Excellent hardness and wear resistance are provided by A2 Tool Steel. This material is frequently used to create fixtures, tools, tool holders, gauges, and punches due to its excellent compressive strength and dimensional stability.

Tool steel has a glossy sheen and is slightly darker than aluminum alloys, similar to other mild steel grades. After machining, black oxide can be used to increase corrosion resistance. Tool steel pieces can also be media blasted or tumbled to produce a range of surface finishes.

Pre-injection molding prototypes frequently employ the inexpensive engineering plastic ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). ABS that has been CNC-machined is a fantastic choice for production-like products where attention to detail and mechanical qualities are crucial. ABS is only available in neutral and black colors.

ABS can be painted and has a somewhat matte surface (like Lego bricks). Additionally, ABS can be powder coated to increase its durability and UV resistance. Depending of their geometry and machining, some faces may appear more glossy. The finish of painted ABS parts will vary on the paint used.

PMMA, which stands for polymethyl methacrylate, is another name for acrylic. Plexiglas and Lucite are also brand names for the material. A common application for this scratch-resistant plastic is in optical applications, tanks, and paneling. It is not advised for delicate or complicated geometries because it can become brittle in thinly walled sections.

In its unfinished condition, acrylic is either transparent or opaque (black, white, and a number of other hues). When machined, clear acrylic will seem frosted or translucent, but different finishing techniques can be used to polish it back to an optically clear state.

Because of its superior strength-to-weight ratio, low price, and ability to be recycled, aluminum is one of the most widely utilized metals in the world. Aluminum that hasn’t been treated often has a dull silver or grey sheen that varies based on the surface’s roughness. To create a variety of finishes, aluminum can be media-blasted, sanded, and hand-polished.

Every Apple laptop over the past ten years is anodized because it offers a number of color possibilities and gives a consistent, smooth feel to the entire device. Anodizing is a common process used to polish consumer goods made of aluminum. Alodine, which comes in clear or gold colors, is frequently used as an alternative protective coating to anodize on aluminum parts.

Due to its greatest lead percentage of any brass alloy, 360 Brass is also known as free-machining brass. There is little tool wear associated with this high machinability. It is utilized for many different parts, including gears, lock parts, pipe fittings, and decorative purposes.

Depending on the surface roughness, 360 Brass has a shiny yellow finish that changes in color. It can be media blasted for a matte texture or hand-polished to make it more shiny (like a trumpet or saxophone).

Bearing 932 Because it contains tin, iron, and zinc, bronze is a high strength alloy with good wear and corrosion resistance. The most typical applications are for thrust washers, bushings, and bearings. Heat treating 932 Bronze is not possible.

Depending on the desired surface quality, the shine of 932 Bronze, which is somewhat darker than copper, will vary. To change its aesthetic appearance, it can be polished or media-blasted.

The outstanding thermal and electrical conductivity of copper alloys 101 and 110 makes them the obvious choice for bus bars, wire connectors, and other electrical applications. Due to its purity (99.99% copper), 101 (also known as super-conductive copper) offers better conductivity, but 110 is typically simpler to process and therefore more affordable. 

Depending on the procedure used to treat the surface, copper has a glossy reddish-orange sheen that varies slightly. To produce a variety of aesthetic finishes, copper can be media-blasted and polished.

A material with low friction and great rigidity is called Delrin (also known as acetal or POM, or polyoxymethylene). It is employed in a variety of products, including musical instruments and vehicle parts. Delrin exhibits outstanding dimensional precision, a reasonably high durability, and little elongation under stress.

phenolic and epoxy-grade industrial laminate, also known as garolite G-10, is a composite material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is also a great insulator and does not absorb water, making it ideal for electronics applications.

The colors of Garolite G-10 are typically opaque and range widely. When machined, it has a matte finish and is smooth.

A slick material known as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is frequently manufactured into plugs and seals. HDPE is a superior electrical insulator and is resistant to chemicals and moisture.

Due of its crystalline structure, HDPE is naturally opaque white, although it is also available in more constrained stock sizes coloured black. It has a waxy finish that is used in applications that require low friction.

The Nylon family of plastics is particularly famous for its Nylon 6/6 material. It is robust enough to withstand permanent deformation under stress, stiff enough to hold its shape, and has a comparatively excellent chemical and heat resistance.

