A practical comparison of the material families most used for CNC machined parts.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Yield Str. (MPa) | Machinability | Cost | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061 | 2.70 | 276 | Excellent | $ | General parts, housings |
| Aluminum 7075 | 2.81 | 503 | Good | $$ | High-strength lightweight |
| Carbon Steel 1018 | 7.87 | 370 | Good | $ | Low-cost strong parts |
| Stainless 304 | 8.00 | 215 | Fair | $$ | Corrosion resistance |
| Stainless 17-4PH | 7.78 | 1100 | Fair | $$$ | High strength + corrosion |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 4.43 | 880 | Poor | $$$$ | Aerospace, medical |
| Delrin (POM) | 1.42 | 70 | Excellent | $ | Bushings, low friction |
| Nylon (PA) | 1.14 | 50 | Good | $ | Wear parts, brackets |
| PEEK | 1.32 | 90 | Good | $$$$$ | High-temp, cleanroom |
Material choice drives part cost twice — through raw material price and machining difficulty. Let Hold-Tech help you pick the grade that meets the function at the lowest total cost.