Aluminum housings
Pockets, mounting holes and mating faces for custom enclosures. Identify cover alignment, sealing faces and any surfaces that must remain free of finish.
Aluminum housings, brackets and turned parts
Mounting brackets
Mounting faces, hole patterns and angled features for assemblies. Include the mating-part information that determines position, clearance and fit.
Fixture plates
Locating holes and reference faces for tooling and fixtures. Define the datums and flatness requirements that matter in the assembled condition.
Bushings and sleeves
Internal and external diameters for round components. State the intended fit, surface condition and whether the size applies before or after finishing.
Flanges and hubs
Turned diameters with faces and mounting holes. Identify bore fit, runout and any secondary milling features on the same drawing.
Ported blocks
Blocks with intersecting holes, threads and machined faces. Define port standards, burr-removal needs and any specified cleanliness or leak test.
Choosing an aluminum alloy for your part
6061 for general-purpose parts
A useful starting point when moderate strength, corrosion resistance and finish appearance all matter. Its weldability can also be relevant when a machined component belongs to a larger fabrication.[1]
- Condition to discuss
- T6 / T651, subject to stock form
- Before quotation
- State the temper as well as the alloy, such as T6 or T651, and confirm the required stock form.
7075 for higher-load components
Consider 7075 when the specified strength requirement calls for it. Corrosion protection deserves particular attention; a high-strength alloy is not automatically the right choice for every environment.[3]
- Condition to discuss
- Drawing-specified temper
- Before quotation
- Confirm the specified temper, exposure conditions and protective finish. Do not substitute it for another alloy without approval.
6082 for structural applications
A 6xxx-series option used in structural and general engineering work, including machined plate and bar. It is similar to 6061 in some respects, but the two alloys are not equivalent.[2]
- Condition to discuss
- T6 or specified delivery condition
- Before quotation
- Confirm the material standard, delivery condition and approved alternatives with the design owner.
2024 when the drawing specifies it
A high-strength alloy used for machined components alongside 6061 and 7075. Keep the alloy and condition tied to the actual design requirement rather than choosing from strength alone.[4]
- Condition to discuss
- T3 / T351 or drawing specification
- Before quotation
- Send the complete material callout and intended finish. Confirm availability and documentation for the required product form.
Already have a material callout? Use it as written. Other aluminum grades, cast tooling plate or customer-specified stock can be discussed without treating them as interchangeable. Listed grades are discussion options, not a statement of current stock.
Add My Material SpecificationMilling, turning and five-axis machining for aluminum
CNC milling for pockets and flat faces
Milling is the usual route for housings, brackets and plates with pockets, slots and hole patterns. We review access to each feature and which faces need to share a setup.
View the Machining ServiceCNC turning for round components
Turning suits cylindrical features such as bores, shoulders, grooves and external diameters. Cross-holes or flats may need a secondary operation; include them in the same RFQ.
View the Machining ServiceFive-axis machining for angled features
Multi-face or contoured geometry may justify 3+2 positioning or simultaneous five-axis machining. More axes are not automatically needed; the route depends on access, fixtures and the drawing.
View the Machining ServiceDesigning thin walls, pockets and threaded holes
Thin walls and unsupported features
Show where the wall is free-standing and which faces must stay flat. Thin sections can deflect during cutting; support, workholding and the machining sequence need review.[5]
Deep pockets and internal corners
Allow a practical internal radius where the design permits. Deep features and small corner radii can restrict tool access; identify corners that are truly functional.[5]
Threads used for repeated assembly
Specify the thread size, tolerance and usable depth. Where repeated tightening or pull-out strength matters, discuss an insert and provide its exact specification rather than leaving the choice open.
Clamping areas and visible surfaces
Identify faces where fixture contact or tool marks are unacceptable. Mark cosmetic surfaces separately from functional dimensions so the setup and finish can be planned together.
Which features need a closer review?
No review topics selected.
Anodizing and other finishes for aluminum parts
As-machined surfaces
Keep the machined surface when a separate coating is not specified. Define deburring, edge treatment and the permitted tool-mark appearance.
State any local roughness callouts and protected contact faces.
Bead blasting
Use as a surface-texture step where a matte appearance is wanted. It is a preparation or appearance process, not a substitute for a specified protective coating.
Identify surfaces to exclude and provide an appearance reference.
Type II anodizing
An anodic oxide finish for appearance and corrosion protection. Specify whether a clear or dyed finish is required, along with the governing finish specification.[6]
Agree color acceptance, thickness, sealing and fixture-contact locations.
