Material Selection Guide for Manufacturing — Metals & Plastics

Material selection is one of the most important decisions in product development. The right material affects performance, cost, manufacturability, and longevity.

Common Engineering Metals

MaterialTensile StrengthMachinabilityCost/kgTypical Use
6061 Aluminum310 MPaExcellent¥25-40General machining, structural
7075 Aluminum570 MPaGood¥40-70Aerospace, high-stress parts
304 Stainless620 MPaGood¥30-50Food, pharma, general
316 Stainless580 MPaFair¥40-65Marine, chemical, medical
Mild Steel (1018)440 MPaExcellent¥5-10Structural, low-cost parts
Alloy Steel (4140)850 MPaGood¥10-20Gears, shafts, tooling

Common Engineering Plastics

MaterialStrengthHeat DeflectionCost/kgTypical Use
ABS40 MPa90°C¥15-25Enclosures, consumer products
Nylon PA680 MPa160°C¥20-35Gears, bearings, mechanical
Polycarbonate (PC)70 MPa130°C¥25-40Impact-resistant, transparent
POM (Delrin)70 MPa115°C¥20-30Precision mechanical parts
PEEK (high-end)100 MPa250°C¥800-1,500Aerospace, medical, extreme

Selection Criteria

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