Materials

A36 carbon steel is one of the most common materials used for laser-cut parts, fabricated components, and general industrial applications. It is widely selected for brackets, tabs, gussets, mounting plates, structural parts, and weld-ready components.

Available forms:

Sheet and Plate

Typical applications:

Brackets, base plates, tabs, gussets, structural parts, mounting components, connection plates, and fabricated assemblies

Finish options:

Mill finish

Pickled & oiled on select offerings*

CNC bending:

Selected sheet thicknesses may also be suitable for CNC bending depending on part geometry and bend requirements. Plate applications are generally laser cut only.

Notes:

A36 is a practical general-purpose carbon steel for many industrial, structural, and fabrication-related applications.

*Pickled and oiled steel is often a strong choice for parts that need a cleaner surface than standard hot rolled material while still supporting fabrication and forming.

1018 cold rolled steel is commonly selected when a smoother surface and more refined appearance are preferred compared with hot rolled material. It is a strong option for parts that benefit from cleaner presentation, tighter consistency, or downstream painting and finishing.

Available forms:

Primarily sheet

Typical applications:

Panels, covers, brackets, tabs, signs, decorative panels, and parts intended for painting or cleaner cosmetic presentation

Finish options:

Mill finish

CNC bending:

Available on qualifying sheet thicknesses depending on geometry and bend requirements

Notes:

Cold rolled sheet is often a good choice for projects where surface appearance matters more than with standard hot rolled carbon steel.

Galvanized steel is commonly selected where improved corrosion resistance is needed without moving to stainless. It is often used for outdoor, utility, and general-purpose fabricated parts where a protective zinc coating is beneficial.

Available forms:

Primarily sheet, with select plate or heavier offerings depending on availability

Typical applications:

Panels, signs, brackets, utility parts, covers, outdoor components, and corrosion-resistant fabricated parts

Finish options:

Galvanized coating

CNC bending:

Available on qualifying sheet thicknesses depending on part geometry and coating considerations

Notes:

Galvanized steel can be a practical option for parts exposed to harsher environments or where coated carbon steel is preferred. Hot dip galvanizing is a separate post-processing service and is not the same as galvanized sheet material. If your project requires hot dip galvanizing after cutting or fabrication, please request a manual quote for finishing review.

Diamond Floor Plate is commonly selected where added traction, durability, and a more rugged industrial surface are needed. It is often used for steps, platforms, decks, trailer surfaces, and protective covers where slip resistance and strength are important.

Available forms:

Primarily plate, with select thicknesses depending on availability

Typical applications:

Steps, platforms, trailer decks, equipment surfaces, walkways, protective panels, and heavy-duty industrial components

Finish options:

Mill Finish

CNC bending:

May be available on qualifying thicknesses depending on part geometry, tread pattern orientation, and tooling considerations

Notes:

Diamond floor plate is valued for its raised tread pattern, which helps improve traction and surface durability in industrial and commercial applications. Because thickness, pattern style, and availability can vary, some projects may require manual review. If you need a size, thickness, or material option not currently listed in the Rapid Quote Tool, please request a Manual Quote.

6061 aluminum is one of the most widely used aluminum materials for laser-cut parts and machined components. It offers a strong balance of strength, corrosion resistance, and versatility, making it a practical option for many industrial and lightweight applications.

Available forms:

Sheet and plate

Typical applications:

Brackets, panels, covers, base plates, equipment parts, machine components, and lightweight structural parts

Finish options:

Mill finish

Brushed finish on select offerings

Mirror finish on select offerings

CNC bending:

Possible on qualifying sheet thicknesses, but bendability depends strongly on alloy, temper, inside radius, and geometry

Notes:

6061 is a versatile aluminum option, but it is less formable than softer aluminum alloys and may require review before designing bent features.

7075 aluminum is a high-strength alloy typically selected where strength-to-weight ratio is more important than ease of forming. It is well suited for demanding structural or performance-oriented applications.

Available forms:

Primarily sheet and plate on select offerings

Typical applications:

High-strength lightweight parts, structural components, performance applications, and demanding industrial parts

Finish options:

Mill finish on select offerings

CNC bending:

Generally limited; review recommended before designing bent features in 7075

Notes:

7075 offers much higher strength than 6061, but it is less weldable and less suitable for bending or forming.

Aluminum Diamond Plate is commonly selected where reduced weight, corrosion resistance, and added traction are important. It is often used for steps, toolboxes, panels, trailer components, and protective surfaces where a durable raised-pattern material is preferred.

