¶ Materials for Manufacturing: Your Guide to Material Selection
The right material is the foundation of a great part. Selecting the optimal material is a critical decision that impacts your product's performance, cost, manufacturability, and aesthetics. This hub organizes all materials available across our manufacturing processes, helping you navigate the options and make an informed choice for your design.
How to Select the Right Material?
Consider these four key aspects of your project to narrow down your choices:
- Function: What are the mechanical (strength, stiffness), thermal, chemical, or electrical requirements?
- Manufacturing Process: Which process (CNC, 3D Printing, etc.) is dictated by your volume, lead time, and part geometry?
- Cost & Lead Time: What is the budget, and how does material cost affect the overall project economics?
- Aesthetics & Finish: What surface finish, color, or texture is required for the final part?
Explore our material database by process or property to find the perfect match for your project.
¶ Material Selection Hub
¶ 1 🛠 Material Selection Guides & Comparison
Learn frameworks and compare materials across different properties to make an informed decision.
- How to Choose a Material: A Step-by-Step Guide for Designers
- Material Comparison Charts: Strength vs. Weight vs. Cost
- Understanding Material Data Sheets: Key Properties Explained
- Guide to Material Certification and Traceability Standards
¶ 2 ⚒️ Metals
Durable, strong, and conductive metals for structural, functional, and high-temperature applications.
- Aluminum (Lightweight, Good Strength-to-Weight Ratio)
- Stainless Steel (Corrosion Resistant, Strong)
- Steels (High Strength, Wear Resistant)
- Other Metals
¶ 3 🔧 Plastics & Polymers
Versatile materials offering a wide range of properties from high strength to flexibility and transparency.
- Engineering & High-Performance Plastics
- PEEK | PPS-CF | Polycarbonate (PC) | POM | Nylon | ABS
- Standard & Commodity Plastics
- Specialty Plastics & Composites
- PMMA (Acrylic) | Teflon | Carbon Fiber | FR4 | Bakelite | Rubber
¶ 4 🎲 3D Printing Specific Materials
Specialized materials formulated for additive manufacturing processes.
- SLA/DLP Resins
- SLS/MJF Powders
- FDM Filaments
- PLA / PLA-CF | ABS / ABS-ESD7 | PETG / PETG-CF | PC | ASA | PEEK | PPS-CF
- SLM Metal Powders
¶ 5 🔨 Process-Specific Material Considerations
Understand how material choice interacts with specific manufacturing techniques.
- Material Selection for CNC Machining: Optimizing for Machinability
- Choosing Materials for Injection Molding: Flow, Shrinkage, and Cooling
- Sheet Metal Material Guide: Formability, Bend Radius, and Springback
- 3D Printing Material Guide: Process Compatibility and Parameter Tuning
¶ 6 💾 Material Property Deep Dives
Explore the core characteristics that define how a material will perform.
- Mechanical Properties: Tensile Strength, Hardness, and Impact Resistance
- Thermal & Chemical Properties: Heat Resistance and Environmental Stability
- Electrical Properties: Conductivity and Insulation
- Aesthetic Properties: Color, Texture, and Post-Processing Potential
¶ Quick-Find Material by Process Table
Use this table to quickly see which materials are available for your chosen manufacturing process.
| Material Category | CNC Machining | 3D Printing (FDM/SLA/SLS/SLM) | Injection Molding | Sheet Metal | Vacuum Casting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | ✅ (6061, 7075, etc.) | ✅ (SLM) | ❌ | ✅ (5052, 6061) | ❌ |
| Stainless Steel | ✅ (304, 316, etc.) | ✅ (SLM) | ❌ | ✅ (304, 316, etc.) | ❌ |
| Tool & Mild Steel | ✅ (4140, D2, 1018, etc.) | ✅ (SLM - Tool Steel) | ❌ | ✅ (1018) | ❌ |
| Engineering Plastics | ✅ (PEEK, PC, Nylon, ABS, POM) | ✅ (FDM: PEEK, PC, etc.) | ✅ (ABS, PC, Nylon, POM) | ❌ | ✅ (Simulated) |
| Standard Plastics | ✅ (PP, PE, PMMA) | ✅ (FDM: PLA, PETG, etc.) | ✅ (PP, PE, PS, PVC) | ✅ (PMMA) | ✅ (Simulated) |
| Elastomers & Rubber | ✅ (Rubber) | ✅ (FDM/SLS: TPU) | ✅ (TPU) | ❌ | ✅ (Simulated) |
| Composites | ✅ (Carbon Fiber, FR4) | ✅ (CF-filled filaments) | ❌ | ✅ (Carbon Fiber) | ❌ |
| Other Metals | ✅ (Titanium, Brass, Copper) | ✅ (SLM: Titanium) | ❌ | ✅ (Copper, Brass) | ❌ |
Next Step:
Found a potential material? Click on its specific data sheet page for detailed properties. If you don’t see the exact material you need, please contact your re-sale or note it in the “please enter custom materials” section of our online quoting system.