When choosing a material for your prototyped component, aluminum offers versatility for a wide range of applications. From consumer goods—like pots, pans, and furniture—to the aerospace and marine components needing rust resistance, machined aluminum alloys provide several advantages.
Aluminum also offers specific benefits during prototyping phases of product development, making it an ideal choice when testing a product’s form and fit.
Plethora’s 3-axis and 5-axis CNC milling and turning capabilities produce aluminum components for applications in:
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We machine various aluminum alloys in different forms and sizes for our customers’ custom aluminum prototyping projects.
Compared to plastics or steel, aluminum alloys meet the needs of many industries and applications.
Top Benefits of Aluminum |
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Resists scratches, dents, ultraviolet radiation, and corrosion. |
Strength and reliability that surpasses all plastics. |
Higher reflective coefficient, electrical conductivity, and heat conductivity than plastic or steel. |
Stands as a lightweight, robust alternative to steel. |
Absorbs shock better than steel. |
Doesn’t burn or release toxic gases and is recyclable. |
Aluminum alloy types vary in strength, formability, weldability, machinability, and accepting heat treatment.
The vast majority of machined aluminum parts use aluminum alloys 6061 (AA 6061) and 7075 (AA 707:5). Plethora keeps inventory of 6061 and 7075 in stock, and can secure other aluminum alloys within 24 hours upon request.
Although Alloy 6061 and Alloy 7075 differ in ductility and strength, many industrial applications use both types of alloys:
Consumer goods also leverages aluminum’s properties:
Our machining customers appreciate the combination of clean, smooth finishes and toughness given by aluminum alloys. The high reflective coefficient seen with aluminum allows us to provide different finishes and respond to your design’s unique preferences.
The combination of lighter weight, strength, and ease of fabrication makes AA 6061 a favorite of the designers we work with because those properties translate into the ability to rapidly produce and test prototypes.
At Plethora, we provide precision CNC milling and turning of aluminum for prototype designs in various applications. Our use of proprietary software used alongside skilled machinists allows us to produce precise components in a matter of days.
We specialize in accommodating the tight tolerances and complex geometries required for various industries and take pride in producing the highest quality prototype components.
Give us a call at 415-726-2256 to learn more about our aluminum prototyping services, or upload your design files to Quote My Part to get your project started today.