{"$schema":"nativecad-dfm-pack/1","id":"materials","title":"Materials — metals, plastics, wood and composites for any process","sector":"materials","version":"2026-09-03","summary":"Cross-sector material properties and selection facts: density, stiffness, strength, temperature limits and cost class for common CNC/molding/print/wood/composite materials, plus gauge tables, print-process matrices, galvanic and food-contact compatibility.","aliases":["material","aluminium","aluminum","steel","stainless","plastic","abs","nylon","polycarbonate","pla","petg","plywood","mdf","titanium","brass","copper","carbon fiber","composite"],"crossSector":true,"size":"core","sources":[{"id":"matweb","title":"MatWeb Material Property Data","url":"https://www.matweb.com/","accessed":"2026-09-03"},{"id":"protolabs-materials","title":"Protolabs material comparison guide","url":"https://www.protolabs.com/resources/design-tips/material-selection/","accessed":"2026-09-03"},{"id":"astm-a240","title":"ASTM A240/A240M Stainless Steel Plate","url":"https://www.astm.org/a0240_a0240m-23a.html","accessed":"2026-09-03"},{"id":"astm-b265","title":"ASTM B265 Titanium Strip/Sheet/Plate","url":"https://www.astm.org/b0265-20.html","accessed":"2026-09-03"},{"id":"hp-mjf-materials","title":"HP MJF PA12 material data sheet","url":"https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/3d-printers/products/multi-jet-materials.html","accessed":"2026-09-03"},{"id":"sae-j403","title":"SAE J403 SAE Carbon Steel Compositions","url":"https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j403_201409/","accessed":"2026-09-03"}],"entries":[{"id":"al-6061-t6","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Aluminum 6061-T6","summary":"6061-T6: 2.70 g/cm3, E 69 GPa, yield 276 MPa, UTS 310 MPa, max temp 150C, cost 2/5. Best all-round CNC alloy — machines cleanly, anodizes, welds.","applies":["cnc machining","extrusion"],"value":{"table":[{"density":2.7,"E":69,"yield":276,"uts":310,"elongPct":12,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb 6061-T6 datasheet; the default general-engineering aluminum alloy","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["aluminum","aluminium","6061"],"check":{"process":"machining","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"al-7075-t6","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Aluminum 7075-T6","summary":"7075-T6: 2.81 g/cm3, E 71.7 GPa, yield 503 MPa, UTS 572 MPa, max temp 120C, cost 4/5. Highest-strength common aluminum; poor weldability.","applies":["aerospace bracket","high-strength fixture"],"value":{"table":[{"density":2.81,"E":71.7,"yield":503,"uts":572,"elongPct":11,"maxTempC":120,"costClass":4}]},"basis":"MatWeb 7075-T6 datasheet; aerospace-grade high-strength alloy","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["aluminum","aluminium","7075"]},{"id":"al-5052-h32","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Aluminum 5052-H32 (sheet)","summary":"5052-H32: 2.68 g/cm3, E 70.3 GPa, yield 193 MPa, UTS 228 MPa, max temp 150C, cost 2/5. The sheet-metal alloy — bends tighter than 6061.","applies":["sheet metal","enclosure"],"value":{"table":[{"density":2.68,"E":70.3,"yield":193,"uts":228,"elongPct":12,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb 5052-H32 datasheet; standard sheet-metal aluminum grade","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["aluminum","aluminium","5052"],"check":{"process":"sheet_metal","rule":"min_internal_corner_radius"}},{"id":"steel-1018","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Mild steel 1018 (low-carbon)","summary":"1018 CR: 7.87 g/cm3, E 200 GPa, yield 370 MPa, UTS 440 MPa, max temp 400C, cost 1/5. Cheapest general machining/weld steel; not hardenable.","applies":["cnc machining","weldment"],"value":{"table":[{"density":7.87,"E":200,"yield":370,"uts":440,"elongPct":15,"maxTempC":400,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"MatWeb 1018 cold-rolled datasheet; SAE J403 composition","sources":["matweb","sae-j403"],"tags":["steel","mild