| Material family | Aluminum alloy | Austenitic stainless steel | Engineering nylon |
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| Common process fit | CNC machining, Drilling and tapping | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication, Stamping review | Injection molding, Prototype machining review |
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| Common part fit | General brackets, housings, plates, heat sinks, fixtures, and machined prototypes | Durable brackets, plates, shafts, housings, equipment parts, and cleanable components | Automotive connectors, clips, cable-management parts, functional covers, and durable molded components |
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| Relative material cost | Medium | Medium-high | Medium |
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| Relative part weight | Low | High | Very low |
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| Strength profile | Balanced general-purpose strength | High for general industrial parts | Medium-high for an engineering plastic; reinforcement dependent |
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| Corrosion / environment | Good for many indoor and industrial environments | Very good in many normal industrial and moisture environments | Not subject to metal corrosion; chemical compatibility varies |
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| Wear / impact | Moderate; protect contact surfaces when wear is critical | Durable, but galling and tool access require manufacturing review | Good wear performance for many functional plastic parts |
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| Distinct functional property | Useful thermal conductivity with low mass | Cleanable, non-plated corrosion-resistant surface | Electrical insulation and useful mechanical performance |
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| Finish options | Anodizing, bead blasting, conversion coating, polishing | Passivation, brushing, polishing, bead blasting | As-molded texture, molded color, marking, selected painting review |
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| RFQ checks | Confirm temper, cosmetic class, anodize type and color, masking, and dimensions affected by coating. | Confirm exact grade, sheet or bar form, finish direction, passivation, weld appearance, tolerance, and certificate needs. | Specify grade, glass fill, flame rating, color, moisture conditioning, wall thickness, shrinkage, and annual demand. |
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