Aluminum Quick Reference for CNC Machining
Ten aluminum grades a buyer actually meets on CNC drawings, from 6061 and 7075 to 2A12 and die-cast ADC12, with the GB, ASTM, EN and JIS designations side by side, specified strength ranges per temper, hardness, machinability and the machining notes we run on our own floor. Stainless steel, carbon steel and the remaining families follow in the next library batches.
Pick by what the part must do
Click a card to filter the property table below. The search box in the toolbar filters everything at once (try 7075, ADC12, marine, forge).
Property table: 10 grades
Function tags in the table: general=All-round, strength=Strength, fatigue=Fatigue, corrosion=Corrosion, cast=Cast, heat=Heat. Click any value to copy; click the numeric headers to sort.
| Grade | Temper | Rm (MPa) | Rp0.2 (MPa) | HB | Density (g/cm3) | Machinability | Corrosion | Weldability | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 | T6 | 290 - 310 | 240 - 276 | 90 - 95 | 2.70 | B | Good | Good (strength loss in HAZ) | The default CNC aluminum: balanced strength, corrosion and anodize quality |
| 6063 | T6 | 205 - 240 | 170 - 190 | 60 - 73 | 2.69 | B | Very good | Good | Extrusion profiles, heat sinks and framing; excellent finish and anodize |
| 7075 (7A04) | T6 | 530 - 570 | 470 - 505 | 150 | 2.81 | B | Poor (coat it) | Poor (cracking risk) | Highest strength of the common grades; aerospace fittings, molds, robot arms |
| 2A12 (LY12) | T4 | 390 - 425 | 255 - 290 | 110 - 120 | 2.78 | B | Poor (clad or anodize) | Limited | Chinese 2024 equivalent: high fatigue strength for structural parts |
| 2A11 (LY11) | T4 | 375 - 390 | 195 - 225 | 95 - 105 | 2.78 | B | Poor | Limited | General hard-alloy: machine parts and rivets at moderate strength |
| 2A14 (LD10) | T6 | 430 - 470 | 350 - 410 | 125 - 135 | 2.80 | B | Poor | Limited | Chinese 2014 equivalent: forgings, fixture plates, high-load brackets |
| 5052 | H32 | 220 - 270 | 160 - 195 | 60 - 68 | 2.68 | C | Excellent (marine) | Excellent | Sheet metal, enclosures and panels; superb corrosion and forming |
| 5083 | H116/H321 | 270 - 350 | 110 - 250 | 75 - 85 | 2.66 | C | Excellent (marine) | Very good | Welded structures, high load with corrosion; cryogenic service |
| ADC12 (YL113) | F (die cast) | 290 - 330 | 150 - 170 | 80 - 120 | 2.70 | B | Moderate | Not applicable | Die-cast electronics and motor housings; machining allowance small |
| ZL104 | T6 (cast) | 220 - 235 | 180 - 200 | 70 - 80 | 2.65 | B | Good | Good | AlSi9Mg casting: pump parts and housings with weldable, corrosion body |
Cross-standard designation map
The GB grade goes in your drawing; the other columns are what a drawing reviewer in the US, Europe or Japan will look for. A close mark means the alloy family matches with chemistry differences inside the family; confirm the exact standard before substituting.
