CNC Aluminum Machining: Alloys, Capability and What to Send With Your Drawing

Q: Which aluminum alloys do you machine most often?

6061-T6 for general structural and enclosure work, 7075-T6 where strength-to-weight matters (fixtures, aerospace-style brackets, high-load links), 5052 for sheet-type geometry, and 2011 or 6061 for turned fittings. Alloy choice is confirmed at quotation against the drawing's function.

Q: Can you anodize aluminum parts after machining?

Yes. Anodizing is coordinated as a post-machining step, with masking available where threads, grounding pads or mating faces must stay bare. The machining program accounts for the anodic layer thickness on specified surfaces, so post-coating dimensions stay within the drawing tolerance.

Q: What does aluminum machining cost per part?

Cost is driven by cycle time on the machine, set-up count, tolerance and batch size — not by alloy alone. Aluminum cuts faster than steel, so per-part prices are typically the lowest of the metals we machine for the same geometry. Send the drawing and quantity; a priced quotation returns in 1–2 working days.

Boyang Hardware · Zhongshan, Guangdong, China · 54 machine tools under one roof

Direct answer Boyang Hardware machines aluminum parts on 3-, 4- and 5-axis mills and CNC lathes — 54 machine tools in total, including 6 grinders and 7 EDM machines for critical features. Common alloys are 6061, 7075, 5052 and 2011; anodizing is coordinated after machining with masking where needed. Every aluminum part is inspected 100% on a 3D CMM before shipment, and quotations come back in 1–2 working days.

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3/4/5-axismilling
7075high-strength alloy
100%CMM inspection
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Aluminum alloys we machine — and when each one wins

Table 1 — Commonly machined aluminum grades at Boyang Hardware, matched to typical applications. Final alloy confirmation happens at quotation against the drawing.
Alloy	Character	Typical use
6061-T6	Balanced strength, corrosion resistance, weldable	Enclosures, brackets, baseplates, jigs
7075-T6	Highest strength of the common grades, less corrosion-resistant	High-load links, fixture bodies, aerospace-style hardware — see 7075 machined parts
5052	Good formability and corrosion resistance	Thin-wall housings, panels
2011 / 6061 (turned)	Free-cutting, excellent chip control on lathes	Fittings, bushings, threaded spacers
Cast aluminum (A356/ADC12)	Near-net-shape via die casting, then machined	Complex housings above volume break-even — see the die casting vs CNC comparison

CNC milling of precision aluminum components

From drawing to shipped part

Drawing arrives (STEP + PDF preferred). Tolerances, critical features and finish are reviewed the same day.
Quotation within 1–2 working days, including finish and shipping terms.
Programming and machining on the appropriate mill or lathe; hard datums and critical bores routed through grinding or EDM if specified.
Finishing — anodizing, bead blast, or as-machined — with dimensional correction for coating build where the drawing demands it.
100% inspection on the 3D CMM; dimensional report issued with the shipment.

Design notes specific to aluminum

Aluminum cuts 3–5× faster than steel, so thin walls and deep pockets are cheaper than in steel — but keep walls above ~1 mm to avoid chatter-induced surface marks.
Anodizing adds roughly 5–20 µm per surface; if a bore is dimension-critical, ask for it masked or specify the dimension after coating.
Chip evacuation in deep pockets is the main cycle-time driver; specifying an open-sided geometry where possible reduces cost.

Finishing options for aluminum

Clear or colored anodizing is the default for corrosion protection and appearance; bare "as-machined" is fine for internal components. For conductive contact points, chem-film or masked anodizing is used. Coating comparisons against plated alternatives are covered on the nickel vs chrome coating page.

Honest limits: 7075 is stronger but will corrode in salt environments without anodizing or cladding — if your part sees marine or outdoor exposure, 6061 with a proper finish is usually the better engineering choice, and we will say so. Also, very thin anodized layers do not survive aggressive thread engagement; masked or bare threads are recommended for high-torque fastening.

FAQs

Which aluminum alloys do you machine most often?

6061-T6 for general structural work, 7075-T6 where strength-to-weight dominates, 5052 for thin-walled housing geometry, and free-cutting grades for turned fittings.

Can you anodize aluminum parts after machining?

Yes — anodizing is coordinated as a post-machining step, with masking on threads, grounding pads and mating faces where the coating must not build up.

What does aluminum machining cost per part?

Driven by cycle time, set-up count, tolerance and quantity. Aluminum's high cutting speed makes it the lowest-cost metal we machine for equivalent geometry. Send the drawing for a 1–2 working day quotation.

Do you machine aluminum in small batches?

Yes — no fixed minimum order; prototypes of a few dozen pieces are accepted. Details on the small batch page.