Why Aluminum for CNC Machining?
Aluminum is the most widely machined metal for good reason. It offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, machines at high speed with clean results, accepts surface treatments well, and is cost-effective for both prototypes and production runs.
At EKINSUN, aluminum parts make up the majority of our machining work. We have refined our tooling, speeds, and finishing processes specifically for aluminum, which means faster lead times and better surface quality compared to harder metals.
Aluminum Grades We Machine
Best balance of strength, machinability, and cost. Weldable, anodizes well. Suitable for 90% of structural and mechanical applications.
Higher tensile strength than 6061. Used in aerospace components, high-stress structural parts, and applications requiring maximum strength-to-weight ratio.
Excellent fatigue resistance. Standard in aircraft fuselage and wing structures. Less weldable than 6061 but superior under cyclic loading.
Best corrosion resistance of common aluminum alloys. Used in marine environments, fuel tanks, and chemical processing equipment.
Cast aluminum tooling plate with exceptional flatness and dimensional stability. Used for jigs, fixtures, and precision tooling bases.
Working with a less common alloy? Contact us — we likely have experience with it and can source the material.
Grade detail pages with full properties, tolerances and finishing: 6061-T6 · 7075-T6.
Mechanical Properties Comparison
| Grade | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Density | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6 | 310 MPa | 276 MPa | 2.70 g/cm³ | General use |
| 7075-T6 | 572 MPa | 503 MPa | 2.81 g/cm³ | High strength |
| 2024-T3 | 483 MPa | 345 MPa | 2.78 g/cm³ | Fatigue resistance |
| 5052-H32 | 228 MPa | 193 MPa | 2.68 g/cm³ | Corrosion resistance |
Surface Finishing Options for Aluminum
- Clear Anodizing (Type II) — Improves corrosion resistance, keeps natural aluminum appearance
- Hard Anodizing (Type III) — Thick, extremely hard oxide layer for wear resistance
- Color Anodizing — Black, red, blue, gold and other colors available
- Bead Blasting — Uniform matte finish, hides machining marks
- Powder Coating — Durable painted finish in any RAL color
- As-Machined — Standard machined finish, no additional treatment
Typical Aluminum Parts We Machine
- Aerospace brackets, housings, and structural components
- Electronic enclosures and heat sinks
- Automotive lightweight structural parts
- Drone and UAV frames and components
- Medical device housings
- Bicycle and sporting equipment components
- Industrial automation parts and fixtures
- Custom replacement parts for legacy machinery
Aluminium Parts From Our Workshop
A cross-section of aluminium CNC work — housings, brackets, panels and structural parts across alloy grades:
Custom Aluminum Parts — Who Orders and Why
Aluminum is our highest-volume material, and the buyers who come to us for it range from one-off prototype makers to procurement managers setting up repeat supply. What they share: a part to make from a drawing, sketch or sample — usually in 6061 or 7075 — finished and ready to fit.
"I need machined aluminum prototype parts — I have a sketch, not CAD"
Send a hand drawing, photo or sample. We machine aluminum prototypes (usually 6061-T6) with no CAD required, get you a sample to confirm fit, then scale to a batch. Quick-turn aluminum is where we're fastest.
"Custom brackets, plates and enclosures — anodized, repeatable batch"
We machine custom aluminum brackets, mounting plates, enclosures and heat sinks to ±0.025 mm, then clear-, black- or hard-anodize. First sample for approval, then tiered pricing on the production run.
"Replace a damaged aluminum part — match the original exactly"
Send the old part. We measure it, rebuild the geometry and machine a like-for-like replacement in the right grade, matching finish and anodize colour. One-off reproductions are routine; we save the model for reorders.
"High-load parts — needs 7075, not 6061, with certs"
For highly loaded structural parts we machine 7075-T6 with stress relief to control distortion, Type III hard anodize and mill certs. Not sure which grade? Describe the load and we'll recommend 6061, 7075 or 2024.
What Aluminum Buyers Search For
Frequently Asked Questions
We machine all common aluminum alloys: 6061-T6 (most popular), 7075-T6 (high strength), 2024-T3 (fatigue resistant), 5052-H32 (marine grade), and MIC-6 tooling plate. Other alloys available on request.
Yes. We offer clear anodizing (Type II), hard anodizing (Type III), and color anodizing. Specify your anodizing requirements when requesting a quote and we will include it in the pricing.
For most general mechanical and structural parts, 6061-T6 is the right choice — it is strong, machinable, weldable, and cost-effective. If you need maximum strength (aerospace, high-load), choose 7075-T6. For marine or outdoor use, 5052-H32 offers the best corrosion resistance; for fatigue-critical structural parts, 2024-T3. Not sure? Describe your application and we'll recommend.
No — it's an important selection factor. 6061 and 5052 weld well, so choose those for welded assemblies. 2024 and 7075 are generally not weldable by standard fusion methods — they crack and lose strength at the weld, so they're used as machined-from-solid or mechanically fastened parts. If your design needs welding, tell us and we'll steer the grade choice accordingly.
The suffix is the heat-treat/temper, and it matters for both strength and machining. T6 is solution heat-treated and aged for peak strength (common on 6061 and 7075). T651 is the same but stretched to relieve internal stress, so it machines flatter with less warp — preferred for plates and tight-tolerance parts. Other tempers you'll see: 5052-H32 (strain-hardened, marine), 2024-T3 (fatigue). We machine to the certified temper and supply mill certs on request.
Yes. We accept hand-drawn sketches, photos, and rough dimensions. Our engineers convert your input to CAD, send it for your approval, then machine the parts. No CAD software required.
Get Aluminum Quote
Any drawing format accepted. Reply in 24h.
// Qty & price
1 pc
Sample price
Confirm fit before a run
3–10
Unit price drops
Setup cost shared
10+
Best price
All tiers quoted upfront
- →No distributor — you pay the maker directly
- →CAD saved after first order — reorder anytime at lower unit price