| GB (this library) | GB note | ASTM AA | EN designation | JIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 | 6061 | AA6061 | EN AW-6061 (AlMg1SiCu) | A6061 |
| 6063 | 6063 | AA6063 | EN AW-6063 (AlMg0.7Si) | A6063 |
| 7075 | 7A04 (close) | AA7075 | EN AW-7075 (AlZn5.5MgCu) | A7075 |
| 2A12 | 2A12 | AA2024 (close) | EN AW-2024 (AlCu4Mg1) | A2024 |
| 2A11 | 2A11 | AA2017 (close) | EN AW-2017 (AlCu4MgSi) | A2017 |
| 2A14 | 2A14 | AA2014 (close) | EN AW-2014 (AlCu4SiMg) | A2014 |
| 5052 | 5052 | AA5052 | EN AW-5052 (AlMg2.5) | A5052 |
| 5083 | 5083 | AA5083 | EN AW-5083 (AlMg4.5Mn0.7) | A5083 |
| ADC12 | YZAlSi11Cu3 (YL113) | 383.0 (close) | EN AC-47100 (close) | ADC12 |
| ZL104 | ZL104 (ZAlSi9Mg) | A360.0 (close) | EN AC-43300 (close) | AC4C (close) |
Machining notes from our floor
Process-level notes behind the machinability letters above: what each grade does in the cut, what it does afterwards, and the treatment decisions that belong in the quotation instead of in rework.
6061-T6
Our default recommendation for machined aluminum. Separate roughing and finishing on stocky parts so the stress shift after heavy removal lands before the final cut. Type II anodize adds 5 to 15 um per side; state whether dimensions are pre- or post-coat.
7075-T6
Cuts with higher force than 6xxx but produces clean chips. Use sharp carbide and flood coolant, avoid rubbing feeds that work-harden the surface. Never fusion-weld a repair: the joint cracks. Chem film or Type III hard anodize carries the corrosion duty.
2A12-T4
Machine it, then protect it: the copper content that gives fatigue strength also drives corrosion, so anodize or clad surfaces are part of the route, not an option. Thin walls distort more than 6xxx; we plan a stress-relief soak on compact parts.
5052-H32
Gummy in the cut: polished rake faces, generous rake angle and a feed that actually cuts, rather than rubs. Ideal for welded enclosures, and the weld zone keeps most of its corrosion behavior.
ADC12
The silicon phase is abrasive, so tool life depends on fine-grain carbide or PCD. Machining opens porosity: vacuum impregnation before finish machining is standard when the part must hold pressure. Surface treatment is conversion coating or paint, not clear anodize.
ZL104-T6
Cast skin is hard on tools: take one clean pass under it before treating the surface as stock. T6 heat treatment goes before final machining so the last cut defines the dimensions.
Free aluminum cheat sheet (PDF)
A two page printable card: the ten grade cross-reference map, the property table by temper and the machining notes, condensed. Enter your work email and the download opens immediately; no signup sequence, no drip campaign. Your address is used once to send the file link and for nothing else.
Where these grades get machined
The library gives you the numbers compactly. These pages carry the same grades with the process plan, the tooling and the inspection that comes with them.
Machining pages by material family
- Aluminium gradesThe grades most often specified for housings, brackets and fixtures.
- Stainless steel gradesCorrosion-resistant parts, plus the heat treatment options behind them.
- Titanium gradesAerospace and medical grades, with the cutting data that keeps them in band.
- Brass and copper alloysFree-cutting grades for fittings, connectors and valve bodies.
How the grade is turned into a part
- CNC millingFrom bar or plate to a finished prismatic part.
- CNC turningTurned parts with the same grade data behind the quotation.
- Equipment listThe machines the listed grades are actually run on.
Verification that comes with the lot
- Inspection and QCMaterial certificate, dimensional report and first article where required.
- AQL samplingHow a production lot is sampled and accepted.
Have a feature that sits at the edge of one of these bands? Send the drawing and the tolerance question with the drawing and we will answer against it.
Related reference pages
Sources
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Design Handbook, 6th ed., vol. 1, ch. 2 nonferrous (OCR pages p1025-p1028) | Wrought aluminum tube and rod mechanical property tables, transcribed and cross-checked |
| GB/T 6893-2010, GB/T 3191-2010 | Wrought aluminum tube and rod specification values |
| GB/T 1173-2013, JIS H5302 | Cast aluminum alloy and die-cast grade values |
| GB/T 3190, ASTM B209/B211/B221, EN 573-3 | Grade chemistry and equivalent designations |