Nylon is most commonly used for screws and spacers on panel mounted circuit boards in the fields of medical devices and electronics insulation.

The many beneficial characteristics of glass-filled nylon include its high rigidity, strength, hardness, toughness, and dimensional stability. This substance can be utilized in assemblies that need electrical or mechanical insulation. Electrical housings, washers, medical gadgets, and aircraft components are a few examples of common applications.

Nylon is available in neutral (milky-white finish with a hint of translucency) and black hues.

PEEK (polyetheretherketone) is an excellent lightweight replacement for most soft metals in high-stress/high-temperature applications. PEEK is additionally resistant to moisture, abrasion, and chemicals. Due to its resistance to temperature change, PEEK is a good material choice for components with tight tolerances.

High-performance PEEK with glass filling has exceptional rigidity, strength, and toughness. Its capacity to maintain dimensional stability despite challenging thermal and chemical conditions is improved by the incorporation of glass fibers. This substance is frequently utilized in microwave, semiconductor, automotive, medical, and aerospace applications.

PEEK may be machined to a range of surface treatments and has an opaque beige color.

Polypropylene (PP), which withstands the majority of solvents and chemicals, is a material that is frequently used for laboratory apparatus and containers in a range of applications. Additionally, PP has an excellent fatigue strength and performs well for sections that are subjected to repeated loads and motions.

Although it also comes in opaque white, polypropylene is often a semi-clear white color.

High-performance engineering plastic with exceptional temperature resistance, dimensional stability, and electrical insulating qualities is polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). PPS is frequently used in high temperature applications such as automotive components, appliances, electronics, medical equipment, and industrial applications due to its superior mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and flame resistance.

When PPS is machined, the finish is opaque and off-white. After machining, it has a matte, smooth look, and depending on the situation, the surface finish can be made smoother or rougher.

Polytetrafluoroethylene, generally known as PTFE or Teflon, is a material that is highly insulating, chemical, solvent, and temperature resistant. Additionally, the plastic is slippery, making it an ideal choice for low-friction applications like bearings. PTFE is available in opaque black or white.

Steel has a finish that is comparable to stainless steel’s, usually glossy and a little darker than that of aluminum alloys. Media blasting or electropolishing are two methods that can be used to achieve different surface finishes on alloy and carbon steels. Fictiv provides several steel alloys, including:

Mild, low carbon steel, or 1018 steel, can be machined, welded, and used in applications where great strength is not necessary, including fixtures and mounting plates. This alloy can be heated treated and is magnetic.

Compared to carbon steel, 4140 alloy steel is often stronger and tougher. 4140 is a fantastic option for driveshafts, axles, and torsion bars since it also offers good impact resistance, fatigue strength, and torsional strength.

Steel has a finish that is close to stainless steel, and titanium grade 5 is the strongest titanium alloy available. It has good corrosion resistance and can be welded. Due to its relative lightness and resistance to both extreme heat and cold, titanium may be preferred over other materials like steel. Aerospace fasteners, turbine blades, engine parts, sporting goods, and maritime applications are a few examples of common applications.

In terms of general appearance, titanium is comparable to the majority of stainless steel grades. Titanium can be media blasted or tumbled to obtain a variety of surface qualities, and passivation can be used to apply a thin, protective layer.

The strong plastic known as Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (or UHMW) has a slick surface and can withstand wear and abrasion. It is also the best material for machine guards and chute/hopper liners because of its excellent impact strength.

UHMW is opaque and available in black or white.

The PEI, or polyetherimide, brand name ULTEM 1000 is a translucent, amber-colored plastic with exceptional toughness, stiffness, and heat resistance. Due to its best dielectric characteristics, ULTEM 1000 is in some applications superior to Nylon and Delrin. Electronics, medical technology, and industrial equipment are examples of common applications.

ULTEM is smooth and slightly frosted when machined.

Steel is coated with zinc, commonly referred to as galvanization, to stop the surface from oxidizing or corroding. The item is covered in flux and then submerged in molten zinc to complete the process. The steel and molten zinc join together to form a layer of protection on the surface.

The component has a pale blue color thanks to clear zinc coating. Black Type II anodizing will seem comparable to black zinc plating in terms of color and finish.

Industries and Applications of C