Metal · Material guide
Custom aluminum parts from independent machine shops
Aluminum is the workhorse of custom machining: light, strong for its weight, easy to cut, and quick to anodize. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops that run 6061, 7075, and more every day.
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Aluminum shops on OpenSpindle
Real shops that machine and fabricate aluminum. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.
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Grades
Aluminum grades shops run most
The alloy sets strength, corrosion resistance, and how it finishes. These are the ones you will see quoted; if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote.
6061-T6
The default all-around alloy. Good strength, excellent corrosion resistance, machines and welds cleanly, and anodizes well. Stocked everywhere in plate, bar, and extrusion.
Best for Brackets, housings, fixtures, and most general parts
7075-T6
Aircraft-grade alloy with strength approaching mild steel. Harder to weld and less corrosion resistant than 6061, so it is usually anodized or plated. Costs more than 6061.
Best for High-stress structural parts, aerospace, tooling
2024-T3
High fatigue strength, common in aircraft skins and structure. Poor weldability and lower corrosion resistance, so it is typically clad or anodized.
Best for Fatigue-loaded aerospace and structural parts
5052-H32
The go-to sheet alloy for bending and forming. Excellent corrosion resistance, especially in marine environments, but not heat-treatable so lower machined strength.
Best for Sheet metal, enclosures, marine, formed parts
MIC-6 / cast tool plate
Cast aluminum plate that is stress-relieved and precision-ground flat. Stable and machines to a fine finish, used where flatness matters more than strength.
Best for Jig plates, base plates, tooling, fixtures
6063
The architectural extrusion alloy. Lower strength than 6061 but flows into complex profiles and takes a bright anodize, common in framing and trim.
Best for Extruded profiles, framing, trim, heat sinks
Specs
Material properties
Representative values for 6061-T6, the most common machining grade. Exact numbers vary by alloy and temper.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ (0.098 lb/in³) |
| Tensile strength (6061-T6) | ~45 ksi (310 MPa) |
| Yield strength (6061-T6) | ~40 ksi (276 MPa) |
| Tensile strength (7075-T6) | ~83 ksi (572 MPa) |
| Hardness (6061-T6) | ~95 HB |
| Max service temp | ~150 °C (300 °F) before softening |
| Machinability | Excellent, one of the fastest metals to cut |
| Corrosion resistance | Good; excellent when anodized |
| Weldability | 6061/5052 good; 7075/2024 poor |
Aluminum is roughly one-third the weight of steel at a fraction of the machining time, which is why it dominates prototyping and low-volume production.
Stock
Forms we machine it from
Plate & block
Milled and 5-axis parts machined from solid.
Round bar
Turned shafts, pins, and cylindrical parts.
Sheet
Laser, waterjet, and press-brake sheet metal.
Processes
Manufacturing methods for aluminum
The right process depends on part geometry, tolerances, and production volume.
Finishing
Finishes for aluminum
Aluminum takes more finishes than almost any metal. Anodizing is the most common because it is thin, hard, and adds color.
Type II anodize
The standard decorative and protective anodize. Adds corrosion resistance and color (clear, black, red, blue, gold). Thin enough that most tolerances are unaffected.
Type III hardcoat anodize
A thicker, much harder anodize for wear surfaces. Grows the part a few thousandths, so call it out on toleranced features.
Powder coat
Durable colored coating over a broad range of textures. Thicker than anodize, so mask threads and mating faces.
Bead blast
A uniform matte texture, often as a base before anodizing to hide machining marks.
Chromate / Alodine
A thin conversion coating that keeps the surface conductive while adding corrosion resistance. Common on electronics chassis.
As-machined
No finish. Ships fastest and is fine for internal or non-cosmetic parts.
Only aluminum and titanium anodize. If you need a specific color, send the color and finish spec with your drawing.
Applications
Where aluminum parts are used
Aluminum shows up wherever weight, speed, or cost matter more than absolute strength.
Compare
Aluminum vs other materials
How aluminum stacks up against the other metals shops quote most.
Aluminum vs Steel
Steel →- Aluminum is about one-third the weight of steel
- Steel is stronger and stiffer for the same volume; aluminum wins on strength-to-weight
- Aluminum machines far faster and does not rust, but costs more per pound
Choose aluminum for light, fast, corrosion-free parts. Choose steel when you need maximum strength or stiffness at low cost.
Aluminum vs Stainless steel
Stainless steel →- Stainless is far stronger and harder, and needs no coating to resist corrosion
- Aluminum is lighter, cheaper to machine, and can be anodized for color
- Stainless holds up better at high temperature and in harsh chemical environments
Choose aluminum for lightweight, cosmetic, or thermally conductive parts. Choose stainless for strength, hygiene, and corrosion in tough environments.
Aluminum vs Titanium
Titanium →- Titanium has a much higher strength-to-weight ratio and far better high-temperature and corrosion performance
- Aluminum is several times cheaper and much faster to machine
- Titanium is biocompatible; aluminum is not used for implants
Choose aluminum for cost and speed. Choose titanium when strength-to-weight, heat, or biocompatibility justify the premium.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
6061-T6 is the all-around default: good strength, excellent corrosion resistance, easy to machine and weld, and inexpensive. 7075-T6 is much stronger (roughly aircraft-grade, approaching mild steel) but costs more, is harder to weld, and has lower corrosion resistance, so it is usually anodized. Use 6061 for general parts and 7075 for high-stress structural or aerospace parts.
More materials
Other materials on OpenSpindle
Get aluminum part quotes
Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops that machine, cut, and finish aluminum.
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