What Materials Can Be Processed By CNC Machines?

CNC machining enables working on a wide range of materials. In fact, you do not need various machines for CNC machining materials that are different. Most types of CNC machines support multiple materials allowing them to switch between producing different machine parts with a slight change of tooling.

Metals

Metal is one of the most common materials that undergo the CNC machining process. Its hardness makes using manually controlled machining long, arduous, and less precise. CNC machines provide the best and fastest way to work on metal parts.

Some of the metals that are used to manufacture parts with CNC machines are:

Aluminum: Aluminum is not just the most abundant metal on earth but also the most commonly used in CNC machining. Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for lightweight parts that require decent strength.

Magnesium: Magnesium is most commonly utilized for creating the outer body of electronics. This is because Magnesium is 33% lighter than Aluminum, making it perfect for reducing the weight of electronics like laptops.

Titanium: Titanium is one of the toughest materials out there. It undergoes CNC machining for applications in aerospace, the military, and for any other high-grade requirement.

Cast Iron: CNC machining parts from cast iron is very useful as you can produce parts at twice the speed of producing parts using steel, with less wear resistance on tools.

Alloys

CNC machines can work on metal alloys just as well as metals. Here are the common alloys that go through CNC machining:

Stainless Steel: Stainless Steel is one of the more popular varieties of steel. Due to its hardness and other physical properties, it is always shaped by the CNC machining process.

Carbon Steel: Carbon steel is the most widely used alloy in the world. It is cheaper than stainless steel and has higher strength. CNC machines can shape carbon steel with high accuracy.

Brass: Brass is soft and corrosion-resistant. There are numerous varieties of brass with varying proportions of zinc and copper. All these varieties can be CNC machined.

Plastic

Many people are unaware of it, but CNC machining can also be used to shape plastic parts. Common plastics used in modern manufacturing include:

Nylon: Nylon is strong, flexible, and fire-resistant. Nylon CNC machined parts are sometimes used to replace some metal parts since Nylon also has good lubrication properties.

ABS: ABS plastics are often used for applications like injection molding due to their thermoplastic nature. However, for making prototypes, CNC machining ABS is the better way to go.

PMAA: PMAA Acrylic is strong, transparent plastic. Therefore, PMAA is used for replacing glass in items like optical equipment or food containers.

PEEK: PEEK is one of the most expensive plastics with exceptional temperature resistance and physical properties. CNC machining of PEEK finds applications in the aerospace and medical industries.

Wood

Wood is another common material used in CNC machining. Not only that, it is actually quite easy to machine due to its soft nature. The most common application is for making furniture.