Properties and machinability for 6061, 7075, 2024, 5052 and the other aluminium alloys commonly machined — tensile strength, hardness, cutting speed and where each one is used.
Complete reference tables and engineering data for aluminum alloys. All values verified against ISO, ANSI, and manufacturer standards.
Selecting the right aluminium alloy is critical for machinability, strength, corrosion resistance, and cost. This reference covers the most commonly machined aluminium grades used in aerospace, automotive, and general engineering.
6061-T6 and 6082-T6 offer the best combination of machinability and chip formation. 7075 produces short, brittle chips that clear easily from deep pockets. 5052 and 3003 are gummy and produce long stringy chips. For high-volume production, 6020 and 6262 (free-machining alloys with lead or tin additions) machine even better than 6061.
T6 indicates solution heat-treated and artificially aged. T651 adds stress relief by stretching after heat treatment (1-3% permanent elongation) before aging. T651 plate has lower residual stress, which means less distortion during machining. For parts requiring tight flatness, specify T651 plate over T6 extruded bar.
No -- aluminium alloys are strengthened by precipitation hardening (aging), not by quenching to martensite like steel. 2xxx (Al-Cu), 6xxx (Al-Mg-Si), and 7xxx (Al-Zn) series are heat-treatable. 1xxx, 3xxx, and 5xxx series are non-heat-treatable and are strengthened only by cold working. Maximum hardness of 7075-T6 is about 150 HB -- similar to mild steel but achieved differently.
Use this reference table to compare aluminium alloys for your machining application. 6061-T6 is the safe default for general machining. For aerospace, 7075-T6 offers the best strength-to-weight ratio among commonly machined aluminium grades.
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