Type III hard anodizing
Discuss hard anodizing for wear-related requirements. Its effect on a bore, thread or mating face must be considered before the machining dimensions are finalized.[6]
Define the wear surfaces, coating requirements and final finished dimensions.
Conversion coating
Discuss a conversion coating where the specification calls for corrosion protection, paint preparation or electrical-contact performance.[7]
State the exact process specification and any electrical-resistance requirement.
Finish availability and acceptance are confirmed for the actual part. Color names or on-screen images alone do not define an approved cosmetic result.
Specify the dimensions that must fit after finishing
| Feature | What to put on the drawing | What to agree for inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Bores, shafts and fitted diameters | Identify the mating component, required fit and whether the limit applies to the finished part. | Agree how the supplied size will be checked, including any coating or masking condition. |
| Threads and insert features | State the thread standard, class and usable depth; identify features to mask or protect. | Confirm the gauge or agreed check and whether it takes place after the finishing operation. |
| Flat faces and thin plates | Identify the datum system and the condition in which flatness or position is required. | Agree the support and measurement conditions rather than relying on a single overall size. |
| Cosmetic and contact surfaces | Mark visible faces, contact areas, permissible fixture marks and any approved finish sample. | Separate visual acceptance from dimensional inspection and define both in the order. |
Anodizing grows into and out of the aluminum surface. Identify the final acceptance condition before machining; do not apply one assumed allowance to every finish and feature.[6] A single tolerance value would not describe the capability for every size, geometry and coating.
Prepare your aluminum machining requirements
Keep the alloy and temper together
“Aluminum” is not a complete material specification. Include the grade, temper, product form and any required material standard. For 6061, T6 and T651 describe different processing histories; confirm the exact condition rather than silently exchanging them.[1]
Use one matching set of files
Send the 3D model and 2D drawing at the same revision, with units clearly stated. List approved material or geometry alternatives separately, so a quoting option is not mistaken for production approval.
Describe the part in use
Tell us about assembly, surface contact, appearance and operating conditions. These are inputs for an engineering conversation, not a request for software to select an alloy automatically.
Your aluminum parts brief
These choices describe your inquiry. They do not confirm material suitability, stock or an order.
Material records and inspection for aluminum parts
Verify the material before machining
Agree which material record is needed and how it relates to the stock used for your order. A certificate describes the material supplied; it does not replace inspection of the finished part.
Check the dimensions called out for acceptance
Define the characteristics, sampling and report format before production. Where final coating affects a fit, make the finished-part requirement and inspection stage explicit.
Agree the appearance on the actual part
Identify visible faces, finish reference, contact marks and packaging needs. For a new cosmetic requirement, discuss a representative finished sample before approving a production batch.
Confirm who is responsible for each operation
Before ordering, agree which factory or partner handles machining, finishing and inspection. We can coordinate the work or discuss a direct introduction when another company is a better fit.
From an aluminum prototype to a repeat order
Prototype parts
Use the agreed material and the features needed for the test. Identify anything intentionally left out of the prototype, such as a final finish, so it is not mistaken for production approval.
Sample and pilot approval
Record the approved drawing revision, material, finish and inspection requirements. Any proposed change should be reviewed before the next batch is released.
Repeat production orders
Reference the approved specification and flag revisions. Confirm quantity, packing and delivery requirements for the new order instead of assuming every detail is unchanged.
What affects the price of CNC machined aluminum?
Alloy, stock size and material records
The starting stock is part of the cost, not just the finished-part weight. Grade, condition, stock form and required documentation all belong in the RFQ. Ask for alternatives only when the drawing owner permits them.
Machining time and setup requirements
Material removal, deep features, small tools and multiple setups can change the work involved. Keep tight requirements on the features that need them and identify non-critical dimensions separately.
Finishing, inspection and batch size
Compare quotes using the same final finish, inspection scope and quantity. Sample runs, finishing batches, masking, packaging and repeat-order requirements can change the total price even for the same geometry.
How to start an aluminum machining order
Send the current drawing
Include the aluminum grade, finish, quantity and the important assembly requirements.
Resolve open requirements
Review feasibility, any proposed alternatives, inspection and production responsibility.
Approve the order details
Confirm the drawing revision, quoted scope, sample plan and delivery terms before work starts.
Review the supplied parts
Check against the agreed acceptance criteria and record any changes for the next order.
