MATERIALS / DRAWING-BASED MANUFACTURING
Choose the grade before choosing the process.
Compare the metal families KEC Tour reviews for custom fittings, turned parts, housings, brackets and post-machined castings. Final selection stays controlled by your released drawing and quotation.
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METAL MATERIAL GUIDES
Start with a specific alloy family.
Each guide explains where the material may fit, what must be confirmed in the RFQ and which process or finish decisions influence the quotation.
01Stainless Steel 304
A widely specified stainless grade for general industrial, instrument and outdoor hardware where corrosion resistance, clean appearance and fabrication flexibility matter.
Open material guide02Stainless Steel 316
Often considered for fluid, marine, coastal and chemical-exposure hardware where the application requires a more demanding corrosion strategy than general-purpose stainless steel.
Open material guide
03Aluminum Alloys
A practical family for lightweight housings, brackets, covers, fixtures and mobility hardware, with alloy and temper selected around strength, machining, forming and finish.
Open material guide
04Brass
Commonly considered for compact threaded connectors, bushings, adapters and detailed turned hardware where machinability and a distinctive non-ferrous material are useful.
Open material guide
05Copper
Used where electrical or thermal conductivity is a functional priority, with grade, temper, cleanliness and joining requirements controlled by the drawing.
Open material guide
06Carbon Steel
A broad family for shafts, sleeves, brackets, fixtures and structural hardware where strength, cost and secondary corrosion protection are balanced.
Open material guide
07Alloy Steel
Considered for load-bearing shafts, collars, machine elements and wear-sensitive parts where a specific alloy and heat-treatment condition are part of the design.
Open material guide
08Zinc Alloy
Used for compact die-cast housings and hardware when repeatable casting detail, practical surface finishing and selected post-machined interfaces are required.
Open material guideMATERIAL SELECTION RULE
Do not quote “stainless,” “aluminum” or “steel” alone.
Specify the alloy or grade, condition or temper, raw-material form, finish, certification requirement and any approved substitution rule.
Media compatibility, pressure, corrosion life and regulatory acceptance remain the buyer’s engineering responsibility unless a defined validation scope is agreed.
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