eMachineShop offers Aluminum, Steel, Stainless steel, Copper, Sheet metal, Brass, Bronze, Wood, Nylon, Acetal, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Acrylic, Plastic, Fiber Glass, Model wax and many more materials - download the software for the complete list. You can also request special materials.
Material Selection Tips
Deciding on the best material for your part can be a challenge.
Generally it is best to first decide on the main factors. For
example, if price and hardness are most important, select the material that has
the best combination of those two values.
Click on a material in the sidebar for more information about a specific material - the material pages give typical uses of the material, properties, etc.
Here are a few tips:
Metals allow for parts of
higher tolerance than plastics.
Plastics can warp slightly over time due
to moisture absorption.
Designing
custom parts with sheetmetal is generally lower cost than machining plate or rod.
Sheetmetal parts can be formed into
numerous shapes and can take simple or complex bends.
By volume, plastics are usually much less expensive than metals.
Materials that don't need finishing may be more economical for short runs (e.g. stainless steel, aluminum, plastics, etc.)
Video correction: There is no longer a need to select material thickness in the material dialog.
"Quite easy to use. Within only about 10 minutes I had it downloaded, installed, and had designed and priced a brass cog with 32 teeth, 1 inch in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. The quote was immediate."
