The VMT blog is dedicated to sharing our hard-earned knowledge in prototype manufacturing. We hope these articles will help you optimize your product designs and gain deeper insight into the world of rapid prototyping. Enjoy the read!
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2026 01 25 In this guide, we will dive deep into what makes 1018 steel unique, properties and composition, material selection about 1018 steel with other alloys, its machining and surface protection, heat treatment and hardening by carburizing.
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2026 01 24 Both Silicon Bronze and Brass have a wide range of grades due to fine-tuning the content of their alloying elements showing different in their properties. For instance, Naval Brass (C46400) contains tin, which provides excellent resistance to saltwater dezincification and meets the strength requirements for most marine hardware. In such cases, despite High-Silicon Bronze (C65500) having superior properties, Naval Brass is often the more pragmatic choice. When can Silicon Bronze and Brass be interchanged? What are their differences in processing and manufacturing? How do they differ in aesthetics and surface treatment? These are the key points this article will share with you.
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2026 01 23 In the field of precision CNC machining, selecting the right material is key to balancing part quality with production costs. If you are producing high volumes of complex parts—such as fasteners, hydraulic/pneumatic components, timing gears, miniature shafts, or precision bushings—11SMn30 (EN 1.0715) steel may be your best CNC machining carbon steel. As a non-alloy, low-carbon free-cutting steel, 11SMn30 is renowned for its exceptional machinability. This article explores its material properties, the pros and cons of processing, environmental considerations, and how it helps you achieve cost-effectiveness in CNC machining.
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2026 01 22 This article introduces “aluminum 5754”. It offers a balanced profile of strength and workability alongside "marine-grade" corrosion resistance. It is not only frequently formed into car body panels, floorings, and tanks through stamping, bending, or welding but also stands out as one of the most popular 5xxx series materials for CNC machining.
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2026 01 21 Choosing the correct alloy early in product development saves time, cost and headaches. For parts whose primary manufacturing demands are sheet-metal forming — extensive bending, stretching or deep drawing — and that must resist corrosive environments, Aluminum 3003 often offers the best combination of formability, corrosion resistance and cost. And only when the CNC shop’s role is limited to secondary operations such as drilling, countersinking or light contouring and further complete the parts with various surface finishes, 3003 delivers excellent outcomes for a final product. This guide explains when 3003 aluminum is appropriate for your manufacturing, how to design for it, what to expect in CNC secondary processing, finishing options and procurement advice—based on VMT’s shop experience.
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2026 01 20 This article is intended for engineers and manufacturing customers in the CNC machining and metalworking fields. From here, you can get a clear understanding that: what is the basics about aluminum alloy 5052? How does aluminum alloy 5052 strengthen its strength? What are processing ways to alloy 5052’s annealed O, H12, H18, H24, H32, H34 tempers? What are the pros and cons as well as uses for each temper? About several manufacturing ways, what you may pay attention to when you deal with the processing? Below information will assist you in making decisions regarding quotations, process selection, and quality control.
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2026 01 19 6061 aluminum alloy (Al-Mg-Si) is currently the most widely used and versatile heat-treatable aluminum alloy for everyday parts such as tube systems, bike parts, electronic housings, small brackets. It achieves a good balance between strength, corrosion resistance, weldability, good formality, and machinability, while also being lightweight and durable. From construction and transportation to aerospace and consumer uses, 6061 aluminum alloy plays a vital role in modern manufacturing.
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2026 01 18 In this article, we will take a deep dive into the unique charm of the 7050 aluminum alloy (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu series). We will provide a multi-dimensional decoding of its chemical composition, key properties, performance comparisons with other common alloys, and market price factors to help you fully understand 7050 aluminum alloy.
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