Manufacturing Materials

Choose from practical engineering metals and plastics for prototypes, production components, sheet metal parts, and finished assemblies.

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Material documentation

Mill certificates on request | Customer-specified materials reviewed at RFQ

Material selector tools

Start with the manufacturing process. Each service has different stock forms, design limits, and finishing choices.

CNC Machining

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Aluminum Die Casting

Surface Finishing

Build a better material specification

A material family is a starting point. Production drawings should identify the exact grade, condition, starting form, required records, and every finish that changes the manufacturing route.

State alloy, polymer grade, temper, or hardness.
Define sheet, plate, bar, tube, or cast starting form when it matters.
Request mill certificates and inspection records during RFQ.

View Material Comparison

Aluminum

Low density, good machinability, natural corrosion resistance, and broad finishing options make aluminum the usual starting point for prototypes, housings, fixtures, and machine components.

Grade	Best suited to	Watch for
6061	General housings, plates, brackets, fixtures, and structural parts.	The practical default when moderate strength and good machinability matter.
7075	Highly loaded, lightweight tooling and structural components.	Higher stock cost; less suitable for welding and some cosmetic anodizing requirements.
5052 sheet	Bent covers, enclosures, panels, and fabricated sheet parts.	Use for formed sheet work, not as a substitute for machined 6061 plate.

Stainless steel

Selected where corrosion resistance, strength, cleaning, or exposed appearance matters more than machining speed and raw-material cost.

Grade	Best suited to	Watch for
304	General equipment parts, fittings, covers, brackets, and fabricated assemblies.	Slower to machine than aluminum or free-cutting steel; price follows machining time.
316	Components exposed to chlorides, aggressive washdown, or demanding corrosion conditions.	Specify it when the environment requires the additional corrosion resistance.
303	Turned shafts, pins, fittings, and threaded parts where machinability matters.	Lower corrosion resistance than 304/316 and generally not selected for welding.

Carbon and alloy steel

High stiffness and strength at a practical material cost. Steel normally needs a coating, plating, heat-treatment condition, or controlled storage requirement stated on the drawing.

Type	Best suited to	Watch for
Mild steel	Frames, brackets, weldments, machine plates, and general fixtures.	Bare surfaces rust; specify paint, powder coat, plating, oil, or another protection method.
Alloy steel	Loaded shafts, gears, tooling, and highly stressed mechanical components.	Grade and heat-treatment condition directly affect machining route and final properties.
Tool steel	Wear tooling, dies, gauges, and components requiring hardness after heat treatment.	Confirm the required hardness, treatment sequence, and finish-grinding needs before quoting.

Brass and copper

Used where conductivity, low friction, corrosion behavior, appearance, or clean turning performance is more important than minimum material cost.

Material	Best suited to	Watch for
Brass	Fittings, valve parts, bushings, threaded components, and decorative hardware.	Often machines quickly, but confirm the exact alloy where regulations or fluid service matter.
Copper	Electrical contacts, bus bars, electrodes, and thermal-management components.	High ductility makes thin walls and fine features more demanding to machine.

Engineering plastics

Useful for low mass, electrical isolation, reduced friction, chemical exposure, noise control, and applications where metal is unnecessarily heavy or conductive.

Material	Best suited to	Watch for
POM / Acetal	Precision guides, gears, wear pads, bushings, and insulators.	A strong general-purpose choice where dimensional stability and machinability matter.
Nylon	Rollers, bushings, impact-tolerant components, and wear parts.	Absorbs moisture; account for dimensional change on close-tolerance features.
PEEK	High-temperature, chemical-exposure, and demanding precision-plastic applications.	Premium stock cost; confirm the operating condition justifies the material.
PTFE	Seals, low-friction sliding parts, and chemical-service components.	Soft, prone to creep, and unsuitable as a general structural plastic.
UHMW	Chute liners, conveyor guides, and abrasion-resistant wear strips.	Tough and slippery, but not the first choice for tight dimensional control.

Still deciding between two materials?

Send the drawing and describe the load, environment, temperature, and quantity. We will identify the manufacturing tradeoffs before you place the order.

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Or email sales@ensi-precision.com