In the CNC machining industry, the selection of aluminum alloy directly impacts product cost and quality. As a professional CNC aluminum part manufacturer with years of experience rooted in Shenzhen, Konsdun presents a practical machining test report today, revealing the intricacies of aluminum alloys from Series 1 to 7.
Recommended Reading-Complete Guide to Aluminum CNC Machining: Features, Tips, Parameters & Defect Avoidance
Why Aluminum Alloy Series Selection Matters for CNC Machining？
Many clients, when first approaching Konsdun for a quote, immediately say, "Help me process an aluminum alloy part."
However, different series of aluminum alloys exhibit vastly different performance characteristics. Selecting the wrong material can result in insufficient part strength, corrosion, or even outright scrapping.
We've encountered numerous rework cases caused by material selection errors, so today we must clarify this topic thoroughly.
1-7 Series Aluminum Alloy CNC Machining Difficulty Ranking
Based on years of processing data from Konsdun factory, we rank them in descending order of difficulty:
First tier: Easy Processing (★☆☆☆☆☆)
1 series pure aluminum (1060/1100)
l Processing difficulty: extremely low. The material is very soft and cuts like cutting butter. Konsdun testing found that the tool wear of 1-series aluminum is almost negligible, and a regular coated blade can process hundreds of parts. However, it should be noted that soft materials are prone to sticking to the blade and producing burrs, and chip breakage control should be taken into account.
l Suitable products: radiators, electronic components, decorative parts, conductive parts.
Second tier: Friendly Processing (★★☆☆☆)
3 Series Aluminum Manganese Alloy (3003)
l Processing difficulty: relatively low. Compared to the 1 Series, 3003 has slightly higher strength, but still belongs to the "easy to talk" material category. Our factory points out that the rust prevention performance of the 3 series is significantly better than that of the 1 series, making it an ideal choice for outdoor equipment.
l Suitable products: outdoor computer cases, air conditioning accessories, kitchenware, pressure vessels.
Third tier: Requires certain skills (★★★☆☆)
5 Series Aluminum Magnesium Alloy (5052/5083)
l Processing difficulty: above average. The addition of magnesium element makes the 5 series prone to sticking, and Konsdun suggests using cutting oil with high sulfur content to improve it. In addition, special attention should be paid to ventilation and fire prevention for the dust generated during the processing of 5 series materials.
l Suitable products: ship accessories, marine equipment, pressure tanks, transportation parts.
6-series aluminum magnesium silicon alloy (6061/6063)
l Processing difficulty: Medium, it is the material that tests the manufacturer's basic skills the most. Konsdun emphasized that 6061 may seem ordinary, but achieving both dimensional accuracy and surface quality requires considerable process accumulation. The difference between 6061 parts from good manufacturers and general manufacturers is significant.
l Suitable products: automation equipment, consumer electronics, fixtures, optical instruments (covering almost all industrial fields).
Fourth tier: High difficulty (★★★★☆)
2-Series Aluminum Copper Alloy (2024)
l Processing difficulty: high. The hardness of 2024 is causing headaches for many experienced workers. Konsdun testing found that the cutting force of 2-series materials is more than 1.5 times that of 6061, and the tool wear rate is significantly accelerated. But the strength advantage of the 2 series is obvious, making it a favorite in the aerospace industry.
l Suitable products: aviation structural components, precision instruments, high-strength connectors.
Fifth tier: Hell level (★★★★★)
7 series aluminum zinc alloy (7075)
l Processing difficulty: extremely high. This is almost a ceiling made of aluminum alloy processing. The technical director of our factory admitted that the processing of 7075 requires specialized tool parameters, low cutting speed, and multiple stress relief treatments. Any problem in any link may lead to the scrapping of the parts.
l Suitable products: aviation accessories, robot joints, high-end sports equipment, mold inserts.
Market Quotation Reference for Each Aluminum Series CNC Machining
Konsdun has compiled market data for some regions in 2025 (based on 20mm diameter round bar material):
Delivery Cycle Differences of 1-7 Series Aluminum Processing
The Konsdun order management system shows significant differences in standard delivery times for different series of aluminum alloys.
l 6061/6063: Batch of 1000 pieces, 5-7 working days
l 1 Series/3 Series: Batch of 1000 pieces, 4-6 working days
l 5 Series: Batch of 1000 pieces, 6-8 working days
l 7075: Batch of 500 pieces, 10-15 working days (additional stress relief time required)
l 2024: Batch of 500 pieces, 8-12 working days
Urgent items require an additional expedited fee, subject to our sales confirmation.
Practical Aluminum Alloy Selection Pitfalls & Avoidance Guide
Pit 2: Outdoor products with 6061 not treated
6061 itself is generally corrosion-resistant, and outdoor products must undergo anodizing or other surface treatments.
Q1: Which 1-7 series aluminum alloy is the easiest to machine?
A1: 1 series pure aluminum and 6063 aluminum have the lowest hardness and best machinability, with smooth cutting and low tool wear, suitable for high-surface-quality parts.
Q2: Why are 7 series aluminum CNC processing more expensive?
A2: 7075 aviation aluminum has high hardness and tensile strength, resulting in slow cutting speed, serious tool wear and strict quality control, which increases processing cost and lead time.
Q3: How to choose the right aluminum series for custom CNC parts?
A3: Select materials according to usage scenario, strength requirement, surface finish and budget. Choose 6061 for general structural parts, 7075 for high-strength parts, and 6063 for appearance parts.
Q4: Does aluminum series affect CNC delivery time?
A4: Yes. Easy-to-process aluminum such as 1 series and 6063 has fast delivery, while high-hardness 7 series aluminum requires layered cutting and frequent tool replacement, leading to longer production cycles.
Konsdun's Promise
As a manufacturer specializing in CNC machining, Konsdun is equipped with multiple high-Precision Machining centers and can undertake precision machining services for a full range of aluminum alloy materials from 1 series to 7 series.
If you are worried about selection, Konsdun provides free technical consulting services to help you avoid risks at the source.
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