CNC. Casting.
Molding. Printing.
Process-friendly.
Material selection by manufacturing process. Each process favors specific materials. CNC: anything machinable. Casting: castable. Molding: thermoplastic. 3D print: per machine.
Key principles.
Bar and plate stock
Any machinable metal/plastic. Aluminum, steel, stainless, brass, plastics.
Rolled sheet
Rolled steel, aluminum, stainless. Thin (0.5-6 mm) for forming.
Casting alloys
Stainless casting alloys, aluminum 356/A356, bronze.
Cast iron, brass
Lower precision casting alloys. Cast iron, leaded brass.
Aluminum, zinc
High-volume aluminum 380, zinc ZA-8.
Thermoplastic
PP, ABS, PC, nylon, PEEK. Thermoplastic injection.
Thermoset
Phenolic, BMC, SMC for thermoset.
Photopolymer
UV-curable resin. Lower mechanical properties.
Nylon powder
PA12 nylon standard. Production-grade properties.
FAQ
Process selection drives material?
Yes — each process has narrow material range. Choose process first based on geometry/volume; material follows.
Materials for high-volume production?
Casting alloys, injection-grade thermoplastics, sheet metal grades. Each process optimized for production volume.
Can I switch processes mid-development?
Carefully. Different processes yield different material properties for "same" alloy. Cast aluminum ≠ wrought aluminum.
Bridge processes?
Aluminum injection mold tooling for low-volume injection. Urethane casting for plastic prototype to short production. RIM for plastic enclosures.
Process limitations on geometry?
Each process has DFM constraints. Casting: draft, fillets, no thin walls < 3mm. Injection: uniform walls. Etc.
Tolerance differs by process?
Yes. CNC ±0.025 mm. Investment casting ±0.1 mm. Sand casting ±0.5 mm. Injection ±0.1 mm. Each process has practical limit.
Get an instant quote
Send your CAD — we reply with detailed pricing, lead time, and DFM feedback within 4 working hours.
Start quoteTalk to an engineer
WhatsApp our team directly. Most messages answered within 12 minutes during work hours.
Open WhatsAppExplore all services
CNC, 3D printing, injection molding, sheet metal, casting, finishing — one quality system, one partner.
See all services