Available forms:

Primarily sheet or lighter plate, with select thicknesses depending on availability

Typical applications:

Steps, toolboxes, trailer surfaces, access panels, protective covers, lightweight platforms, and decorative or functional tread surfaces

Finish options:

Mill finish

CNC bending:

May be available on qualifying thicknesses depending on part geometry, tread pattern orientation, and tooling considerations

Notes:

Aluminum diamond plate is a popular choice for projects that need a combination of lighter weight, corrosion resistance, and improved surface grip. Because thicknesses, pattern styles, and availability can vary, some projects may require manual review. If you need an aluminum diamond plate option that is not currently listed in the Rapid Quote Tool, please request a Manual Quote.

304 stainless steel is a versatile corrosion-resistant material commonly used for laser-cut brackets, panels, covers, enclosure parts, and general industrial components. It is often selected where durability, appearance, and corrosion resistance are important.

Available forms:

Sheet and plate

Typical applications:

Panels, brackets, enclosure parts, covers, decorative panels, signs, fabricated components, and corrosion-resistant industrial parts

Finish options:

2B mill finish

#4 brushed finish on select offerings

#8 mirror finish on select offerings

CNC bending:

Available on qualifying sheet thicknesses depending on finish, bend direction, and geometry

Notes:

304 is one of the most common stainless materials for laser cutting and is a strong all-around choice for both functional and cosmetic applications.

316 and 316L stainless steel are commonly selected where stronger corrosion resistance is needed, especially in more demanding or chemically exposed environments. They are often used in marine, washdown, and corrosion-sensitive applications.

Available forms:

Sheet and plate

Typical applications:

Marine-related parts, chemical-exposure components, corrosion-sensitive covers, brackets, panels, and fabricated parts

Finish options:

Mill finish

Brushed finish on select offerings

Mirror finish on select offerings

CNC bending:

Available on qualifying sheet thicknesses depending on thickness, finish, and forming requirements

Notes:

316 / 316L is often chosen when the application requires corrosion resistance beyond what 304 typically provides.

AR400 and AR500 are abrasion-resistant steel plate materials selected for parts that see sliding wear, impact, or abrasive service. These materials are commonly used where longer wear life is more important than cosmetic finish or ease of forming.

Available forms:

Plate

Typical applications:

Wear liners, bucket liners, hoppers, chutes, cutting edges, conveyor liners, truck beds, heavy-duty equipment parts, and abrasion-resistant industrial components

Finish options:

Standard plate surface

CNC bending:

Not currently available for this material.

Notes:

AR400 and AR500 are specialty wear plate materials with more limited availability and size options than standard carbon steel plate. Many non-stock sizes, thicknesses, or project-specific requirements will require a manual quote for review and sourcing. AR500 is generally harder and less formable than AR400.

D2 and O2 tool steels are specialty materials commonly used for wear components, tooling, dies, punches, gauges, cutters, and other parts where hardness and wear resistance are important.

Available forms:

Primarily bar, flat, and plate on select offerings

Typical applications:

Dies, punches, cutters, gauges, wear components, tooling parts, and specialty industrial components

Finish options:

Mill finish on standard stock forms

CNC bending:

Not typically intended for CNC bending

Notes:

D2 and O2 tool steel are commonly supplied in an annealed condition and are typically heat treated after processing to achieve final hardness. If a part will be hardened after cutting or machining, geometry and feature design should be reviewed carefully to help account for distortion, cracking risk, and finish requirements. Availability is limited, and many sizes or non-stock requirements will require a manual quote for review and sourcing.

Duplex 2205 stainless steel is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant duplex alloy commonly selected for demanding industrial environments where standard stainless grades may not provide enough strength or corrosion resistance. It is often chosen for applications involving chlorides, moisture, chemical exposure, or more aggressive service conditions. Duplex 2205 is widely recognized for offering very good resistance to uniform and localized corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking, along with higher strength than common austenitic stainless grades.

Available forms:

Sheet and plate on select offerings

Typical applications:

Chemical-related components, marine and coastal parts, tanks, structural components, brackets, panels, corrosion-sensitive fabricated parts, and industrial equipment exposed to harsher environments

Finish options:

Mill finish

CNC bending:

Not currently available for this material.

Notes:

Duplex 2205 offers higher strength than common 300-series stainless grades and may be a strong option where both corrosion resistance and structural performance matter. Availability can be more limited than 304 or 316, and some sizes or project-specific requirements may require a manual quote for review and sourcing.

Weathered sheet steel is a specialty offering for projects where a weathered steel appearance is part of the final design. It is often used for decorative panels, signs, architectural pieces, and custom fabricated components that benefit from a more industrial or rustic look.

