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| Type | General Characteristics | Alloy | Common Applications | Tolerances for a 1/2" Dia. Bar | Material Cost Factor | Machining Cost Factor |
| Aluminum |
Designed for machining
|
2011 |
Electronic hardware, endless commercial products
|
Cold finish +/-.0015 |
3.8 | .6 |
|
Improved strength, high fatigue and cracking resistance
|
2024 |
Electronic hardware, aircraft components, automotive parts, structural applications
|
+/-.0015 | 5.8 | .7 | |
|
Good formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance
|
6061 |
Electronic hardware, recreation equipment, piping, aircraft components
|
Cold finish +/-.0015 Extruded +/-.009 |
1.9 | .8 | |
|
Higher strength
|
7075 |
Aircraft components
|
+/-.0015 | 6 | .9 | |
| Brass |
Strength, corrosion and wear resistance, and excellent machinability
|
C35300 |
Well suited for parts with knurling or threading
|
+0015 | 3.5 | .7 |
|
Low cost, low strength, heavy, free machining
|
C36000 |
Electronic hardware and contacts, fittings, and numerous commercial products
|
+/-.0015 | 3.4 (High scrap return provides cost savings ) |
.6 | |
| Copper |
High corrosion resistance, conductivity, and finish
|
C11000 |
Transformers, electrical contacts, fittings
|
+0015 | 3.4 | 3 |
|
Excellent electrical conductivity
|
TeCu C14500 |
Electrical contacts
|
+/-.0015 | 4.1 | .8 | |
|
Non-magnetic and has a very low permeability
|
BeCu C17200 |
Magnetic housings, Electrical contacts, Bushings, Bearings, Pump components
|
+.0015 | 21.6 | 3 | |
|
Excellent electrical conductivity and the strength
|
BeCu C17300 |
Marine environments, Electrical contacts, Fasteners, Valve components, Pump components
|
+.002 | 21.6 | 1 | |
|
Excellent electrical conductivity and the strength
|
BeCu C17500 |
Marine environments, Electrical contacts, Fasteners, Valve components, Pump components
|
+.002 | 21.6 | 1.5 | |
| Plastics |
Similar to nylon, better machinability
|
Acetal |
Insulators, bearings, gears, bushings
|
Ground | 4.4 | .7 |
|
Similar to nylon, better machinability
|
Delrin |
Insulators, bearings, gears, bushings
|
+/-.02 | 4.8 | .7 | |
|
Good machining, high friction resistance
|
Nylon, extruded |
Insulator, bearing, short runs of products that will be converted to injection molding
|
Ground +/-.002 |
6.7 | .8 | |
|
High strength plastic resin, extremely high resistance to heat, moisture, and chemicals
|
PEEK |
Bearings, Bushings, Pump components, Medical implants, Aerospace components
|
+0.004-0 | 71.6 | .9 | |
|
High impact strength and durability, resistance to frictional wear, weathering, flame, heat, chemical, and radiation
|
PTFE and Teflon |
Insulators, Bearings, Spacers, Valve components, low moisture absorption rate, making it suitable for use in wet environments
|
+0.005-0 | 12.1 | 1.2 | |
|
Low cost, lightweight plastic
|
PVC |
Insulators, fittings, bushings, pump, and valve components
|
Ground +/-.003 |
32.8 | 6 | |
|
One of the highest dielectric strengths of any thermoplastic
|
ULTEM |
Aerospace and electronics components
|
+.002-000 | 16.5 | .7 | |
|
Extremely high resistance to wear and abrasion, resistant to most corrosive materials
|
UHMW |
Bushings, Bearings, Sprockets
|
+0.005-0 | 5 | .7 | |
| Stainless Steel |
Designed for machining, non-magnetic
|
303 |
Electronic hardware, automotive, aerospace, medical instruments, and many applications requiring corrosion resistance
|
Cold finished +/- .002 |
1.9 | 2.7 |
|
Better weldability and formability, slightly more corrosion resistant
|
304 |
Applications needing formability or weldability
|
Cold finished +/-.002 |
1.8 | 5 | |
|
