Grade examples are for discussion, not a live stock list. Availability, material records and machining feasibility are confirmed for each order.
| Your priority | Tell us about | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Low part weight | Part envelope, weight limit and load case. | Compare actual grade properties, not the metal family alone. |
| Corrosion or chemical exposure | Fluid, cleaning agents, temperature and contact with other metals. | Confirm the environment before accepting a corrosion-resistance claim. |
| Mechanical load and wear | Loads, sliding contacts, mating parts and the required hardness. | Separate strength, stiffness and wear requirements; they are not interchangeable. |
| Heat or electrical transfer | Working temperature, conductivity target and contact faces. | Review surface treatment as well as the base material. |
| Appearance and assembly | Visible faces, color sample, fits and acceptable tool marks. | Identify cosmetic faces separately from dimensionally critical features. |
Use this as a discussion checklist, not an automatic material recommendation. The selected grade must meet the actual design and service conditions.[1]
Write the complete grade and condition, not just “aluminum” or “steel.” Keep the drawing, CAD file and purchase order consistent.
Include the applicable specification and revision when your project calls for one. Discuss a proposed substitute before changing the material.
Identify fits, datums, threads and any dimensions that apply after heat treatment or coating.
Tell us whether you need material certificates, batch identification or specific test results so they can be addressed in the quotation.
This brief stays in your browser. It is not a quotation or an engineering approval.
Flat faces, pockets, slots and hole patterns in blocks, plates and housings.
Discuss tool access, corner radii and any thin sections.
View cnc millingDiameters, bores, grooves and threads in shafts, bushings and rotational parts.
Identify fits, thread details and any off-axis features.
View cnc turningMulti-face or contoured geometry that needs additional tool orientations.
Review the model before deciding on indexed or simultaneous machining.
View 5-axis machiningPockets, mating faces and internal clearances.
Bore size, outside diameter and mating fits.
Hole patterns, datums and mounting surfaces.
Bolt circles, sealing faces and concentric features.
The part images show geometry only. They do not identify a material grade or represent completed customer work.
| Part material | Options to discuss | Confirm on the drawing |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum parts | Anodizing, conversion coating or an agreed painted finish. | State color, cosmetic faces, masking and finished dimensions. |
| Stainless parts | Passivation, polishing or another specified treatment. | State the purpose, surface requirements and applicable specification. |
| Carbon and alloy steel | Heat treatment or a specified protective finish. | Confirm final hardness, treatment order and coating allowance. |
| Copper and brass | As-machined, polished or plated surfaces as specified. | Identify electrical contact areas and any composition restrictions. |
| Titanium and nickel alloys | A grade- and application-specific finishing plan. | Discuss the governing specification and any post-treatment inspection. |
Do not leave a critical fit to a generic finish note. Identify the surfaces that must be measured in the final supplied condition.
Agree which records are required and how the material designation and batch will be identified. A generic certificate should not be treated as evidence for a specific delivery.
Identify critical characteristics and agree the inspection method, sample size and report format before production.
A material certificate and a dimensional report answer different questions. Include any needed hardness, finish or other checks in the order requirements.
Know which factory will produce the part, who coordinates outside processes and who handles acceptance questions.
Grade, size, stock form and any specified condition affect the starting material and purchasing route. A low raw-material price does not by itself establish the lowest finished-part price.
Tool access, stock removal, setup changes, tight features and additional treatments all belong in the same review. Alloy and heat treatment affect how the material cuts.
Compare the same grade, drawing revision, quantity, finish and inspection scope across quotations. State sample quantities separately from a forecast or a later repeat order.
Ask for an alternative only where the design permits it. Any change of grade, condition or acceptance requirements needs agreement before manufacture.[3]
Send the model, matching drawing, grade, quantity and intended use.
Clarify material condition, critical dimensions, finishing and the records needed.
Agree manufacturing responsibility, scope, price, timing and any sample approval.
Reference the approved revision and report any changes before repeating production.
“I want you to understand who is making your parts and what has been agreed—not have to guess from a website.”
Kevin · vetcnc
Read our company storyOur family has worked in machining since my father’s generation. My ten years in the CNC industry and our factories in China are the starting point for a direct conversation about your project.
When a requirement is outside the right fit for our factories, we can discuss a manufacturing partner, coordination through vetcnc or a direct introduction. The arrangement and responsibilities should be clear before you place an order.
This page covers aluminum, stainless steel, carbon and alloy steel, titanium, brass, copper and Inconel alloys. Send the exact grade, material condition and drawing requirements. The review confirms suitability, availability and the manufacturing arrangement for your order.
Yes, you can send the material designation and applicable specification for review. Listing a metal family does not mean every grade, stock form or condition is available. We will need to confirm the actual requirement before quoting.
An exact grade supports a more definite quotation. When the choice is still open, describe the part’s function, loads, environment and required properties. Potential alternatives can be discussed, but the final choice needs engineering approval for your application.
Do not assume that two differently named grades are interchangeable. Supply the required standard, composition and properties. Any proposed substitution should be reviewed and explicitly approved before purchasing or machining the material.
A 3D model and its matching 2D drawing are a useful starting point. Include the part number, revision, units, grade, condition, tolerances, threads, surface finish, order quantity and any required records. Agree confidentiality before sharing restricted files.
No universal tolerance is promised on this page. Feature size, geometry, material condition, workholding, finishing and the inspection approach all need review. Mark the critical characteristics on the drawing rather than applying a tight tolerance to every surface.
Include the required document type, specification and traceability expectations in the inquiry. Availability and scope must be confirmed for the particular order. A material certificate does not replace dimensional inspection of the finished part.
Share both the initial quantity and your later plans. Agree the purpose of the sample, its material and finish, and the approval requirements. Keep later production quantities distinct from a non-binding forecast.
Not necessarily. Compare the full manufacturing scope, including stock, setups, machining, treatment, inspection and quantity. A material change is only useful when the alternative still meets the part’s requirements.
The appropriate manufacturing arrangement is confirmed during project review. Where a partner is needed, discuss whether vetcnc coordinates the work or introduces you directly, and agree who is responsible for production, records and communication.
Agree confidentiality and the transfer method before sharing sensitive or restricted files.
These references support general material guidance. They do not establish vetcnc stock availability, certification or process capability. Confirm the actual grade and requirements for each order.