Aluminum 6061

Aluminum 5052

Aluminum 2024

Aluminum 6063

Aluminum 7050

Aluminum 7075

Aluminum MIC-6

Learn more about aluminum for CNC machining.

Copper 101

Copper C110

Learn more about copper for CNC machining.

Copper C932

Learn more about bronze for CNC machining.

Copper 260

Copper 360

Learn more about brass for CNC machining.

Nitronic 60 (218 SS)

Stainless Steel 15-5

Stainless Steel 17-4

Stainless Steel 18-8

Stainless Steel 303

Stainless Steel 316/316L

Stainless Steel 416

Stainless Steel 410

Stainless Steel 420

Stainless Steel 440C

Learn more about stainless steel for CNC machining.

Steel 1018

Steel 1215

Steel 4130

Steel 4140

Steel 4140PH

Steel 4340

Steel A36

Learn more about steel for CNC machining.

Titanium (Grade 2)

Titanium (Grade 5)

Learn more about titanium for CNC machining.

Zinc Alloy

Learn more about zinc for CNC machining.

We can source additional alloys and tempers from within our network of 5,000 machine shops. If you do not see the material stock you are looking for, please choose "Custom" under the material drop-down in the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine℠. You can then submit your quote for manual review and our expert manufacturing team will reach out.

High-strength engineering plastic used for many commercial products.

Learn more about ABS for CNC machining.

A clear glass-like plastic. Good wear and tear properties. Great for outdoor use.

Learn more about acrylic for CNC machining.

Resin with good moisture resistance, high wear-resistance, and low friction.

Learn more about Delrin for CNC machining.

Constructed of an epoxy resin with fiberglass fabric reinforcement, and also called epoxy-grade industrial laminate and phenolic, this material offers high strength and low moisture absorption.

Learn more about garolite G10 for CNC machining.

High-density polyethylene is a moisture and chemical-resistant plastic with good impact strength. The material is outstanding for outdoor applications as well as watertight containers or seals.

Learn more about HDPE for CNC machining.

Offers increased mechanical strength, rigidity, good stability under heat and/or chemical resistance.

Learn more about Nylon 6/6 for CNC machining.

With almost twice the tensile strength of ABS, polycarbonate has superior mechanical and structural properties. Used widely in automotive, aerospace, and other applications that require durability and stability.

Learn more about PC for CNC machining.

Offering excellent tensile strength, PEEK is often used as a lightweight substitute for metal parts in high-temperature, high-stress applications. PEEK resists chemicals, wear, and moisture.

Learn more about PEEK for CNC machining.

Has excellent electrical properties and little or no moisture absorption. It carries light loads for a long period in widely varying temperatures. It can be machined into parts requiring chemical or corrosion resistance.

Learn more about polypropylene for CNC machining.

This material surpasses most plastics when it comes to chemical resistance and performance in extreme temperatures. It resists most solvents and is an excellent electrical insulator.

Learn more about PTFE for CNC machining.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. A general-purpose material. It offers a unique combination of wear and corrosion resistance, low surface friction, high impact strength, high chemical resistance, and does not absorb moisture.

Learn more about UHMW-PE for CNC machining.

Polyvinyl chloride (Type 1) is a highly chemical-resistant synthetic plastic, PVC is commonly in environments exposed to liquids or requires electrical insulation.

Learn more about PVC for CNC machining.

We can source additional CNC machining plastics from within our network of 5,000 machine shops. If you do not see the material stock you are looking for, please choose "Custom" under the material drop-down in the Xometry Instant Quoting Engine℠. You can then submit your quote for manual review and our expert manufacturing team will reach out.

The finish option with the quickest turnaround. Parts are left with visible tool marks and potentially sharp edges and burrs, which can be removed upon request. Surface finish is comparable to 125 uin Ra finish.

The part surface is left with a smooth, matte appearance.

This is a batch-based process that tumbles vibrating media to remove sharp edges and burrs on machined parts. Tumbling can remove machine marks on exterior surfaces. Parts over 8” may require a manual review.

Type II  (MIL-A-8625, Type II) creates a corrosion-resistant finish. Parts can be anodized in different colors—clear, black, red, and gold are most common—and is usually associated with aluminum. Type III (MIL-A-8625, Type III, Class 1/2 "hardcoat") is thicker and creates a wear-resistant layer in addition to the corrosion resistance seen with Type II.

A surface finish for titanium per AMS-2488 Type 2 specification. Also called Tiodize, this finish increases fatigue strength and the wear resistance of a part. Titanium anodized parts are common in aerospace and medical device manufacturing. Non-pigmented titanium anodize finishes will dull shine.

A hard coat anodize process that embeds PTFE to create a self-lubricating, dry contact surface with Type 3 hard coat’s protective properties. This finish can be used on aluminum alloys or titanium and increases the service life of the product. This finish conforms to the AMS-2482 Type 1 Hard Coat Anodizing with Teflon (Non-Dyed).

Provides corrosion resistance and good conductivity properties. Can be used as a base for paint. Can leave surface yellow/gold. Adds very little thickness, about 0.00001”-0.00004”. Chem film will conform to MIL-DTL-5541, TYPE I/II.

Improves corrosion resistance for 200 and 300 series and precipitation hardened corrosion-resistant steels. Thickness is negligible, about 0.0000001”. Conforms to ASTM A967, AMS-QQ-P-35, MIL-STD-171, ASTM A380, or AMS 2700.

