Choosing the right CNC material comes down to what your part needs to do.
Does it need to be lightweight? Handle high loads? Resist corrosion? Reduce friction?
At Shapeways, CNC machining is available in Aluminium, Stainless Steel and POM-C, each offering a different balance of strength, weight, machinability and environmental resistance.
Here’s how they compare.
Aluminium: Lightweight and Versatile
Best for: Structural components, aerospace and defence parts, housings, fixtures and lightweight assemblies.
Aluminium combines low weight, good strength and excellent machinability, making it one of the most versatile CNC materials.
Shapeways offers three grades:
- 5083: best suited to marine and corrosion-resistant applications
- 6082: a versatile all-round option for structural and mechanical components
- 7075: the highest-strength option, ideal for aerospace, defence and high-load applications
CNC machining is particularly effective for aluminium parts with pockets, mounting points, threads and other precision features.
Stainless Steel 316L: Strong and Corrosion Resistant
Best for: Medical device components, pharmaceutical equipment, marine hardware and industrial parts exposed to demanding environments.
When durability and corrosion resistance are the priority, Stainless Steel 316L is a strong choice.
It offers high mechanical strength and excellent resistance to corrosion, particularly in environments exposed to moisture, chemicals or cleaning processes.
CNC machining allows complex stainless steel parts to be produced with precise holes, threads, interfaces and sealing surfaces while maintaining the full mechanical properties of the material.
For applications where traceability matters, lot-specific material data can also be provided through EN 10204 3.1 material certification.
POM-C: Low Friction and High Precision
Best for: Gears, bearings, bushings, guides, housings, jigs, fixtures and sliding components.
POM-C is a high-performance engineering plastic that combines low friction, wear resistance and excellent dimensional stability.
Its very low moisture absorption also helps parts maintain consistent dimensions in humid or wet environments.
POM-C machines well, making it particularly useful for precision plastic components, moving mechanisms and assemblies where metal would add unnecessary weight.
How to Choose the Right CNC Machining Material?
| If you need… | Consider |
| Lightweight structural performance | Aluminium 6082 |
| Maximum aluminium strength | Aluminium 7075 |
| Corrosion resistance in marine environments | Aluminium 5083 |
| Strength + high corrosion resistance | Stainless Steel 316L |
| Low friction + lightweight precision | POM-C |
The best material depends on the combination of mechanical load, weight, environment, geometry and production requirements of your part
Find the Right Material with Shapeways
Material selection and design can have a major impact on how a product performs and how efficiently it can be manufactured.
Shapeways combines CNC machining, industrial additive manufacturing and engineering expertise to help hardware teams choose the right material and production process from prototype through production.
Not sure which material fits your application? Talk to Shapeways about your next CNC project.