Precision Aluminum Alloy Machining

Aluminum Custom Parts Manufacturing

Aluminum is a versatile light metal that combines excellent strength-to-weight ratio with natural corrosion resistance. Like stainless steel, aluminum forms a protective oxide layer immediately upon exposure to air, providing ongoing protection against corrosion. This self-healing oxide film can be enhanced through anodizing, offering additional durability and aesthetic options.

This lightweight material offers exceptional thermal conductivity and machinability while maintaining good mechanical properties. Its density - approximately one-third that of steel - makes it ideal for applications where weight reduction is crucial. Despite its light weight, aluminum alloys can achieve impressive strength levels through heat treatment and alloying additions, providing reliable performance in many demanding applications.

Aluminum's excellent machinability allows for efficient production of complex components with precise tolerances. The material cuts cleanly and can achieve superior surface finishes, often requiring lower cutting forces than steel. While softer than steel, aluminum's combination of light weight, good strength, and excellent thermal conductivity makes it particularly valuable for applications requiring heat dissipation or weight reduction. The material readily accepts a wide range of surface treatments and finishes, from simple anodizing to hard coat processes, allowing for enhanced surface properties while maintaining its core advantages.

Benefits of using aluminum for precision machined parts

Common aluminum alloys we work with

2011 Aluminum

Free-machining aluminum alloy. Contains bismuth and lead for superior machinability, making it ideal for high-volume production. While not as strong as 6061 or 7075, it machines extremely well and can achieve excellent surface finishes. Perfect for parts requiring complex features or tight tolerances.

Material Properties (Scale 1-10)

Material Cost: 7

Machining Cost: 2

Durability: 8

Corrosion Resistance: 9

Temperature Resistance: 7

Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 5

Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"

2024 Aluminum

High-strength aircraft grade aluminum. Offers excellent fatigue resistance and good strength-to-weight ratio. Better machinability than 7075 while providing similar strength levels. Its balanced properties make it suitable for parts requiring both good machinability and high strength.

Material Properties (Scale 1-10)

Material Cost: 7

Machining Cost: 4

Durability: 8

Corrosion Resistance: 5

Temperature Resistance: 6

Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 8

Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"

6061 Aluminum

Most versatile and widely used aluminum alloy. Combines good machinability with excellent corrosion resistance and medium strength. Heat-treatable, weldable, and accepts anodizing well. Its balance of properties and cost-effectiveness makes it the go-to choice for many machined components.

Material Properties (Scale 1-10)

Material Cost: 4

Machining Cost: 3

Durability: 6

Corrosion Resistance: 8

Temperature Resistance: 6

Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6

Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"

7075 Aluminum

High-strength aerospace grade aluminum. Offers the highest strength of common aluminum alloys, nearly matching some steels. While more expensive and slightly harder to machine than 6061, it provides superior mechanical properties. Ideal for applications requiring maximum strength and excellent fatigue resistance.

Material Properties (Scale 1-10)

Material Cost: 8

Machining Cost: 5

Durability: 9

Corrosion Resistance: 6

Temperature Resistance: 7

Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 9

Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"

Common applications

Electronic & Thermal Management

Aluminum's excellent thermal conductivity and lightweight properties make it ideal for electronic housings and heat management components. The material's good machinability allows for complex cooling channels and intricate designs, while its natural corrosion resistance ensures long-term reliability. Aluminum's high strength-to-weight ratio enables large housings and enclosures that remain lightweight yet durable, making it particularly valuable in electronic and HVAC applications where heat dissipation is crucial.

Common Components:

• Heat sinks and thermal spreaders
• Electronic enclosures
• Power supply housings
• LED light fixtures and housings
• Control panel enclosures
• Motor housings
• Heat exchanger components
• Cooling blocks
• Server rack components
• Circuit board mounting frames

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Measurement & Instrumentation

In precision measurement applications, aluminum provides an optimal balance of light weight and stability. Its excellent machinability enables the production of precise instrument housings and components while maintaining tight tolerances. The material's good strength-to-weight ratio allows for robust instrument designs without excess bulk, while its corrosion resistance ensures long-term reliability in various environments. The ability to anodize aluminum also provides enhanced surface hardness and wear resistance for instrument components.

Common Components:

• Pressure gauge housings
• Sensor mounting blocks
• Calibration equipment frames
• Instrument enclosures
• Test equipment housings
• Mounting brackets and supports
• Precision alignment fixtures
• Gauge bodies
• Probe holders
• Measurement device frames

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Fluid Control Components

Aluminum's combination of corrosion resistance and machinability makes it well-suited for fluid control applications. The material can be machined into complex manifolds and flow control components with intricate internal passages. Its good strength-to-weight ratio allows for robust designs that remain lightweight, while its thermal conductivity can help manage fluid temperatures. The ability to achieve excellent surface finishes also makes it suitable for applications requiring specific flow characteristics.

Common Components:

• Hydraulic manifolds
• Valve bodies
• Flow meter housings
• Distribution blocks
• Pump components
• Filter housings
• Coupling bodies
• Flow control bodies
• Pneumatic system components
• Fluid sampling blocks

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Our aluminum machining services

With over 75 years of precision machining excellence, we deliver custom aluminum components that meet the most demanding specifications. From prototype development to multi-million piece orders, our ISO:9001 certified facility specializes in handling complex, high-difficulty work across all aluminum grades.

Our commitment to quality, combined with extensive machining capabilities, ensures your aluminum parts and components are manufactured to the highest standards with competitive lead times.

Core services

CNC Milling

Our advanced vertical and horizontal milling centers with up to 6-axis capabilities excel in precision aluminum machining. We specialize in lightweight HVAC components, complex manifolds, and custom housings where weight reduction is crucial. Whether you need custom aluminum parts for power equipment or precision-machined components for industrial automation, our milling expertise covers all common grades including 6061-T6, 7075, 2011, and 2024 aluminum, with the ability to handle thin-walled and complex geometries.

Multi-Spindle Machining

Specialized in high-volume aluminum production, processing bars up to 1-5/8" and chucking to 6". This service is ideal for large-quantity precision components used in agricultural equipment, power systems, and industrial machinery. We help manufacturers maintain efficiency through consistent, reliable production of complex aluminum parts, optimizing cutting parameters for aluminum's unique characteristics to achieve maximum production rates while maintaining excellent surface finishes.

CNC Turning

Offering complete aluminum turning services for bars up to 4" and chucking to 20" diameter. We excel in manufacturing custom aluminum parts and components for industrial equipment, power transmission parts, and lightweight machine components. Our turning capabilities serve diverse applications from custom HVAC components to precision industrial parts for energy infrastructure, delivering the superior surface finishes and tight tolerances that modern aluminum applications demand.

Swiss Machining

Precision Swiss machining for aluminum bars up to 7/8" diameter and lengths to 4". This specialized service is perfect for small, precise components used in instrumentation, control systems, and high-speed automation equipment. Our Swiss machining capabilities excel in producing tight-tolerance, small-diameter aluminum parts with exceptional surface quality, particularly beneficial for lightweight, high-performance applications requiring precise tolerances.

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Scalable production

Short lead times

Fair prices

ISO-9001 certified

Secondary processes

Range of materials

On-time delivery

75+ years in business

Advanced CNC machining

Rapid prototyping