CNC Machining of Lightweight Materials
Achieve maximum performance with minimum weight. We specialize in the precision machining of a wide range of lightweight metals and high-performance polymers, helping you build more efficient, agile, and high-performance products.
A Spectrum of Choices for Weight Reduction
Lightweighting is a balance of density, strength, and cost. We offer a comprehensive selection of materials to meet your specific strength-to-weight ratio and budget requirements.
Lightweight Metals
Aluminum
The Go-To for Lightweighting. Aluminum offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio at a very competitive cost. It is the most widely used material for lightweighting in nearly every industry.
High-Strength Grade: 7075-T6 (Offers strength comparable to steel at about one-third of the weight).
General-Purpose Grade: 6061-T6 (Provides a great balance of strength, weight, and cost).
Titanium
The Ultimate in Lightweight Strength. Delivers the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any machinable metal. While more expensive, it is the essential choice for mission-critical applications where every gram counts.
Common Grade: Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5).
Magnesium
The Lightest Structural Metal. Lighter than aluminum, magnesium is an excellent choice for applications demanding extreme weight savings, such as motorsport components and portable electronics frames. Machining requires special safety protocols, in which we are experienced.
Lightweight High-Performance Polymers
PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)
The Lightweight Metal Replacement. A high-performance polymer that offers incredible strength at a fraction of the density of steel. It's an ideal choice for replacing metal parts in high-temperature and corrosive environments.
PA+GF30 (30% Glass-Filled Nylon)
Strong, Stiff, and Light. This reinforced plastic provides a significant boost in stiffness and strength over standard nylon, making it a cost-effective material for lightweight structural components.
PEI (Ultem)
Lightweight with Flame Retardancy. Offers a great combination of high strength, rigidity, and inherent flame-retardant properties, making it a top choice for aerospace interior components and electrical housings.
POM (Acetal/Delrin)
Lightweight with Low Friction. A rigid and dimensionally stable plastic that is significantly lighter than most metals. Its natural lubricity makes it ideal for lightweight, moving mechanical parts.
More Than Just Material: Machining for Maximum Weight Reduction
True lightweighting is achieved not just by choosing a light material, but by intelligently removing every gram of unnecessary mass from the part. Our advanced CNC capabilities are key to this process.
5-Axis Machining for Monolithic Parts
We use our 25+ advanced 5-axis machines to transform bulky, multi-part assemblies into a single, streamlined, and structurally optimized monolithic component. This eliminates the need for heavy fasteners and brackets, achieving significant weight savings.
Thin-Walled Machining
Machining thin walls without causing deformation or chatter requires immense skill and the right equipment. Our expert machinists employ specialized toolpaths and fixtures to produce strong, lightweight parts with walls as thin as 0.5mm.
Pocketing & Skeletal Structures
Our advanced CAM software allows us to program complex toolpaths that strategically "pocket out" or remove material from non-critical areas, creating strong, skeletal structures (isogrids) that maximize the strength-to-weight ratio.
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