plastic materials are attractive choices for CNC machining because of their adaptability, simplicity of processing, and variety of applications. Thermoplastic is the most popular kind of plastic used in CNC machining because it deteriorates relatively little even after repeated melting and shaping. Among their many positive attributes are strength, durability, chemical resistan......

Mar 25, 2024

Material Selection Guide

How to Choose the Materials in Sheet Metal Fabrication

In sheet metal fabrication, a wide range of metal materials are available, including stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, cold-rolled steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, alloy steel, and hot-rolled steel. The abundance of options can make it challenging to select the most suitable material for a specific application. Therefore, choosing the right sheet metal material is essential for successful product design and fabrication. The wrong material can lead to performance issues, faster corrosion, or hig......

Aug 01, 2025

Material Selection Guide

Most Cost-Effective Metals for CNC Machining: A Comparative Guide

When selecting materials for CNC machining, engineers and purchasers face a constant balancing act between performance, machinability, and cost. While aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, and titanium are common choices, each comes with trade-offs that affect the overall value of a part—not just in terms of raw material price, but also machine time, tool wear, and long-term durability. This guide dives deeper into the comparative cost-effectiveness of popular metals used in CNC machining, helping......

Jun 02, 2025

Metals for CNC

CNC Copper Machining Guide: How to Cut Copper with Precision

Why CNC Copper Machining Matters (Envato) Copper CNC machining is basically taking raw copper and cutting it into parts that actually do a job, think heat sinks, busbars, precision connectors, or small mechanical bits that need tight tolerances. Folks call it a few ways, machining copper, CNC copper, or just copper machining, but it all means the same thing: using CNC tools to shape copper accurately and repeatably. Why T2 copper? Because it's the sweet spot. T2 gives you great electrical and thermal ......

Sep 25, 2025

Plastics for CNC

CNC Acrylic Machining & Custom PMMA Cutting Guide

Acrylic (PMMA) has become one of those go-to materials you're probably seeing everywhere now.. Signage, product displays, prototypes, even precision optical housings. People choose it because it looks like glass but weighs half as much, it won't shatter the way glass does, and when it's machined properly it stays clearer than polycarbonate. That said, machining acrylic is tricky. Push the feeds too hard and you'll melt the surface. Run a dull tool and you'll get chips, cracks, or stress marks. Even wh......

Sep 22, 2025

Metals for CNC

How CNC Machining Delivers Waterproof Aluminum Parts: Sealing, Surface Finishing & Design Tips

When Water Gets In, Everything Fails You’ve designed a high-performance aluminum part, maybe for outdoor use, automotive housing, or marine equipment. You’ve dialed in your CAD specs, picked the right alloy, and sent it off for CNC machining. But then, the nightmare: water seeps in, corrosion starts, and your part fails in real-world conditions. This isn’t just inconvenient. In industries like aerospace or medical, it’s a complete deal-breaker. So how do you make aluminum CNC machining parts that stay......

Aug 11, 2025

Metals for CNC

Top 5 Heat-Resistant Metals for CNC Machining and How to Choose

You choose a metal you think can take the heat. Specs are tight, tolerances unforgiving, but mid-flight, thermal expansion warps the part just enough to cause failure. Now multiply that risk by thousands of dollars in losses or a life-critical application. That’s the hidden danger of not choosing the right heat-resistant metal for CNC machining. It’s not just about melting points, it’s about performance under thermal stress, oxidation resistance, machinability, and long-term dimensional stability. In ......

Aug 09, 2025

Metals for CNC

Metal Casting Defects: Types, Causes & Remedies

Metal casting is one of the oldest manufacturing techniques in the world, but despite centuries of refinement, casting defects still plague the process. Whether you're working with aluminum, iron, or steel, casting defects can compromise structural integrity, raise production costs, and create serious bottlenecks in your workflow. In this article, we’ll explore the types of metal casting defects, their root causes, how to diagnose them, and most importantly, how to remedy them effectively. And if prec......

Jul 28, 2025

Metals for CNC

How CNC Machines Work with Different Metals: Steel, Aluminum, Copper & More

CNC machining metal parts may seem straightforward, until you hit chatter, tool wear, or melting edges. Whether it’s stainless steel’s strength or copper’s thermal conductivity, each metal reacts differently to CNC machining. That’s why understanding how CNC machines work with various materials isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. In this guide, we’ll break down how modern CNC machines cut through popular metals like steel, aluminum, copper, and more. You’ll learn the techniques, challenges, and machin......

