Material scope
Materials are chosen for the process, not the other way around.
The list below is what the shop documents as machinable. Grades are named where the grade changes the machining strategy; otherwise the family is stated.
Metals
11- Aluminium6061
- Stainless steel
Including 316L for additive parts
- Carbon steel
- Tool steel
- Copper
- Brass
- Titanium
Includes Ice Crystal Titanium and grade 5 references
- Inconel
High-temperature alloy
- Damascus steel
- Tungsten
Centre links
- AlSi10Mg
Additive manufacturing powder
Engineering plastics
09- ABS
- Acrylic
- Acetal (POM)
- Polycarbonate
- PEEK
- PTFE
- Ultem (PEI)
- Nylon PA11 / PA12
- TPU
Composites
02- Carbon fibre
- G-10
Ceramics
02- Macor
Machinable ceramic
- Ceramic
Stone
01- Natural stone
Sourced and sliced for dials; thickness down to 0.4 mm
Glass and crystal
01- Sapphire crystal
Used as dial reinforcement and as watch glass
Material selection
Why the material changes the quote.
Aluminium 6061 cuts quickly and holds tolerance well, which is why it suits prototype and production parts where weight matters and corrosion resistance can be added by anodising.
Stainless steel and titanium cut more slowly and move more under heat. Tolerances that are routine in aluminium require more care, and the finishing route changes with the alloy.
Engineering plastics behave differently again: they deflect under clamping pressure and expand with temperature, so the inspection plan has to account for stabilisation before measurement.
Dial materials
Stone is a material programme, not a finish.
Natural stone is sourced, sliced and stabilised before it can become a dial. The material is cut as thin as 0.4 mm and reinforced with sapphire, glass or metal to keep it stable in a case. Finishes include polished and matte, sliced, mosaic and full plate, with index positions laser engraved or inlaid.
Next step
Not sure which material to specify?
Send the function, the environment and the finish required. The material recommendation follows from those three, not from a stock list.