Better corrosion resistance
|
316 |
Medical implants and surgical instruments, aerospace
|
Cold finished +/-.002 |
2.3 | 6.3 | |
|
Corrosion resistance and high electrical resistivity
|
430 FR |
Excellent corrosion resistance in fresh water, gaseous, moderately acidic, and low chlorine environments
|
+.002 | 3 | 2.7 | |
|
High carbon, can harden to RC 60
|
440 |
Applications requiring stainless steel with highest hardness
|
+.002 | 3.1 | 6.3 | |
|
Excellent corrosion resistance and heat treatable
|
17-4 PH |
Medical, aerospace, applications needing corrosion resistance and hardness
|
+/-.002 | 3.5 | 5 | |
| Special Alloy |
High magnetic permeability and highest saturation flux density
|
Carp 49 |
Electronic components
Instruments Communications devices |
+ .002 | -- | 6 |
|
High heat resistance
|
Greek Ascoloy |
Aircraft / Aerospace components
|
+ .002 | 7.1 | 4 | |
|
Resistance to pitting, stress, oxidation, chemicals, acids, and saltwater
|
Hastelloy |
Oilfield parts, pipes, valve components
|
+ .002 | 17.2 | 10 | |
|
Maximum electromagnetic permeability and minimum hysteresis loss
|
Hymu 80 |
Electrical components
MRI equipment |
+ .002 | 32.3 | 10 | |
|
Stress cracking, chloride pitting, seawater, and gall resistances
|
Nitronic 60 |
Bushings, shafts, pins, pump and valve components
MRI equipment |
+ .002 | 5.8 | 9 | |
| Steel |
Moderate strength and low-stress applications.
|
1008 |
Good matte surface finish that makes it suitable for exposed parts
|
+ .002 | 1.2 | 3.5 |
|
Plain low carbon steel, poor machinability but good formability and weldability. Case harden only
|
1018 |
Rivets and parts requiring strong welds
|
Cold drawn 0 |
0.9 | 2.4 | |
|
Strength, impact resistance and higher tensile strength.
|
1045 |
Responds to heat treatment extremely well, but it not recommended for case hardening
|
+ .003 | 0.9 | 3 | |
|
Higher carbon, higher strength, direct hardening
|
1137 |
Higher stress applications, gears, shafts, studs, etc.
|
Cold drawn 0 |
1.6 | 2.7 | |
|
Strength and machinability
|
11L37 |
Easily machined and can be annealed, quenched, tempered, and heat treated
|
+ .003 | 5.1 | 2.2 | |
|
Strength and hardness and a more uniform surface hardness
|
11L41 |
Axles, shafts, bolts, and pins
|
+ .003 | 2.5 | 2.3 | |
|
Designed for excellent machinability. Case hard only
|
12L14 |
Endless commercial products; probably more pounds used in turned products than any other bar stock
|
Cold drawn 0 |
1 | 1 | |
|
Designed for good machinability. Case harden only
|
1215 |
Parts needing better formability or weldability than 12L14
|
Cold drawn 0 |
1 | 1.2 | |
|
Strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance
|
4130 |
Military and commercial aircraft parts
|
Norm AQ HT Condition F4 |
1.5 2 |
2.7 -- |
|
|
Popular general-purpose alloy. Direct hardening
|
4140 or 4142 |
Gears, shafts, pins, bolts and nuts, pump and valve components
|
Cold drawn 0 |
1.1 | 2.9 | |
|
Designed for better machining w/lead additive; direct hardening
|
41L40 |
Couplings, shafts, tooling, bolts
|
Cold drawn 0 |
2.5 | 2.8 | |
|
.55% Ni, .50% Cr, .20% Mo, heat treatable and case hardening
|
8620 |
Shafts, bushings, pins, gears, bolts
|
Cold drawn 0 |
2.5 | 2.9 | |
|
Very high 1% carbon, .25% Ni,1.4% Cr, .08% Mo
|
52100 |
Bearing applications
|
Cold drawn Spheroidize annealed +/- .006 |
1.8 | 4.8 | |
| Titanium |
High strength, light weight
|
Ti-6Al-4V |
Aircraft and aerospace parts
|
Ground & polished +/-.002 |
21.3 | 6 |
|
High strength, light weight, good bio-compatibility
|
Ti-6Al-4VEli |
Medical implants
|
Ground & polished +/-.002 |
30.2 | 6 |
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