Jul 04, 2025

Metals for CNC

Secrets of CNC machining of high hardness stainless steel Cracking the problems of tool wear and work hardening

High-hardness stainless steel (e.g. 304, 316, 17-4PH, etc.) is widely used in aerospace, medical device and automotive manufacturing due to its corrosion resistance, strength and aesthetics. However, problems such as fast tool wear and severe work hardening during its machining process have become bottlenecks in manufacturing efficiency and cost control. This paper provides systematic solutions from the dimensions of material properties, process optimisation, intelligent monitoring and so on, combined......

Jun 06, 2025

Metals for CNC

The whole process of CNC machining of titanium alloy: from material selection to surface treatment

Titanium alloy has become a core material in aerospace, medical devices, 3C electronics and other fields due to its high strength, light weight and corrosion resistance. However, it is difficult to process and cost-sensitive, which puts forward strict requirements on the whole process control. This article systematically analyses the key steps of CNC machining of titanium alloys, covering material selection, process optimization, quality control and surface treatment, to help you master efficient and ......

Jun 04, 2025

Metals for CNC

Stainless Steel CNC Machining Material Selection Guide Corrosion Resistance and Cost Comparison of 304 vs 316

In the field of precision manufacturing, the success or failure of stainless steel CNC machining often begins with the choice of material. 304 and 316 as a typical representative of austenitic stainless steel, the performance difference directly affects the part's corrosion resistance, machining costs and final application scenarios. This article will be from the chemical composition, corrosion resistance, processing costs of the three major dimensions of in-depth comparison, and gives the CNC machini......

May 24, 2025

Metals for CNC

Aluminum vs Brass: CNC Material Guide for Makers

In the field of CNC machining, the choice of material plays a crucial role in the machining results and the performance of the final product. Aluminium and brass are two common machining materials, each with its own characteristics and suitable for different application scenarios. In this article, we will compare the advantages and disadvantages of aluminium and brass in CNC machining from the aspects of material properties, machining performance, application scenarios, etc., to help you choose the mo......

Metals for CNC

How to Solve Deformation Problems in CNC Machining of Aluminium Alloys?10 Efficient Strategies Explained

Aluminium alloy has become a commonly used material in CNC machining due to its light weight, high strength and high thermal conductivity. However, aluminium alloys are prone to deformation during machining due to material properties, machining stress and other factors, which directly affects part accuracy and yield. In this article, we will analyse the root causes of deformation in aluminium alloy machining, and provide 10 practical solutions to help you optimise the machining process and reduce the ......

Metals for CNC

CNC Machining for Metal Parts Manufacturing

The manufacturing of metal parts requires aesthetics, robustness, and good efficiency. Today, CNC machining serves as a foundation for contemporary production, making possible the detailed designs and reliable quality of metal parts. This article explains how CNC machining has turned into a special technique for crafting metal parts for industries looking to stay on top of innovation and reliability. Innovative Applications of CNC Machining in Metalwork Rapid prototyping in modern industries For indus......

Dec 06, 2024

Material Selection Guide

Metal material and plastic material performance comparison

In modern manufacturing, the choice of materials is critical to product performance, production costs and manufacturing processes. Metal materials and plastic materials are the two main categories, each with its own unique properties and application scenarios. How to reasonably choose materials not only relates to product quality, but also affects manufacturing efficiency and economy. In this paper, we will comprehensively analyze the performance comparison of metal and plastic materials, to provide e......

Plastics for CNC

Plastic material application and characteristic analysis in manufacturing

Plastic materials have become an integral part of the manufacturing industry due to their lightweight, easy processing and low cost. From automotive components to consumer electronics, plastics are gradually replacing traditional metals and ceramics to provide flexible design and efficient production solutions across industries. This article will comprehensively analyze the classification of plastic materials, core characteristics and their typical applications in manufacturing, to help manufacturers ......

Material Selection Guide

CNC Machining Materials: A Comprehensive Guide

In modern manufacturing, CNC machining technology has become vital due to its ability to accurately manufacture complex parts. Choosing the right material is critical to ensuring the success of your CNC machining project. This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide to CNC machining materials, helping you to understand the properties of different materials and how to choose the best CNC machining service provider for your project, such as JLCCNC. Introduction to CNC Machining CNC, or Compu......

Dec 31, 2024

Metals for CNC

What are the Main Differences between Aluminum 6061 and 7075

Aluminum alloys play a pivotal role in various industries, offering a balance of strength, weight, and corrosion resistance. Among these alloys, 6061 and 7075 are standouts, each prized for specific applications due to their distinct material properties, costs, and heat treatment characteristics. Material Properties: 6061 Aluminum Alloy: 6061 is a heat-treatable aluminum alloy with a versatile range of applications. Comprising aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, it exhibits good formability, weldability......

Dec 27, 2023