This is a process where powdered paint is sprayed onto a part that is then baked in an oven. This creates a strong, wear- and corrosion-resistant layer that is more durable than standard painting methods. A wide variety of colors are available to create the desired aesthetic.

An electrochemical process cleans steel parts to reduce corrosion and improve appearance, by making the metal brighter. Removes about 0.0001”-0.0025” of the metal. Conforms to ASTM B912-02.

Provides uniform nickel coating which offers protection from corrosion, oxidation, and wear on irregular surfaces. The finished part will be brighter. Thickness starts at .0001”. Conforms to MIL-C-26074.

Silver offers high solderability and electrical conductivity but is susceptible to tarnish. Conforms to AMS QQ-S-365D. Thickness is about 0.00002” - 0.0003.”

Gold Plating provides good corrosion and tarnish resistance with excellent solderability. Default application specification is MIL-G-45204 and ASTM B488, CLASS 00, 0, OR 1. Thickness is about 0.00002" - 0.00005."

Provides uniform zinc coating which offers protection from corrosion, oxidation, and wear on irregular surfaces. Conforms to ASTM B633-15.

CNC machining uses subtractive processes, which means feedstock is machined to its final form by subtracting and removing material. Holes are drilled, lots and pathways are bored, and metal stock is shaped into new material with varying tapers, diameters, and shapes.

For subtractive manufacturing, shapes are achieved by the subtraction of material. This contrasts with other types such as additive manufacturing — where materials are added, layered, and deformed to a specified shape. It also contrasts with injection molding where the material is injected in a different state of matter, using a mold, and formed to a specified shape.

CNC machining is versatile — and can be used with various materials, including metals, plastics, wood, glass, foam, and other composite materials. This versatility has helped make CNC machining a popular choice across industries, enabling designers and engineers to fabricate products efficiently and precisely.

In traditional machining, a skilled machinist operates a machine, removing or forming metal. This is done according to specifications provided by designers and engineers, usually through an engineering drawing or blueprint. They use turn wheels, dials, switches, chucks, vices, and a variety of cutting tools made of hardened steel, carbide, and industrial diamond, then use measurement instruments to ensure all of the dimensions are correct.

CNC machining performs the same function as traditional machining — metal cutting, drilling, milling, boring, grinding, and other metal forming and removal functions — but it uses computer numerical control rather than manual control by a machinist. It is automated, driven by code, and developed by programmers. It is about as precise the first time of cutting as the 500th. Widely used in digital manufacturing (and sometimes in low-volume production runs), it can be revised and altered for modifications and different materials.

This type of machining is much more precise and has superseded traditional machining (though not entirely) in manufacturing, fabrication, and industrial production. It uses mathematical coordinates and computing power to achieve the same end with the greatest accuracy. Specifically, computer numerical control uses Cartesian coordinates. These are spatial coordinates — in several dimensions — using coordinates and axes. The automation of cutting tool machines controls its cutting, boring, drilling, or other operation using the numerical control of a computer that reads the coordinates. These coordinates were designated by engineers in the product’s digital drawing and design.

CNC machining is widely used across industries. It is common in aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, robotics, agriculture, and other fields that frequently use metal parts. It is also widely used in medical devices, household goods, energy, oil and gas, and other consumer applications. It is one of the most common manufacturing processes in the world.

During World War II, the United States was quickly churning out ships, aircraft, and vehicles for the military. And even once the war ended, production kept up as the country experienced a post-war boom in home construction, infrastructure expansion, and transportation. Naturally, engineers and designers needed tools to help them efficiently meet the growing demand for industrial products.

Enter CNC machining. John T. Parsons, who worked in the production of helicopter rotor blades, was one of the first people to champion CNC machining. He and his colleagues at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio used interpolation curves, which could be applied to machining with computational methods, to achieve the complex tapers required for rotor blades. As Parsons’ company got called upon to make more and more complex aircraft parts, they turned to computational methods to achieve their desired shapes.

This was partly the genesis of CNC machining. Building off of Parsons’ innovations, MIT’s Servomechanisms Laboratory later developed a working machine able to use computational methods to fabricate precise machine parts. Their servo-mechanisms were able to use the Cartesian coordinates — the numerical control — to steer the machine and its moving parts, to fabricate with automated precision. Such automation only grew more sophisticated through the rest of the twentieth century and continues to develop today.

We offer (6) different inspection options on the Modify Parts window under the Inspection tab in the quoting platform. All machined and sheet metal parts will receive a standard inspection included in the part price and lead time. See more on our inspections and sampling.

• +.005”/-.005” local tolerances across most geometries in metals, +/- 0.010" for plastics.  Will vary for large parts, specifically when holding flatness over large parts after heat treatment. 
• Finish requirements for “As Milled” finish will have a minimum 125 surface finish for CNC parts.
• All fabricated parts have a 0.010” dimensional and 1° angular tolerance.
• Tapped holes not explicitly called out as Features on the quoted CAD model may be machined to the diameters specified in that model.
• No surface treatments (e.g. anodize, bead blast, iridite, powder coat, etc.) will be applied unless you have paid for them and we have specifically acknowledged them.

Xometry has significant capabilities in machining through our shop services and the Manufacturing Partner Network. In general, here are some guidelines for machine size but if you do have a quote that pushes to RFQ please make sure to request a quote review so we can take a look!

‣ 5 Axis Machining up to 26″
‣ 4 Axis Machining up to 36″
‣ 3 Axis Machining up to 60″
‣ Dual Spindle Lathes with 32″ Swing, 18″ Max Diameter, and 8″ Chuck
‣ Wire EDM with a part depth of 18″