Materials
Shared Factory provides a broad range of materials to support on-demand manufacturing across CNC machining, injection molding, metal forming, and sheet metal fabrication. Selecting the appropriate material is critical to part performance, durability, and cost-efficiency.
The table below outlines commonly used material categories available through our manufacturing processes. For specific grades, alloys, or polymer formulations, please contact our team.
| Category | Typical Processes | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Alloys | CNC Machining, Sheet Metal | Aerospace components, enclosures, heat sinks |
| Stainless Steel | CNC Machining, Metal Forming, Sheet Metal | Medical devices, industrial equipment, automotive |
| Carbon Steel | Metal Forming, Sheet Metal | Structural parts, brackets, machinery |
| Engineering Plastics | Injection Molding, CNC Machining | Housings, gears, insulators, medical components |
| Brass & Copper | CNC Machining | Electrical contacts, fittings, decorative hardware |
| Titanium Alloys | CNC Machining | Aerospace, medical implants, high-strength applications |
With over 50 available processes, Shared Factory can match material properties to the demands of medical device, aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation projects. Finishing services further enhance surface quality, corrosion resistance, and appearance.
Material selection is one of the most critical decisions in any custom manufacturing project. The right material directly influences a part's mechanical performance, dimensional stability, and long-term durability under operational conditions. Engineers must consider factors such as tensile strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and thermal expansion when specifying materials for CNC machining or injection molding. Shared Factory supports a wide range of common engineering materials, including various aluminum alloys, steel grades, brass, titanium, and numerous engineering thermoplastics. Each material category offers distinct advantages depending on the application environment, whether the part requires high wear resistance, lightweight properties, or the ability to withstand elevated temperatures during use.
Metals form the backbone of precision manufacturing across industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and industrial equipment. Aluminum alloys are frequently chosen for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and good machinability, making them suitable for structural components and enclosures. Steel provides superior hardness and wear resistance for load-bearing parts and tooling applications. Stainless steel grades offer enhanced corrosion resistance for medical and food-contact components. Brass and copper alloys deliver good electrical conductivity and aesthetic appeal for decorative or conductive parts. Titanium is valued in high-performance applications where weight savings and biocompatibility are essential, such as aerospace brackets and medical implants.
Engineering plastics and polymers provide versatile alternatives to metals in many on-demand manufacturing processes. Materials such as ABS, polycarbonate, nylon, and acetal offer good impact resistance, chemical stability, and low friction properties for functional prototypes and end-use parts. Injection molding and CNC machining can accommodate both commodity and high-performance thermoplastics, including PEEK and PTFE for demanding thermal or chemical environments. The selection of polymer materials also enables weight reduction, electrical insulation, and cost savings in medium to high-volume production runs. Each polymer grade is formulated with specific additives or fillers to enhance particular characteristics like UV stability, flame retardance, or dimensional accuracy.
The material selection process is closely tied to the chosen manufacturing method and the intended production scale. CNC machining works well with both metals and plastics, offering tight tolerances and excellent surface finishes for low to medium volumes. Injection molding requires tooling but becomes highly cost-efficient for larger production quantities. Sheet metal fabrication and metal forming processes are best suited to ductile materials that can be bent, stamped, or drawn without cracking. Shared Factory's engineering team assists with material recommendations that account for machinability, mold flow characteristics, and post-processing requirements such as heat treatment, anodizing, or plating. Proper material selection ensures that parts meet functional requirements while optimizing overall project costs and lead times.