CNC Aluminum Machining
Machined aluminum prototypes and production parts in 6061, 7075, 2024 and 6082, from one piece.
- ±0.025 mm
- Standard tolerance
- 4 alloys
- 6061, 7075, 2024, 6082
- 2 days
- Fastest ship, simple parts
- From 1 pc
- No minimum order
Aluminum is the default CNC material: the stock is cheap, it cuts fast and it takes anodizing well. Most parts are 6061-T6. Choose 7075 for strength, 2024 for fatigue, 6082 where a European spec calls for it. The material list in the quote shows each alloy’s price for your part.
Commonly used for:
- Enclosures and housings
- Brackets and mounts
- Heat sinks
- Robot and drone frames
- Fixtures and test jigs
What we make in aluminum
Most aluminum parts are milled from plate or bar; round parts are turned.
Enclosures
Pocketed bodies with bosses, lids and gasket grooves, usually anodized.
Brackets and plates
Flat parts with holes, slots and counterbores from one or two sides.
Heat sinks
Fins and flat contact faces cut from 6061 or 6082.
Frames and arms
Lightweighted structures in 7075 for robots, drones and fixtures.
Manifolds
Drilled ports and sealing faces in a solid block.
Turned parts
Spacers, knobs and shafts on a lathe.
Aluminum machining capabilities
What the standard order holds. Tighter values are quoted per feature from your drawing.
Tolerances
Untoleranced dimensions follow ISO 2768-m. Tolerances apply before finishing unless the drawing says otherwise.
Part size
5-axis parts up to 500 mm on each side; turned parts up to Ø500 × 1,000 mm.
Thin walls
A published starting value for metal walls, not a limit. Tall or wide walls vibrate during cutting and need to be thicker.
Threads
Threads that are assembled often can take helical inserts; call them out on the drawing.
Anodize allowance
Bores shrink by twice the outward growth. Mask fits and threads, or dimension them after anodize.
Surface finish
Bead blasting before anodize hides tool marks and gives an even matte look.
Inspection
CMM reports and mill certificates for the alloy and temper are available on request.
Aluminum alloys
Each links to its datasheet with tempers, properties and the finishes it takes.
Sheet grades
Compare grades side by side
| Material | Machinability | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061 | Very good | $ | General CNC machined parts; Aerospace and structural brackets; Hydraulic manifolds and valve bodies |
| Aluminum 6082 | Very good | $$ | Trusses; Bridges; Frames |
| Aluminum 7075 | Excellent | $$$ | Aerospace components; Defense equipment; Gears |
| Aluminum 2024 | Excellent | $$$ | Aircraft skins and fuselage panels; Wing and fuselage structural members; Aerospace fittings and brackets |
Machinability and weldability are the library’s 0–100 scores (Excellent ≥ 85 … Poor < 35); cost is the relative tier, not a price. Every grade links to its datasheet with tempers, heat treatments and the finishes it takes.
Cost by quantity
Programming and setup are paid once per order. By ten pieces the unit price is about a fifth of one piece.
Aluminum enclosure body
Aluminum 6061-T6 · 120 × 80 × 40 mm · deep pocket, M3 tapped holes · bead blast · ±0.05 mm on bores
Cost per part by quantity — two 6061-T6 parts
100 % = one piece of each part. One enclosure costs about 2.7× one bracket; both drop to about a fifth of the single-piece price by ten.
Not a quote. Relative unit prices from the FabDigit quote engine for the parts shown, standard schedule. 7075-T6 runs about 1.1–1.2× the price of 6061-T6 for the same part. Method in the CNC machining cost guide.
Surface finishes
Anodizing, chem film and bead blasting are the common aluminum finishes. Pick one in the quote.
Which aluminum alloy?
Start with 6061-T6 and move only when a property demands it.
| Alloy | Known for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6default | Good strength, weldable, anodizes clear and even. | About half the strength of 7075. |
| 6082-T6European 6061 | Properties close to 6061; the common grade in EN specs. | Less stock in North America. |
| 7075-T6high strength | Strength comparable to many steels at about a third of the weight. | Not fusion-weldable; anodize can look slightly yellow. |
| 2024-T3fatigue | High fatigue strength for cyclic loads. | Poor corrosion resistance; anodize color is uneven. |
How to order
- 1Upload a STEP file.Pick the alloy, finish and quantity. Add a PDF drawing for tolerances and threads.
- 2Review price and DFM.Standard and expedited ship dates side by side for your exact part.
- 3Order online.Every order is first-article inspected before it ships.
Questions about CNC aluminum
Which aluminum is best for CNC machining?
6061-T6 for most parts: it is cheap, machines well, welds and anodizes evenly. Use 7075-T6 when strength matters most and 2024 for parts under cyclic load.
Is 7075 much more expensive than 6061?
For the same part, 7075-T6 usually costs about 1.1–1.2× 6061-T6. The stock costs more, but it cuts nearly as fast. Quote both to see the difference for your part.
Can you anodize machined aluminum parts?
Yes. Type II in clear and colors, and Type III hard anodize. Tell us which features to mask, such as threads, bores and electrical contact faces.
What tolerance can you hold on aluminum?
±0.025 mm on toleranced features as standard, and ±0.01 mm on request. Untoleranced dimensions follow ISO 2768-m.
Can I order one aluminum part?
Yes. There is no minimum order. One piece costs more per part because setup is paid once per order.
Should I machine aluminum or bend it from sheet?
Bend it when the part is an even-thickness shell or bracket; it is usually cheaper. Machine it when walls vary, pockets are deep or tolerances are tight.
Price your aluminum part now
Upload a STEP file and get a price, ship date and DFM notes in minutes.