steel","1018"]},{"id":"steel-4140","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Alloy steel 4140 (Q&T)","summary":"4140 Q&T: 7.85 g/cm3, E 205 GPa, yield 655 MPa, UTS 1020 MPa, max temp 425C, cost 2/5. Through-hardenable chromoly; needs preheat to weld.","applies":["shaft","gear"],"value":{"table":[{"density":7.85,"E":205,"yield":655,"uts":1020,"elongPct":17,"maxTempC":425,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb 4140 quenched-and-tempered datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["steel","alloy steel","4140"]},{"id":"ss-304","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Stainless steel 304","summary":"304: 8.00 g/cm3, E 193 GPa, yield 215 MPa, UTS 505 MPa, max temp 870C, cost 3/5. Non-magnetic, weldable — the default food-safe stainless.","applies":["food equipment","enclosure"],"value":{"table":[{"density":8,"E":193,"yield":215,"uts":505,"elongPct":40,"maxTempC":870,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb 304 annealed datasheet; ASTM A240 composition","sources":["matweb","astm-a240"],"tags":["stainless","304","food safe"]},{"id":"ss-316","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Stainless steel 316","summary":"316: 8.00 g/cm3, E 193 GPa, yield 205 MPa, UTS 515 MPa, max temp 870C, cost 4/5. Mo-alloyed for pitting resistance — marine and medical grade.","applies":["marine hardware","medical device"],"value":{"table":[{"density":8,"E":193,"yield":205,"uts":515,"elongPct":40,"maxTempC":870,"costClass":4}]},"basis":"MatWeb 316 annealed datasheet; ASTM A240 composition","sources":["matweb","astm-a240"],"tags":["stainless","316","marine"]},{"id":"brass-c360","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Brass C360 (free-machining)","summary":"C360: 8.50 g/cm3, E 97 GPa, yield 310 MPa, UTS 385 MPa, max temp 200C, cost 3/5. The free-machining brass — best machinability of any alloy.","applies":["fitting","valve body"],"value":{"table":[{"density":8.5,"E":97,"yield":310,"uts":385,"elongPct":18,"maxTempC":200,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb C36000 half-hard datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["brass","c360","machining"]},{"id":"copper-c110","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Copper C110 (ETP)","summary":"C110: 8.94 g/cm3, E 117 GPa, yield 69-345 MPa, thermal 391 W/mK, elec 101% IACS, cost 3/5. The conductivity benchmark; gums up in machining.","applies":["bus bar","electrical contact"],"value":{"table":[{"density":8.94,"E":117,"yieldAnnealed":69,"yieldHard":345,"thermalWmK":391,"iacsPct":101,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb C11000 ETP copper datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["copper","c110","electrical"]},{"id":"ti-6al-4v","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)","summary":"Ti-6Al-4V: 4.43 g/cm3, E 114 GPa, yield 880 MPa, UTS 950 MPa, max temp 400C, cost 5/5. Best strength-to-weight; slow, expensive to machine.","applies":["aerospace part","medical implant"],"value":{"table":[{"density":4.43,"E":114,"yield":880,"uts":950,"elongPct":14,"maxTempC":400,"costClass":5}]},"basis":"MatWeb Ti-6Al-4V datasheet; ASTM B265 grade 5","sources":["matweb","astm-b265"],"tags":["titanium","ti-6al-4v","grade 5"],"check":{"process":"machining","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"plastic-abs","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"ABS plastic","summary":"ABS: 1.04 g/cm3, E 2.3 GPa, yield 40 MPa, HDT 98C, max temp 80C, cost 2/5. Tough, easy to mold/print; not UV-stable — yellows outdoors.","applies":["injection molded housing","fdm print"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.04,"E":2.3,"yield":40,"hdtC":98,"maxTempC":80,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic ABS datasheet; Protolabs material guide","sources":["matweb","protolabs-materials"],"tags":["abs","plastic","injection molding"],"check":{"process":"injection_molding","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"plastic-pc","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Polycarbonate (PC)","summary":"PC: 1.20 g/cm3, E 2.4 GPa, yield 62 MPa, HDT 138C, max temp 115C, cost 3/5. Highest impact strength and clarity; stress-cracks with solvents.","applies":["optical part","impact-resistant housing"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.2,"E":2.4,"yield":62,"hdtC":138,"maxTempC":115,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PC datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["pc","polycarbonate","impact resistant"]},{"id":"plastic-pa6-66","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Nylon PA6 / PA66","summary":"PA6/PA66: 1.13 g/cm3, E 2.9 GPa, yield 70 MPa, HDT 75C, max temp 100C, cost 2/5. Low-friction, wear-resistant; hygroscopic, absorbs 3% water.","applies":["gear","bushing"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.135,"E":2.9,"yield":70,"hdtDryC":75,"maxTempC":100,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PA6/PA66 datasheets","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["nylon","pa6","pa66"]},{"id":"plastic-pa12-sls","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Nylon PA12 (SLS/MJF powder)","summary":"PA12 (SLS/MJF): 1.01 g/cm3, E 1.75 GPa, yield 46 MPa, HDT 175C, cost 3/5. Default powder-bed nylon — near-isotropic, slightly porous finish.","applies":["sls print","mjf print"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.01,"E":1.75,"yield":46,"hdtLowC":175,"elongPct":30,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"HP MJF PA12 and Formlabs/Hubs SLS PA12 datasheets","sources":["hp-mjf-materials","matweb"],"tags":["nylon","pa12","sls"],"check":{"process":"sls","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"plastic-pom","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"POM / Acetal (Delrin)","summary":"POM (Delrin): 1.41 g/cm3, E 2.8 GPa, yield 65 MPa, HDT 110C, max temp 90C, cost 3/5. Lowest friction, best fatigue life; hard to bond.","applies":["precision gear","snap fit"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.41,"E":2.8,"yield":65,"hdtC":110,"maxTempC":90,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb Delrin (DuPont) POM datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["pom","acetal","delrin"]},{"id":"plastic-petg","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"PETG","summary":"PETG: 1.27 g/cm3, E 2.1 GPa, yield 50 MPa, HDT 70C, max temp 70C, cost 1/5. Tougher than PLA, far less warp than ABS; FDA grades exist.","applies":["fdm print","food-contact part"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.27,"E":2.1,"yield":50,"hdtC":70,"maxTempC":70,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PETG datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["petg","fdm","food contact"]},{"id":"plastic-pla","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"PLA plastic","summary":"PLA: 1.24 g/cm3, E 3.5 GPa, yield 55 MPa, HDT 55C, max temp 55C, cost 1/5. Easiest FDM material — low warp, but brittle and creeps.","applies":["fdm print","prototype"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.24,"E":3.5,"yield":55,"hdtC":55,"maxTempC":55,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PLA datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["pla","fdm","prototype"],"check":{"process":"fdm","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"plastic-tpu","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"TPU (95A)","summary":"TPU 95A: 1.21 g/cm3, flex E 26 MPa, elong 500%, shore 95A, max temp 80C, cost 3/5. Flexible FDM filament for hinges and gaskets.","applies":["flexible fdm print","gasket"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.21,"flexModMPa":26,"elongPct":500,"shoreA":95,"maxTempC":80,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic TPU 95A datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["tpu","flexible","fdm"]},{"id":"plastic-pp","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Polypropylene (PP)","summary":"PP: 0.90 g/cm3, E 1.5 GPa, yield 30 MPa, HDT 100C, max temp 100C, cost 1/5. Lowest density plastic, best living-hinge