Aluminum CNC.
Most-machined material.
Fast & clean.
Aluminum machining — most common CNC material. Excellent machinability, fast cutting speeds, lightweight, anodize-friendly. Most aerospace and consumer products use aluminum CNC.
Key principles.
Workhorse
General-purpose. Excellent machinability. UTS 310 MPa. ~$3-5/kg.
Aerospace
Premium aluminum. UTS 570 MPa. Anodizes well. ~$8-12/kg.
Sheet metal
Sheet/plate forming. Good corrosion. Marine applications.
Aircraft
Aircraft skin material. Stronger than 6061. Less corrosion-resistant.
Extrusion
Extrusion grade. Architectural. Heat sink profiles.
High
500-1000 m/min cutting speeds. 5-10× steel speeds.
FAQ
Best aluminum for CNC?
6061-T6 default. Anodize well, machine easily, mid-cost. 7075 for higher strength applications.
Tooling for aluminum?
Carbide tools, high RPM, generous coolant. Sharp tools prevent built-up edge.
Anodize compatibility?
6061, 7075 anodize beautifully. 2024 difficult to anodize cleanly. Specify anodizable alloy.
Surface finish?
Standard 1.6 µm Ra. Polish to 0.4 µm. Anodize affects surface — account in finish spec.
Tolerance achievable?
±0.025 mm typical. ±0.005 mm with care for precision. Same as other CNC metals.
Cost vs steel?
Aluminum machines 3-5× faster than steel. Material cost similar. Net per-piece cost lower for aluminum.