Materials Overview: Every Material on OpusFab

Last updated September 27, 2026

Every material on OpusFab belongs to a manufacturing process. When you upload a STEP file and open the configuration screen (or the Edit drawer in the quote table for multi-part uploads), the material dropdown only shows materials that work with the process selected for that part. Change the process and the material list changes with it.

This is because materials and processes are physically linked. Aluminium bar stock can be milled on a CNC machine but cannot go through an SLA printer, and photopolymer resin only exists as a 3D printing material. Below is the full catalogue, grouped as it appears in the editor.

CNC machining materials

Aluminium

  • 6061-T6 Aluminum: the default all-rounder. Moderate strength, good corrosion resistance, welds well, and it is the fastest and cheapest alloy to machine. Start here unless you have a reason not to.
  • 7075-T6 Aluminum: roughly 80 to 90 percent stronger than 6061, at a higher stock and machining cost. For high-stress structural parts. See Aluminium 6061 vs 7075 for the full comparison.

Steel and stainless steel

  • S45C Steel: a low-cost general-purpose carbon steel for jigs, fixtures, and structural parts. Can be zinc or chrome plated. See S45C vs 4140 steel.
  • 4140 Pre-Hardened Steel: harder and more wear resistant than S45C, for shafts, gears, and tooling. Can be zinc or chrome plated. See S45C vs 4140 steel.
  • 304 Stainless Steel: the general-purpose stainless, with good corrosion resistance and food-safe grades of use.
  • 316 Stainless Steel: adds molybdenum for resistance to chlorides; the marine and chemical pick. See Stainless Steel Options.

Non-ferrous metals

  • Brass C360: the free-machining brass, with an excellent surface finish and appearance. Fittings, decorative parts, and electrical connectors. See Brass C360.
  • Ti-6Al-4V Titanium: the best strength-to-weight ratio in the catalogue, plus corrosion resistance. Aerospace, medical, and performance parts, at a premium price. See Titanium Ti-6Al-4V.

Plastics

  • ABS: tough, inexpensive, and easy to machine, glue, and paint. Prototype enclosures and housings.
  • POM (Delrin): stiff, low-friction, and dimensionally stable. Gears, bushings, and sliding parts. See Engineering Plastics.

3D printing materials (SLA and SLS)

SLA resins

  • Standard Resin (9400, white): the general-purpose resin, with the smoothest surface and finest detail of any polymer process. Appearance models and fit checks. Prints up to 1700 x 800 x 600 mm.
  • Tough Resin (black): stronger and more heat resistant than Standard Resin, for functional resin parts. Prints up to 800 x 600 x 600 mm.
  • Red Wax Resin (castable): for lost wax casting patterns and miniatures. Wax parts are typically small.

SLS nylon

  • Nylon (Black), Nylon (White), Nylon (Grey): the same tough, durable nylon in three colours, for functional parts and complex geometry with no support structures. Prints up to 450 x 300 x 300 mm.

See 3D Printing Resins and Nylons for characteristics and guidance.

Metal 3D printing materials

  • AlSi10Mg Aluminum: the standard printing aluminium, light with good strength, for complex parts CNC cannot reach.
  • 316L Stainless Steel: corrosion-resistant stainless for printed metal parts. See Metal 3D Printing (DMLS/SLM).

Finishes depend on the material

Finish options also filter by material. CNC metals offer finishes like Raw (As-Machined), sandblast, Anodizing (aluminium only), powder coating, PVD, and zinc or chrome plating on S45C and 4140 steel. Powder coating colours are picked from a searchable Pantone picker. 3D printed parts are As Printed only. The Surface Finishes Overview covers what each finish does.

How to choose

  1. Start from the function. Load-bearing or wear parts point to metal. Cosmetic prototypes can be plastic or resin.
  2. Check the environment. Moisture, chemicals, UV exposure, and temperature rule materials in or out.
  3. Decide how much precision you need. Tight tolerances favour CNC metals.
  4. Compare prices directly. Upload your part and switch materials in the editor to see live unit prices for each option.
  5. If you are unsure, 6061-T6 aluminium is the safest default for metal parts. It machines well, resists corrosion, and is the most economical alloy in most cases.

The live list is in the quote editor

The material catalogue changes as stock and suppliers change, so treat this page as a guide rather than a contract. The current list, with live pricing for your specific part geometry, is always in the quote editor after you upload. If you use BOM import, the downloadable template also has a key at the top listing the valid material and finish names the importer accepts.

If you need a material that is not listed, you can request a custom quote from the upload screen and the sales team will follow up by email.