Materials Guide
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| Type | General Characteristics | Alloy | Common Applications | Tolerances for a 1/2" Dia. Bar | Material Cost Factor | Machining Cost Factor |
| Brass | Low cost, low strength, heavy, free machining |
CDA 360 | Electronic hardware and contacts, fittings, numerous commercial products |
+/-.0015 | 2.5 (High scrap return provides cost savings ) |
.6 |
| Copper Alloys | Excellent electrical conductivity |
TeCu, CA 145 | Electrical contacts |
+/-.0015 | 5.4 | .7 |
Higher strength and excellent electrical conductivity |
BeCu alloy 25 | Electrical contacts |
+/-.002 (Can be ordered to +/-.0002 ) | 30.0 | .75 | |
| Aluminum | Designed for machining |
2011 | Electronic hardware, endless commercial products |
Cold finish +/-.0015 |
1.6 | .6 |
Improved strength |
2024 | Electronic hardware, aircraft components |
+/-.0015 | 2.2 | .7 | |
Good formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance |
6061 | Electronic hardware |
Cold finish +/-.0015 Extruded +/-.009 |
0.8 | .75 | |
Higher strength |
7075 | Aircraft components |
+/-.0015 | 2.3 | ||
| Steel | Plain low carbon steel, poor machinability but good formability and
weldability. Case harden only |
1018 | Rivets and parts requiring strong welds |
Cold drawn +.000/.002 |
0.75 | 3.0 |
Designed for good machinability Case harden only |
1215 | Parts needing better formability or weldability than 12L14 |
Cold drawn +.000/.002 |
0.95 | 1.5 | |
Designed for excellent machinability Case hardening only |
12L14 | Endless commercial products; probably more pounds used in turned products
than any other bar stock |
Cold drawn +.000/.002 |
1 | 1 | |
Excellent machinability w/o lead (Biadded) Case hardening only |
1215 Bi | Same as 12L14, non-leaded replacement for 12L14 |
Cold drawn +.000/.002 |
1.1 | 1 | |
Higher carbon, higher strength, direct hardening |
1137 | Higher stress applications, gears, shafts, studs, etc. |
Cold drawn +.000/-.003 |
1.25 | 2.5 | |
| Alloy Steel | Direct hardening |
4140 or 4142 | Higher stress applications needing the strength of an alloy |
Cold drawn +.000/-.003 |
1.25 | 3.0 |
Designed for better machining w/lead additive; direct hardening |
41L40 | Higher stress applications needing the strength of an alloy |
Cold drawn +.000/-.003 |
1.4 | 2.7 | |
.55% Ni, .50% Cr, .20% Mo, heat treatable and case hardening |
8620 | High stress applications needing the strength of an alloy. |
Cold drawn +.000/.002 |
1.8 | 2.7 | |
Very high 1% carbon, .25% Ni,1.4% Cr, .08% Mo |
52100 | Bearing applications |
Cold finished Spheroidize annealed +/- .006 |
2.0 | 5.1 | |
| Stainless Steel | Designed for machining, non-magnetic |
303 | Electronic hardware, automotive, aerospace, medical instruments, and
many applications requiring corrosion resistance |
Cold finished +/- .002 |
4.5 | 2.7 |
Better weldability and formability, slightly more corrosion resistant |
304 | Applications needing formability or weldability |
Cold finished +/-.002 |
3.7 | 5.0 | |
Better corrosion resistance |
316 | Medical implants and surgical instruments, aerospace |
Cold finished +/-.002 |
4.3 | 5.6 | |
Free machining; less corosion resistant than 300 series; can be heat
treated |
416 | Applications that need less corrosion resistance, more hardness, or
lower cost |
Cold finished- annealed +/-.002 |
3.8 | 2.6 | |
High carbon, can harden to RC 60 |
440°C | Applications requiring stainless steel with highest hardness |
5.9 | 5.0 | ||
Excellent corrosion resistance and heat treatable |
17-4 PH | Medical, aerospace, applications needing corrosion resistance and hardness |
+/-.002 | 4.4 | 5.0 | |
| Titanium | High strength, light weight, good bio-compatibility |
Ti-6Al-4V Ti-6Al-4VEli |
Aircraft Medical implants |
Ground & polished +/-.002 |
21.3 | 6 |
| Plastics | Low cost plastic |
PVC Gray color |
Insulators |
Ground +/-.003 |
0.9 | .8 |
Good machining |
Nylon, extruded "Natural" or "black" color |
Insulator, bearing, short runs of products that will be converted to
injection molding |
Ground +.002/-.000 |
1.2 | .75 | |
Similar to nylon, better machinability |
Delrin (acetal) "Natural" or "black" color |
Insulator, bearing |
Ground +.002/-.000 |
1.5 | .7 |
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