CNC Machining Materials Database
50 grades we machine, each with the machinist’s view a datasheet site can’t give you: what it is like to cut, the tolerance and finishes actually achievable, typical applications — and every figure wired into our free calculators. Typical values, honestly labelled; the MTR with your order governs.
Aluminium
7 grades · Aluminium has a high thermal expansion coefficient (~23 × 10⁻⁶ /°C).
1050A H14
BS EN 573-3
2.71 g/cm³ · 105 MPa · Excellent
2024-T4
BS EN 573-3
2.78 g/cm³ · 470 MPa · Good
5083-H111
BS EN 573-3
2.66 g/cm³ · 290 MPa · Good
6061-T6
BS EN 573-3
2.7 g/cm³ · 310 MPa · Excellent
6082-T6
BS EN 573-3
2.71 g/cm³ · 310 MPa · Excellent
7075-T6
BS EN 573-3
2.81 g/cm³ · 572 MPa · Good
7068-T6511
AMS 2770
2.85 g/cm³ · 683 MPa · Moderate
Stainless steel
7 grades · Austenitic grades (303, 304, 316) work-harden during cutting.
303
BS EN 10088-3
7.9 g/cm³ · 620 MPa · Good
304 / 304L
BS EN 10088-3
7.93 g/cm³ · 515 MPa · Moderate
316 / 316L
BS EN 10088-3
7.99 g/cm³ · 485 MPa · Moderate
17-4 PH (630)
AMS 5604 / BS EN 10088-3
7.78 g/cm³ · 1310 MPa · Moderate
15-5 PH
AMS 5659
7.78 g/cm³ · 1310 MPa · Moderate
440C
BS EN 10088-3
7.65 g/cm³ · 1970 MPa · Difficult
2205 Duplex
BS EN 10088-3
7.82 g/cm³ · 620 MPa · Difficult
Carbon & alloy steel
7 grades · Tool and die steels (H13, D2, M2) are typically rough-machined in the annealed condition, hardened and tempered to working hardness, then finish ground or EDM’d to final dimension.
EN3 (070M20)
BS 970
7.85 g/cm³ · 430 MPa · Excellent
EN8 (080M40)
BS 970
7.85 g/cm³ · 620 MPa · Good
EN19 (709M40)
BS 970
7.85 g/cm³ · 850 MPa · Good
EN24 (817M40)
BS 970
7.85 g/cm³ · 1000 MPa · Good
H13 (Hot Work)
BS EN ISO 4957
7.8 g/cm³ · 1380 MPa · Difficult
D2 (Cold Work)
BS EN ISO 4957
7.7 g/cm³ · 1600 MPa · Difficult
M2 High Speed Steel
BS EN ISO 4957
8.15 g/cm³ · Difficult
Titanium
5 grades · Titanium’s low thermal conductivity concentrates heat at the cutting edge.
Grade 1 (CP)
ASTM B265
4.51 g/cm³ · 240 MPa · Moderate
Grade 2 (CP)
BS EN ISO 5832-2
4.51 g/cm³ · 345 MPa · Moderate
Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
BS EN ISO 5832-3
4.43 g/cm³ · 950 MPa · Difficult
Grade 23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI)
BS EN ISO 5832-3 ELI
4.43 g/cm³ · 896 MPa · Difficult
Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V)
ASTM B337
4.48 g/cm³ · 620 MPa · Moderate
Copper, brass & bronze
6 grades · Brass CZ121 and CZ131 are among the most economical materials to machine — their outstanding chip-breaking behaviour allows high speeds and excellent surface finish.
Copper C101 (ETP)
BS EN 13601
8.96 g/cm³ · 220 MPa · Good
Copper C110
ASTM B187
8.94 g/cm³ · 235 MPa · Good
Brass CZ121 (CW614N)
BS EN 12164
8.5 g/cm³ · 390 MPa · Excellent
Brass CZ131 (CW617N)
BS EN 12164
8.47 g/cm³ · 420 MPa · Excellent
Phosphor Bronze PB102 (CW451K)
BS EN 12163
8.9 g/cm³ · 410 MPa · Good
Beryllium Copper C17200
ASTM B196
8.25 g/cm³ · 1310 MPa · Good
Nickel superalloy
5 grades · Nickel superalloys work-harden rapidly and generate extreme cutting temperatures.
Engineering plastic
9 grades · Engineering polymers have significantly higher thermal expansion coefficients than metals.
PEEK (Unfilled)
ISO 10350
1.32 g/cm³ · 100 MPa · Good
PEEK-CF30
—
1.44 g/cm³ · 210 MPa · Good
Delrin POM-C
ISO 9988
1.42 g/cm³ · 70 MPa · Excellent
Delrin POM-H
ISO 9988
1.42 g/cm³ · 65 MPa · Excellent
Nylon PA6
ISO 1874
1.14 g/cm³ · 80 MPa · Good
Nylon PA66-GF30
ISO 1874
1.38 g/cm³ · 180 MPa · Good
PTFE
ISO 12086
2.2 g/cm³ · 30 MPa · Good
Acrylic (PMMA)
ISO 7823
1.19 g/cm³ · 70 MPa · Good
Polycarbonate (PC)
ISO 7391
1.2 g/cm³ · 65 MPa · Good
Precious metal
4 grades · Precious metal machining requires a formal chain-of-custody agreement and swarf recovery protocol before work commences.
Send Your Drawing for a Same-Day Quote
Talk directly to the engineers who will machine your parts — no account managers, no trading-company markups. Complimentary DFM review with every enquiry.