At HLH Rapid, we can work with 80+ materials for your custom CNC project. Explore them below!
| Strength | Corrosion | Typical Tolerances | Features | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL6061 |
Medium
|
Good | ISO 2768 fine | – Most widely available aluminium grade in China – Good machinability and corrosion resistance – Excellent for hard anodising * Lower strength compared to AL7075 and AL2024 |
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| AL6061-T6 |
Good
|
Good | ISO 2768 fine | – High strength and hardness for structural CNC parts – Good corrosion resistance * Lower strength than AL7075-T6 |
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| AL7075 |
Very High
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – Excellent strength-to-weight ratio – Hardness comparable to steels – Good fatigue resistance * Higher in price |
 |
| AL7075-T6 |
Excellent
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – Heat-treated (T6) with peak strength and hardness – Excellent fatigue resistance * Lower corrosion resistance (requires protective coating), higher cost |
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| AL6082 |
Good (medium-high)
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Medium-strength alloy – Good formability and corrosion resistance * Not ideal for thin-wall structures |
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| AL6082-T6 |
Very High
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Strong structural alloy – Excellent corrosion resistance – Good machinability * Lower strength than AL7075 and AL2024 |
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| AL6083 |
Good (medium-high)
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Medium-strength alloy – Similar to AL6082 * Less widely available than AL6082 in Europe |
 |
| AL6063-T6 |
Medium
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Medium-strength alloy – Good corrosion resistance and excellent surface finish – Ideal for architectural and industrial applications * Not ideal for heavy structural use |
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| AL5083 |
Medium
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Medium-strength alloy – Excellent corrosion resistance and great weldability and formability – Ideal for marine applications * Not ideal for high temperature applications (>100 °C) |
 |
| AL2014-T6 |
Very good
|
Poor | ISO 2768 fine | – Very high strength and hardness – Good machinability and excellent strength-to-weight ratio – Suitable for high-load applications * Less ductile compared to other aluminium alloys |
 |
| Strength | Corrosion | Typical Tolerances | Features | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS316 |
Excellent
|
Very Good | ISO 2768 fine | – Good tensile strength and toughness – Higher corrosion and chemical resistance than SS304 – Ideal for marine applications * More expensive than SS304 |
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| SS316L |
Very Good
|
Very Good | ISO 2768 fine | – Excellent corrosion resistance – Good strength and toughness – Superior for welded applications * Slightly lower tensile strength compared to SS316 |
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| SS304 |
Good
|
Good | ISO 2768 fine | – Cost effective steel material – Excellent corrosion resistance – Good mechanical properties * Susceptible to scratches * Lower corrosion resistance in chloride environments |
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| SS303 |
Moderate
|
Good (lower than SS304) | ISO 2768 fine | – Excellent toughness and machinability – 15-20% faster to machine than SS304 – Ideal for higher volume CNC production * Lower corrosion resistance than SS304 and SS316 |
 |
| SS321 |
Moderate
|
Good (similar to SS303) | ISO 2768 fine | – Excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance (titanium-stabilized) – Good toughness and mechanical strength – Good corrosion resistance * Machinability lower than SS303 (slower to cut) * More expensive than SS304 |
 |
| SS416 |
Moderate
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – Magnetic – Can be hardened for strength gain through aging or heat treatment – Good weldability and formability * Lower toughness than other stainless steel grades |
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| SS440C |
Very Good (after treatment)
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – One of the hardest and strongest stainless steel grades – One of the most wear-resistant stainless steel grades – Ideal for knives, bearings and precision parts * More expensive than basic stainless steels like 304 and 316 |
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| SS17-4PH |
Very Good (after treatment)
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – One of the strongest stainless steel grades – Higher tensile strength than SS440C – Good wear resistance after heat treatment (lower than 440C) * More expensive than basic stainless steels like 304 and 316 |
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| Strength | Corrosion | Typical Tolerances | Features | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild Steel |
Good
|
Poor | ISO 2768 fine | – Good tensile strength and toughness – Easy to machine and weld – One of the cheapest CNC metal * Poor corrosion resistance |
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| Strength | Corrosion | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium Bronze |
Excellent
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – High strength – Excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance and impact resistance * More expensive than common bronzes and brasses * Heavier than aluminium alloys |
 |
| Brass C360 |
Moderate
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – “Free-cutting brass” with exceptional machinability – Cost-effective for high volume production – Good electrical and thermal conductivity * Lower corrosion resistance than Lead Brass CZ112 and CZ121 * Lower strength and and hardness compared to steel alloys |