fatigue life.","applies":["living hinge","chemical container"],"value":{"table":[{"density":0.9,"E":1.5,"yield":30,"hdtC":100,"maxTempC":100,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PP datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["pp","polypropylene","living hinge"]},{"id":"plastic-hdpe","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"HDPE","summary":"HDPE: 0.95 g/cm3, E 1.1 GPa, yield 26 MPa, HDT 80C, max temp 100C, cost 1/5. Tough, low-friction, chemically inert; hard to bond.","applies":["tank","cutting board"],"value":{"table":[{"density":0.95,"E":1.1,"yield":26,"hdtC":80,"maxTempC":100,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic HDPE datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["hdpe","polyethylene","chemical resistant"]},{"id":"plastic-pmma","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Acrylic (PMMA)","summary":"PMMA: 1.19 g/cm3, E 3.0 GPa, yield 70 MPa, HDT 95C, max temp 80C, cost 2/5. Best optical clarity (92%); laser-cuts to a polished edge.","applies":["optical window","display case"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.19,"E":3,"yield":70,"hdtC":95,"maxTempC":80,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"MatWeb generic PMMA/acrylic datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["pmma","acrylic","optical"]},{"id":"wood-plywood-birch","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Plywood (Baltic birch)","summary":"Birch ply: 0.68 g/cm3, E ~10 GPa, bend ~65 MPa, max temp 150C (chars), cost 2/5. Void-free veneer — the laser-cutting/jig standard.","applies":["laser-cut enclosure","jig"],"value":{"table":[{"density":0.68,"EGPa":10,"bendMPa":65,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":2}]},"basis":"Baltic birch plywood supplier data (Finland/Russia birch, BB/BB grade)","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["plywood","birch","wood"]},{"id":"wood-mdf","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"MDF board","summary":"MDF: 0.75 g/cm3, E ~3.5 GPa, bend ~35 MPa, max temp 150C (chars), cost 1/5. Uniform, routes cleanly, paints smooth; swells when wet.","applies":["enclosure","painted panel"],"value":{"table":[{"density":0.75,"EGPa":3.5,"bendMPa":35,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":1}]},"basis":"Generic MDF (medium-density fiberboard) supplier data","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["mdf","wood","fiberboard"]},{"id":"wood-oak","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Oak (hardwood)","summary":"Oak: 0.75 g/cm3, E ~12.5 GPa, bend ~97 MPa, max temp 150C (chars), cost 3/5. Dense, decay-resistant hardwood; dulls tools fast.","applies":["furniture","structural joinery"],"value":{"table":[{"density":0.75,"EGPa":12.5,"bendMPa":97,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook — red oak mechanical properties","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["oak","hardwood","wood"]},{"id":"composite-cf-epoxy","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Carbon fiber / epoxy (CFRP, 0/90 woven)","summary":"CFRP woven 0/90: 1.55 g/cm3, E 60-70 GPa, tensile ~575 MPa, max temp 120C, cost 5/5. Best stiffness-to-weight; abrasive to cut.","applies":["drone frame","lightweight structural panel"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.55,"EGPa":65,"tensileMPa":575,"maxTempC":120,"costClass":5}]},"basis":"MatWeb woven carbon/epoxy laminate datasheet (typical quasi-isotropic layup)","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["carbon fiber","cfrp","composite"]},{"id":"composite-gf-nylon","kind":"material","tier":1,"title":"Glass-fiber filled nylon (PA6-GF30)","summary":"PA6-GF30: 1.36 g/cm3, E ~7 GPa, yield ~120 MPa, HDT 210C, max temp 150C, cost 3/5. 30% glass roughly doubles stiffness over PA6.","applies":["structural bracket","gear housing"],"value":{"table":[{"density":1.36,"EGPa":7,"yieldMPa":120,"hdtDryC":210,"maxTempC":150,"costClass":3}]},"basis":"MatWeb PA6-GF30 datasheet","sources":["matweb"],"tags":["nylon","glass filled","gf30"]}]}