Industry Insights
Expert guides on precision CNC machining, surface finishing, and material selection.
Aluminum vs Stainless Steel for CNC Parts
Compare aluminum and stainless steel for CNC parts by weight, stiffness, strength, corrosion, heat transfer, finish, machinability, and total project cost.
Does Aluminum Conduct Heat? CNC Heat Sink Design
Understand aluminum thermal conductivity, alloy and interface effects, and the CNC choices that control heat-sink, cold-plate, and enclosure performance.
How to Cut 1/8-Inch Aluminum Sheet: CNC or Sheet Metal?
Compare CNC milling, laser, waterjet, routing, and sawing for 1/8-inch aluminum sheet, with practical guidance on tolerances, edges, distortion, and cost.
How to Cut Aluminum Extrusion for Precision CNC Parts
Learn when to saw, machine, deburr, and inspect aluminum extrusion for precision parts, including datum strategy, distortion, tolerances, and finish planning.
How to Drill Stainless Steel Without Work Hardening
Learn why stainless steel work-hardens during drilling and how tool geometry, feed, speed, coolant, setup rigidity, and hole specifications affect CNC results.
Is Aluminum Oxide Conductive? Anodized CNC Parts Explained
Learn why aluminum conducts while aluminum oxide insulates, and how masking, grounding pads, threads, fits, and anodizing affect CNC part design.
Is Stainless Steel Magnetic? 304, 316, 430 and 17-4
Understand why some stainless steels attract magnets, how cold work and machining can change response, and what engineers should specify for CNC parts.
Prevent Galvanic Corrosion: Aluminum and Stainless Steel
Learn how isolation, drainage, coatings, sealants, fastener design, and maintenance prevent galvanic corrosion in aluminum and stainless assemblies.
6061 vs. 7075 Aluminum for CNC Machining: Which Alloy Should You Choose?
Compare 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum for CNC-machined parts by strength, corrosion resistance, finish, cost, and common applications.
CNC Aluminum Machining Cost: What Affects the Price of Aluminum Parts?
Understand what drives CNC aluminum machining cost, from material, geometry, tolerances and finishing to quantity and a complete RFQ checklist.
CNC Machined Aluminum Parts: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
A buyer’s guide to CNC machined aluminum parts: processes, alloys, finishes, applications, tolerances, and what to include in an RFQ.
304 vs 316 Stainless Steel for CNC Machining: A Part-Specification Guide
Compare 304 and 316 stainless steel for CNC-machined parts, including chloride exposure, machining trade-offs, drawings, and finish choices.