---
title: "Aluminum CNC Machining & Fabrication | 6061, 7075 | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for custom aluminum parts from independent machine shops. 6061, 7075, 2024, 5052 and more, machined, turned, cut, and anodized. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum
---

# 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.

## Aluminum shops on OpenSpindle

Real shops that machine and fabricate aluminum. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.

[Browse all aluminum shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?material=6061-T6%2C7050%2C2024-T3%2C5052)

## 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

## Material Properties

Representative values for 6061-T6, the most common machining grade. Exact numbers vary by alloy and temper.

| Property | 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

- **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 That Run This Material

- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) -- Milled housings, brackets, and prismatic parts from plate and block.
- [CNC Turning](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-turning.md) -- Turned shafts, spacers, and fittings from round bar.
- [Sheet Metal & Press Brake](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/sheet-metal-fabrication.md) -- Cut, bent, and formed enclosures and panels from 5052 and 6061 sheet.
- [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Waterjet%20cutting) -- Cold cutting for thick aluminum plate with no heat-affected edge.
- [Laser Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Laser%20cutting) -- Fast, precise flat cuts in thinner aluminum sheet.
- [5-Axis Machining](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=5-axis%20milling) -- Complex aluminum geometry in a single setup.

## Finishes

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

- Aerospace
- Robotics & automation
- Drones & UAV
- Automotive
- Consumer electronics
- Enclosures & chassis
- Medical devices
- Industrial / OEM

Aluminum shows up wherever weight, speed, or cost matter more than absolute strength.

## How It Compares

How aluminum stacks up against the other metals shops quote most.

### [Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md)

- 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

**Verdict:** Choose aluminum for light, fast, corrosion-free parts. Choose steel when you need maximum strength or stiffness at low cost.

### [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md)

- 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

**Verdict:** Choose aluminum for lightweight, cosmetic, or thermally conductive parts. Choose stainless for strength, hygiene, and corrosion in tough environments.

### [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md)

- 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

**Verdict:** Choose aluminum for cost and speed. Choose titanium when strength-to-weight, heat, or biocompatibility justify the premium.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between 6061 and 7075 aluminum?

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.

### Can aluminum be anodized in color?

Yes. Type II anodizing accepts dyes in a wide range of colors including black, red, blue, gold, and clear. The anodize layer is thin and hard, adds corrosion resistance, and does not significantly change most tolerances. Send the color and finish spec with your drawing and the shop confirms.

### Is aluminum strong enough for structural parts?

For its weight, yes. Aluminum has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, which is why it is used throughout aerospace and robotics. For the same volume it is weaker and less stiff than steel, so structural aluminum parts are often thicker or ribbed to compensate. 7075 and 2024 are the high-strength choices.

### How much does aluminum cost to machine compared to steel?

Aluminum is more expensive per pound than mild steel but usually cheaper to machine, because it cuts several times faster and is easier on tooling. For most prototype and low-volume parts the faster cycle time makes an aluminum part cost less than the same part in steel or stainless.

### Which aluminum is best for sheet metal parts?

5052-H32 is the standard sheet alloy: it bends and forms well without cracking and has excellent corrosion resistance, including in marine use. 6061 is used for sheet parts that need more strength but is less forgiving on tight bends. Note the alloy and bend radii on your drawing.

### Does aluminum corrode?

Aluminum forms a natural oxide layer that resists corrosion in most environments, which is why it does not rust like steel. In salt or harsh chemical exposure, anodizing or a chromate conversion coating adds protection. 5052 is the go-to alloy for marine environments.

### What file formats should I send for an aluminum part?

STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, or a dimensioned PDF. Include the alloy and temper (for example 6061-T6), critical dimensions and their tolerances, quantity, and any finish such as clear or black anodize.

## Related Materials

- [Stainless Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md)
- [Carbon Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md)
- [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md)
- [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md)
- [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md)
- [Delrin](https://openspindle.com/materials/delrin.md)

## Get aluminum part quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops that machine, cut, and finish aluminum.