Available forms:

Sheet on select offerings

Typical applications:

Decorative panels, signs, branded features, wall pieces, architectural accents, and custom display components

Finish options:

Weathered / rusted surface on select offerings

CNC bending:

Bending may be possible on qualifying sheet thicknesses depending on geometry, but the forming process can rub, mark, or remove the rusted surface at and around bend areas.

Notes:

Rusted sheet is selected for its weathered appearance, but variation in tone, texture, scale, and oxidation level is normal and should be expected. Cutting, handling, forming, welding, and finishing can all affect the final look. 

Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee an exact visual result or a perfectly uniform appearance across parts or sheets. If the final cosmetic result is critical, a manual quote or project review is recommended.

6061 Aluminum is highly versatile and popular for CNC machining due to its excellent machinability, weldability, and good corrosion resistance. Its moderate strength makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including automotive components, aerospace parts, bicycle frames, and electronic enclosures. It is the most common choice for prototypes and production parts requiring a balance of performance, cost-efficiency, and availability.

7075 Aluminum offers exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and superior hardness compared to other aluminum alloys. It is less corrosion resistant than 6061 but offers much higher mechanical performance. Commonly used for aerospace structures, military equipment, sports gear, and high-performance automotive parts due to its strength and durability. It’s ideal for lightweight, high-stress applications where performance is critical.

304 Stainless Steel provides excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and good machinability. Widely employed in the food processing, kitchen appliances, medical instruments, and general industrial applications for its durability and aesthetic appeal. It performs well in moderately corrosive environments but may not be ideal for saltwater or chemical exposure.

316 Stainless Steel exhibits outstanding corrosion resistance, particularly in harsh chemical and marine environments. It retains high ductility and is commonly employed in marine fittings, medical implants, chemical containers, and pharmaceutical equipment. It offers better performance than 304 in chloride environments and is considered a premium stainless option.

17-4 Stainless Steel, a precipitation-hardened alloy, offers excellent strength, hardness, and moderate ductility. It can be heat treated to enhance mechanical properties and provides excellent corrosion resistance. It is highly valued for aerospace, petrochemical hardware, pump shafts, and demanding structural parts requiring both strength and corrosion resistance.

1018 Carbon Steel is known for excellent machinability, weldability, formability, and high ductility, making it suitable for fixtures, shafts, pins, and various mechanical components. It is commonly used in general-purpose engineering and offers a cost-effective choice for low-stress applications.

4140 Alloy Steel combines superior toughness, high strength, moderate ductility, and fatigue resistance, ideal for gears, shafts, bolts, axles, and high-stress structural applications. It can be heat treated for increased hardness and is widely used in tooling, agricultural, and automotive industries.

D2 Tool Steel is an air-hardening, high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel known for excellent wear and abrasion resistance. It is widely used for manufacturing cutting tools, dies, punches, and blades requiring extended durability. It holds a sharp edge well and is favored in high-volume, high-wear production tooling.

O2 Tool Steel is an oil-hardening steel recognized for its good machinability, stability during heat treatment, and reasonable toughness. Typically utilized for making gauges, punches, dies, and small tool components. It offers a good balance of hardness and machinability for non-complex tooling applications.

Brass is valued for excellent machinability, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and high ductility, making it suitable for plumbing fittings, electrical connectors, valves, gears, and decorative items. Its low friction and anti-sparking properties also make it ideal for use in hazardous environments and fine mechanical assemblies.

Bronze is a durable, corrosion-resistant alloy commonly used in machined parts requiring excellent wear properties and low friction. It's ideal for bushings, bearings, thrust washers, gears, and components in marine or heavy-duty mechanical environments. With good machinability and strength, bronze offers a reliable solution where long service life and reduced metal-on-metal contact are critical. Certain bronze grades also resist galling and perform well under continuous motion.

Copper is known for exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent ductility, and machinability. Frequently machined for electrical wiring, heat exchangers, and cooling systems. Its softness and cost make it less ideal for structural applications but invaluable for electrical and thermal transfer requirements.

Grade 5 Titanium provides an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, high corrosion resistance, and medium ductility, widely used in aerospace, automotive performance parts, marine hardware, and medical implants. It is biocompatible, weldable, and can withstand extreme environments. Titanium is challenging to machine but delivers unmatched performance where weight savings are critical

Inconel 718, a nickel-based superalloy, is recognized for exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness at extreme temperatures. It has lower ductility but excels in aerospace applications, turbine blades, and nuclear reactors. Inconel is difficult to machine but is chosen for applications where performance must be maintained under the harshest thermal and mechanical stress.