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Materials We Cut
Four material families cover most of the work that comes through the shop. The right one depends on what the part has to survive — here is how to think about each.
| Material | Chosen for | Typical parts | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Low weight with real strength, and fast machining | Housings, brackets, plates, prototypes, enclosures | The economical default when steel's strength isn't needed. Common 6000- and 7000-series grades quote cleanly from a print. |
| Stainless Steel | Corrosion resistance — weather, washdown, outdoor service | Food and washdown hardware, outdoor fittings, shafts, fasteners | Costs more to cut than carbon steel. Worth it where rust ends the part's life early. |
| Carbon & Alloy Steel | Strength, hardness, and wear resistance | Shafts, pins, gears and wear parts, structural brackets | The workhorse for parts that take load or abrasion. Specify the grade and any hardness requirement on the print. |
| Engineering Plastics | Low friction, low weight, electrical insulation, no corrosion | Bushings, guides, wear pads, insulators, rollers | Specify the polymer on the print — "plastic" alone isn't enough to quote. Acetal and nylon families are the common starting points. |
How to Specify a Material
Put the material and grade on the print, or in the quote request if there is no print yet. "Aluminum" gets you a conversation; "6061-T6" gets you a firm number. If the grade is genuinely open, say so — we'll quote the sensible default and note it on the quote so there are no surprises.
Need to substitute a grade for cost or availability? We never swap material silently. A substitution is proposed in writing, priced, and approved by you before anything is cut.
Material certificates are available on request. Ask when you order — certificates are matched to the lot and travel with the shipment's inspection report.
Choosing between families? The guide Choosing a Machining Material walks through the trade-offs in plain language.
Send Us the Drawing.
Email the print or the CAD file, or call and talk it through first. You'll get a firm quote in writing within two business days — price, lead time, and inspection included.
Call
P: (803) 555-0161
Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.
[email protected]
Prints and CAD files welcome.
For files over 25 MB, ask for the upload link.
The Shop
1200 Fabrication Way
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Deliveries at the back dock, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.