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| Lead Brass CZ112 |
Excellent
|
Excellent | ISO 2768 fine | – Offers better marine corrosion protection than CZ121 – Better mechanical properties than standard brasses * Lower machinability compared to CZ121 * Limited cold ductility |
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| Lead Brass CZ121 |
Good
|
Good | ISO 2768 fine | – Superior machinability compared to any copper alloy – Great for intricate parts at high speeds – High tensile strength and good corrosion resistance * Less resistant in marine environments than CZ112 * Limited cold ductility / More expensive than aluminium |
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| Strength | Corrosion | Features | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Grade 5 |
Excellent
|
Moderate | ISO 2768 fine | – Excellent strength – Ultimate tensile strength (T6): 500–570 MPa – One of the strongest CNC metal options * Susceptible to stress corrosion cracking * Not as corrosion resistant as aluminium alloys |
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| Strength | Corrosion | Typical Tolerances | Features | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc |
Very good
|
Very Good | ISO 2768 fine | – High strength – Excellent wear resistance, impact resistance and corrosion resistance * More expensive than common bronzes and stainless steels |
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| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Cream-yellowish ABS | Moderate stiffness; High toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768-1 medium | – Excellent mechanical properties – High impact strength – Good insulating properties * Low heat resistance * Prone to markings (especially Black ABS) |
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| White ABS |  |
||||
| Black ABS |  |
| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMMA | Deburr | High stiffness; Low toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Higher clarity – More scratch-resistant – Easier to machine polish than PC material * Lower heat resistance and more prone to cracking and chipping |
 |
| Polished — High Transparency |  |
| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Toughness / Impact | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEEK |
Beige, Light Brown
|
Very high stiffness; Excellent toughness; Low friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – High-performance thermoplastic with exceptional strength – High-temperature resistance (up to 260°C) – Excellent chemical and wear resistance * High-cost CNC plastic material * Difficult to machine due to heat buildup and susceptible to internal stress |
 |
| PEI |
Ultem®
(Translucent-amber coloured) |
High stiffness; Good toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – High strength and rigidity – Exceptional thermal stability and good chemical resistance – Slightly lower cost alternative to PEEK * High-cost CNC plastic * Can be more brittle |
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| PPS-GF40 |
Black
|
Very high stiffness; Moderate toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Higher stiffness than PEEK – Excellent dimensional stability under load – Excellent chemical and thermal resistance * Higher cost CNC plastic * More brittle due to glass-filled additives |
 |
| PPSU |
Radel® PPSU (Translucent-amber coloured), Medical Grade
|
Good stiffness; Excellent toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Excellent impact and fracture resistance – High thermal resistance and good chemical resistance – Medical Grade CNC plastic * High-cost material * Lower stiffness compared to PEEK or PPS-GF40 |
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| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA | White | Low stiffness; High toughness; Low friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Low–moderate cost engineering plastic – Good chemical and moisture resistance – Highly versatile “all-rounder” * Poor machinability and limited UV resistance |
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| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | High Transparency (slight blue-grey tint) | Excellent stiffness; Excellent toughness; Moderate friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – More durable, heat resistant and impact proof than PMMA – Exceptional mechanical, thermal and electrical properties * Scratches more easily and generally more difficult to process * Slightly less transparent PMMA and more expensive than PMMA |
 |
| Translucent and Solid (opaque) |  |
| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE | HDPE Black | Low stiffness; High toughness; Low friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Low cost CNC plastic – Excellent chemical and moisture resistance – Easy to mill, turn and drill * Dimensional instability and low wear resistance * Challenging to achieve smooth finish |
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| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POM | POM Black | Good stiffness; Moderate toughness; Low friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Strong resistance to repeated impacts – Good electrical properties – Excellent dimensional stability * Easily deforms when machined due to heat buildup * Limited UV resistance and moderate chemical resistance |
 |
| POM White |  |
| Appearance | Mechanical Performance | Typical Tolerances | Pros and Cons | *Click image to enlarge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP-GF | Black | Good stiffness; Moderate toughness; Low friction | ISO 2768‑1 medium | – Excellent strength-to-weight ratio – Suitable for load-bearing applications – Cost-effective alternative to metals * Can be brittle * Limited temperature range and moderate chemical resistance |
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At HLH Rapid, we can work with 80+ materials for your custom CNC project. Explore them below!
