Manufacturing is a significant part of the American economy. Manufacturing industries have been called “engines of growth.” In 2023, U.S. manufacturing contributed $2.9tr to GDP, over 10% of all economic output. Manufacturing is highly diverse. Some industries, like furniture manufacturing, utilize fabrics and wood. Others, like the automotive and aerospace industries, utilize highly durable manufacturing materials.
The Role of CNC Machining in Today’s Manufacturing Industries
Today’s manufacturing processes are more reliant on advanced automated equipment and CNC technology to complete complex manufacturing tasks efficiently. CNC machining contributes to improved worker safety, better working conditions, greater manufacturing precision and consistency, reduced risk of human error, less waste, reduced production costs, and streamlined and faster production.
There are six types of CNC machines: milling machines, lathes, routers, plasma cutters, laser cutters, and electric discharge machines. Each of these can work on different types of materials, including durable manufacturing materials like steel, titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum, along with many other materials, including brass, copper, plastics, and wood.
The Top 13 Most Durable Manufacturing Materials
The top 13 most durable manufacturing materials are:
- Tungsten. The strongest metal in the world. It is used in bullets, missiles, and more.
- Steel. The second strongest and most widely used metal in the world. It is used in engineering and construction and is one of the most widely recycled metals.
- Chromium. A hard metal that is often used as an alloy in making stainless steel. It is used in the plating of automobiles.
- Titanium. A metal that has a high corrosion resistance and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It is commonly used in aerospace and medical applications.
- Tungsten. A metal with one of the best tensile strengths of any metal.
- Iron. The most common element in the world. It is extensively used in many applications.
- Vanadium. A metal that is often alloyed with iron and is used in automotive components.
- Aluminum. It is lightweight and corrosion-resistant and is used in the manufacturing of cars and airplanes.
- Copper. A good conductor of electricity. It is used in electronics and wiring.
- Stainless steel. It is durable, corrosion-resistant, and has high tensile strength.
- Tool stee. It is hard, tough, and wear-resistant.
- Alloy steel. It is hard, tough, wear-resistant, and has high tensile strength.
- Inconel. A nickel alloy that is corrosion resistant and has high tensile strength. It is used in automotive and aerospace applications.
Each of these durable manufacturing materials has unique properties that can make them useful, even ideal, for various manufacturing applications, including CNC machining.
Choose a Highly Regarded CNC Machining Company
Contact Components By Design, based in Charlotte, NC. Components By Design, Inc. has over 15 years of experience with CNC routers and CAD / CAM software and exists to help your complex projects become simple. We offer a complete range of CNC routing services. From simple parts to complicated 3D machining, we can take on any project to add value to your product. We are experienced in machining parts from panel material and solid wood, PVC extruded sheets, acrylics, aluminum, and solid surfaces. Our CNC solutions are well-suited for cabinet makers, architectural woodworkers, building suppliers, sign makers, plastic fabricators, and more. If you can think it, we can make it.