We Machine Almost Anything

The go-to alloy for most general CNC applications. Excellent strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and takes anodising beautifully. Easy to machine at high speeds with excellent surface finish.

The strongest common aluminium alloy. Used wherever 6061 isn't strong enough. Slightly harder to machine than 6061 but still excellent. Cannot be welded easily — typically fastened or bonded.

The most widely used stainless grade. Good corrosion resistance in most environments except chloride-rich (seawater). Work-hardens during cutting — requires sharp tooling and correct feeds/speeds.

The addition of molybdenum gives 316L superior chloride corrosion resistance over 304. The 'L' grade (low carbon) prevents carbide precipitation during welding. Standard choice for medical and marine applications.

The most-used titanium alloy. Excellent specific strength, fully biocompatible (ASTM F136 implant grade available), and immune to salt water corrosion. Difficult to machine — requires specialised tooling, slow speeds, heavy coolant, and careful fixturing. Our programmes are proven.

One of the most difficult materials to machine — work-hardens aggressively, generates extreme cutting heat, and wears tooling rapidly. We machine Inconel daily with proven feeds, speeds, and tooling strategies. Don't attempt this on a standard CNC centre without experience.

The workhorse of the engineering world. Cheap, machines cleanly, welds and heat-treats well. No inherent corrosion resistance — typically painted, powder-coated, or zinc-plated after machining. 1018 is better for cold-working; 1045 gives higher strength.

D2 is a high-chrome cold-work tool steel used for press tooling and dies. H13 is a hot-work grade used for die casting dies and injection moulds. Both are typically rough-machined in soft state, then hardened and finish-ground to final dimensions.

C360 (free-machining brass) has the highest machinability rating of any common metal — machines at very high speeds with excellent surface finish and minimal tool wear. Naval brass adds tin for improved seawater corrosion resistance.

Chosen for its electrical and thermal conductivity — both the highest of any commonly machined metal. Machines well but is soft and can smear at excessive speeds. Used wherever conductivity matters more than strength.

The top-tier engineering thermoplastic. Retains mechanical properties to 250°C, fully biocompatible (USP Class VI), resistant to almost all chemicals, and X-ray transparent. Machined with sharp carbide tooling — it generates fine chips that require thorough cleaning.

The first choice for low-friction sliding applications. Machines with exceptional precision and surface finish — it holds tight tolerances better than most metals due to its dimensional stability. Natural white colour or black available.