CNC Machining Aluminum Parts
Custom aluminum parts, machined fast and to spec
Aluminum is the workhorse of CNC machining: light, strong, corrosion resistant and quick to cut. It
runs at high spindle speeds with clean chip control, so parts come off the machine fast, hold tight
tolerances and take a wide range of finishes, from a clean anodize to a bright polish. That keeps the
cost per part low without giving up quality, which is why it is the first material most engineers
reach for.
Davantech machines aluminum to print at our factory in Dongguan, China, with European engineering
management. We run the three grades most parts call for, 6061, 6082 and 7075, on CNC mills and
lathes, from single prototypes through to production, with no minimum order. Send a file and you
usually have a quote within 24 hours. Whether you need one machined prototype to check fit or a
repeat production order, the same team quotes, cuts, finishes and inspects it.
This page covers the grades we machine, our capabilities and tolerances, how to design a part for
CNC, the finishes on offer and the parts aluminum suits best. Aluminum machining is part of our
CNC machining service. For a deeper look at the metal, see the
aluminum alloys guide, and for why buyers source
parts from us, read CNC machining in China.
6061, 6082 and 7075, the alloys we machine
Most aluminum parts are made from one of these three. The grade sets the strength, the anodizing
quality and the price, so it is worth getting right.
Most popular
Note: 6061 is the default for a reason, it balances strength, machinability and a clean anodized finish. If your drawing calls a different alloy, we source to spec and provide material certificates on request.
6061-T6 is the alloy most machined parts are cut from. It has a good strength-to-weight
ratio, anodizes cleanly and machines with almost no drama, which is why most brackets, housings and
enclosures use it. If a drawing does not name a grade, 6061 is usually the safe assumption.
6082-T6 is the structural grade favoured in Europe and the UK. It carries more load
than 6061 and resists corrosion well, so it suits frames, mounts and parts that take real stress. It
machines a touch slower than 6061 but holds tolerance just as well.
7075-T6 is the high-strength, aerospace-grade alloy, approaching some steels in
strength while staying light. Use it where a part is highly loaded or weight-critical. It costs more,
anodizes less cosmetically and is less corrosion resistant than 6061, so it is a choice for
performance rather than looks.
Why engineers reach for aluminum
It is not just that aluminum is cheap to cut. It hits a balance of weight, strength and finish that
few materials match, which is why it turns up in everything from enclosures to robot arms.
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Light but strong
At about 2.7 g/cm³, aluminum is roughly a third the weight of steel, yet the right alloy and temper give it a high strength-to-weight ratio. That matters for anything that moves, flies or has to be carried, and it lowers shipping weight on volume parts.
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Fast and cheap to machine
Aluminum cuts at high spindle speeds with clean, well-behaved chips, so cycle times are short and tool wear is low. Shorter cycles mean lower machining cost, which is why aluminum prototypes and small batches are so economical.
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Corrosion resistant
Aluminum forms a thin, self-healing oxide layer that resists everyday corrosion with no coating at all. Anodizing thickens and seals that layer for harsher environments, and unlike paint it will not chip off.
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Anodizing options
It takes clear, black or colored anodizing, plus hard anodizing for wear surfaces. One part can be both functional and cosmetic, and color can separate product variants without a separate paint step.
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Conductive and non-magnetic
Aluminum conducts heat and electricity well and is non-magnetic, which makes it the default for heat sinks, cooling plates and RF or electronics enclosures where steel would interfere.
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Fully recyclable
Aluminum recycles repeatedly without losing its properties, and recycled stock uses a fraction of the energy of primary metal, so it is a lower-footprint choice for production volumes.
Designing aluminum parts that machine cheaply
A few choices in CAD decide how fast and how cheaply a part machines. Keep these in mind and your
quote comes back lower, with fewer questions from us.
Not sure how to call something out? Our guide to CNC tolerances
shows how to specify them, and how much CNC machining costs
breaks down what actually moves the price. Or just send the model and we will flag anything in the free DFM review.
What we can machine and deliver
- Processes3 and 4-axis milling, CNC turning, threading, tapping, reaming
- Alloys6061, 6082, 7075 (others to spec)
- Critical tolerancedown to ±0.025 mm
- General toleranceISO 2768, around ±0.05 mm
- Finishesanodize, bead-blast, brushed, polished
- Certificatesmaterial / mill certs on request
- DFMfree review before we cut
- Inspectionfull QC to ISO 9001:2015, reports on request
From CAD file to finished part
Five steps, whether it is one prototype or a production run.
Finishes for aluminum parts
Anodizing is what sets aluminum apart: it seals the surface, adds wear and corrosion resistance and
comes in colors. Along with blasting and brushing, it covers most jobs.
Anodizing comes in two families. Type II, decorative anodizing, adds corrosion resistance and takes
color, and is what most enclosures and cosmetic parts use. Type III, hard anodizing, builds a
thicker, harder layer for wear surfaces and sliding parts. We can mask threads and critical bores so
they stay to size through the process.
Also available: powder coating and wet paint on request, and laser or ink marking for logos and part numbers. Tolerances typically hold to ±0.025 mm on critical features, general dimensions to ISO 2768.
Parts we machine in aluminum
Aluminum shows up wherever weight, heat or looks matter. Its mix of light weight, conductivity and a
clean anodized finish makes it the first choice across electronics, machinery and robotics. These are
the jobs it does most for our customers.
- Housings and enclosures
- Front panels and faceplates
- LED and sensor parts
- Connector bodies
- Brackets and plates
- Adapters
- Standoffs and spacers
- Mounting hardware
- Heat sinks
- Cooling plates
- Thermal blocks
- Housings for power electronics
- Frames and arms
- Jigs and fixtures
- End effectors
- Prototype parts
If your part sits outside these, it almost certainly still suits aluminum. Send the drawing and we
will tell you the best alloy and finish for the job.
Why buyers machine aluminum with us
Plenty of shops can cut aluminum. Here is what you get by sending the job to Davantech.
- No minimum order: from a single prototype to a full production run, priced either way.
- Fast quotes: usually within 24 hours of receiving your drawing or STEP file.
- ISO 9001:2015: full inspection before parts ship, with material certificates and reports on request.
- European engineering management: your drawings are read and reviewed the way Western customers expect, which cuts back-and-forth.
- Free DFM up front: we flag thin walls, tight tolerances and cost drivers before cutting, not after.
- One supplier for more: brass, stainless and engineering plastics machined alongside aluminum, plus finishing and assembly under one roof.
Aluminum machining questions
Which aluminum grade is best for CNC machining?
6061 for most parts, it has the best mix of machinability, strength and clean anodizing. Choose 6082 for higher-strength structural parts, and 7075 when you need the highest strength. We machine all three and will advise the right one for your part.
What tolerances can you hold on aluminum parts?
General dimensions to ISO 2768, around plus or minus 0.05 mm, down to plus or minus 0.025 mm on critical features. Send your drawing and we will confirm what is achievable before cutting.
Can you anodize aluminum parts?
Yes. Clear, black or colored anodizing, plus hard anodizing for wear resistance. Bead-blasting, brushing and polishing are also available, and powder coating on request.
Do you machine prototypes and small batches?
Yes, from single prototypes and small batches through to full production, with no minimum order quantity.
How fast can you quote and deliver?
Quotes usually come within 24 hours of receiving your file. Lead time depends on the part and finish, and many orders ship in days rather than weeks.
Do you provide material certificates and inspection reports?
Yes. Material or mill certificates and dimensional inspection reports are available on request, under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system with full inspection before parts ship.