Aluminum Alloy Selector | MechanicalAI Engineering

Question 01 // Application Type

What is the primary operation or use for this aluminum?

Machining / CNC

Turning, milling, drilling, screw machine parts

Sheet Metal / Bending

Forming, bending, drawing, stamping

Structural / Plate

Load-bearing frames, brackets, high-stress parts

Extrusion / Trim

Architectural shapes, channels, angles, decorative

Tooling / Fixtures

Stable flat surfaces, molds, drill jigs

General Fabrication

Welding, storage tanks, general use

Question 02 // Operating Environment

Where will this part operate?

Indoor / Controlled

Factory, clean room, non-corrosive

Outdoor / Industrial

Industrial atmosphere, mild weather

Marine / Salt Water

Coastal, offshore, salt spray

Aerospace / High-Stress

Aircraft, UAV, fatigue-critical

Question 03 // Priority

What matters most to your application?

Maximum Strength

Highest tensile / yield strength is top priority

Easy to Form / Bend

Ductile, low springback, tight bend radii

Balanced Performance

Good strength with weldability and ductility

Best Machinability

Fast chip-breaking, tight tolerances, smooth finish

Question 04 // Joining

Does the part need to be welded?

Yes — Must Weld

MIG, TIG, or spot welding required

No — Fastened Only

Bolts, rivets, adhesive, press fit

Possibly / Not Critical

Welding would be nice but isn't required

Question 05 // Sheet / Plate Thickness

What is the material thickness?

Select the closest to your target thickness to calculate minimum 90° cold bend radius per temper. Choose "N/A" if you are working with bar stock, extrusions, or solid sections that will not be bent.

N/A Bar / Extrusion
No bending

1/64″ 0.016″ / 0.40mm Very thin gauge

1/32″ 0.031″ / 0.79mm Thin sheet

1/16″ 0.063″ / 1.6mm Light sheet

1/8″ 0.125″ / 3.2mm Medium sheet

3/16″ 0.188″ / 4.8mm Heavy sheet

1/4″ 0.250″ / 6.4mm Light plate

3/8″ 0.375″ / 9.5mm Medium plate

1/2″ 0.500″ / 12.7mm Heavy plate