Engineering-focused material guides for CNC machining, including metals and plastics commonly used for prototypes and production. Each material page covers machinability, tolerance behavior, applications, and design notes.
Polyethylene is, without a doubt, the workhorse of the plastics world. But not all PE is created equal—different grades boast vastly different properties, which in turn dictate their applications. Take Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE): its excellent flexibility, solid clarity, and ease of processing make it a go-to material for everything from packaging films and wire insulation …
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the most widely used thermoplastic polymers in the world. HDPE belongs to the polyethylene family and is widely recognized for the strength, durability, and chemical resistance after processing. Engineers rely on HDPE for a wide range of applications including pipelines, chemical containers, packaging films, and CNC-machined parts. Its cost-effectiveness …
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a common thermoplastic engineering plastic in our daily life. With good mechanical strength, impact resistance and dimensional stability, ABS is widely used in the automotive, electrical and electronic, consumer goods and medical industries. When developing prototypes or mass production parts, engineers usually choose ABS as the preferred material for manufacturing, …
Teflon (Teflon) is the trade name of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene). It is itself a fluoropolymer, with a very low coefficient of friction, well known for excellent chemical stability and resistance to high and low temperatures. PTFE performs very well in machining, assembly, and long-term service, and engineers often use it as the first choice for …
PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) is a high-performance engineering plastic that is often used as a substitute for metals in CNC machining. The strength of PEEK is comparable to aluminum alloys and some stainless steels, and its weight is half that of aluminum, which has important value in lightweight design. PEEK can maintain stable performance at …
1018 steel is one of those materials most machinists encounter before they learn alloy names or heat-treat charts. It doesn’t make headlines for strength or hardness, but it shows up in CNC machining again and again because it behaves predictably. Cuts are smooth, tool wear is reasonable, and tolerances stay where you put them. In …
4140 steel is a chromium-molybdenum alloy steel widely used in automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, and heavy machinery. Its balance of tensile strength, toughness, and machinability makes it one of the most versatile engineering steels.
With proper heat treatment, 4140 provides reliable performance in demanding applications such as gears, shafts, and high-strength fasteners.
Aluminum, as a lightweight metal, is widely used thanks to its low density, corrosion resistance, and excellent thermal conductivity. In automotive lightweighting, aerospace, machinery manufacturing, and consumer products, cast aluminum and aluminum casting processes play a crucial role. From large engine housings to everyday furniture and cookware, cast aluminum parts have become an essential component …
People often talk about plastic as if it’s a single material, but in reality, plastics come in a wide variety of forms—some flexible, some rigid, some cheap, and some engineered for extreme environments. Nylon is one of those materials that tends to confuse people. It’s tough, durable, and used in everything from zippers to car …
Aluminum has established itself as a cornerstone in precision manufacturing. With a unique blend of low weight, strength, corrosion resistance, and affordability, aluminum has become the material of choice across aerospace, automotive, medical, consumer electronics, and robotics. When paired with CNC machining, aluminum provides unmatched versatility by enabling engineers to create prototypes, refine designs, and …