Talk to Kevin about your aluminum parts
My family built its CNC business through exhibitions and long-term customers. I want a new customer to be able to understand our work and ask practical questions without first traveling to China.
Kevin · vetcnc
Our Family and Manufacturing BackgroundI have spent ten years in the CNC industry, following the generation before me. We have multiple factories in China and a network of manufacturing partners. That experience matters most when we can explain what your drawing needs and who will be responsible for the work.
When a project does not fit our factories, we can discuss a partner, coordinate the work, or introduce you directly. The arrangement should be clear before you place an order. Confidence in quality should come with a way to check the material, samples and agreed results.
Questions about aluminum CNC machining
Which aluminum alloy should I choose for CNC machining?
Start with the design requirement: load, environment, assembly, finish and any existing material standard. 6061, 6082, 7075 and 2024 are different choices, not an automatic upgrade sequence. Send the application and current drawing; any alternative needs the design owner’s approval.
What is the difference between 6061 and 7075 for a machined part?
Can 6082 replace 6061 on my drawing?
Not without approval. They share some characteristics but are not equivalent alloys. Confirm the governing material specification, required properties, stock form and finish before accepting a substitution.[2]
Can you work from a 3D model without a detailed drawing?
A model can begin the discussion, but it does not always communicate fits, datums, threads, material condition or inspection requirements. Include a matching 2D drawing for the characteristics that determine acceptance. Open questions should be resolved before manufacturing.
Will anodizing change a bore or threaded feature?
It can. The oxide layer grows both inward and outward, so a coating can affect the finished fit. Mark the final acceptance requirement, masked areas and intended inspection stage. The allowance must match the specified process.[6]
How do I specify a black or clear anodized finish?
Include the process specification, color or appearance reference, visible faces and areas that must be kept free of coating. For parts with a cosmetic requirement, discuss an approved physical sample. A screen image or a color name is not a complete acceptance standard.
Can you make thin-wall aluminum housings?
Share the full geometry, wall locations and the dimensions that must stay stable. Support and workholding have to be reviewed for the specific part; a minimum wall value on its own would not establish whether the housing can be made as intended.
What tolerance can vetcnc hold on aluminum parts?
There is no blanket tolerance for every geometry, size and finish. Send the critical dimensions, fit requirements and any geometric tolerances. Feasibility and the inspection approach must be confirmed for the actual drawing before a precision claim is made.
Can I order samples before a production batch?
Include both the sample quantity and the expected production quantity in your inquiry. We can discuss a sample-approval step and the specification it must represent. Pricing, minimum practical quantities and timing are confirmed with the quotation.
Can you supply material and inspection records?
Specify the required document types, batch traceability and inspection scope with the RFQ. Their availability and responsibility are confirmed before the order; they are not assumed from a generic “quality checked” statement.
What determines the machining lead time?
The drawing review, stock availability, setups, quantity, finish and inspection scope all need to be considered. Provide your requested arrival date and identify any sample-approval step so a realistic schedule can be discussed.
Will my order be made in a vetcnc factory?
We agree the manufacturing arrangement before ordering. Depending on the fit, we may use our factories, coordinate with a manufacturing partner or make a direct introduction. The quotation should make production and communication responsibilities clear.
Request a quote for your aluminum parts
- Matching CAD model and 2D drawing
- Aluminum alloy, temper and required material standard
- Quantity and current drawing revision
- Final dimensions, finish and masking requirements
- Sample approval, records and requested arrival date
Agree confidentiality and the transfer method before sharing sensitive or restricted files.
Material and process references
- Hydro — 6061 Aluminum — Alloy characteristics and temper definitions.
- Hydro — 6082 Aluminum — General machining, structural uses and non-equivalence with 6061.
- Alro — 7075 Aluminum — Strength and corrosion considerations; no supplier property values are represented as vetcnc guarantees.
- Protolabs — Aluminum CNC Machining — Aluminum machining applications and 2024 as a machining alloy.
- Protolabs Network — Designing Parts for CNC Machining — Qualitative guidance on wall support, tool access and internal corners.
- Protolabs — Anodising — Decorative and hard anodizing, and the effect of oxide growth on finished dimensions.
- Protolabs — Surface Finishes for CNC Machining — Conversion-coating functions and electrical-contact considerations.
References support general material and process guidance only. They do not establish vetcnc stock, equipment, certifications, achievable tolerances or the suitability of a specific part. Confirm the agreed drawing, supplier records and order scope. Sources checked September 18, 2026.