Material Properties Chart

Tensile strength is the most force a material can take before it breaks when you pull it apart. It is measured in ksi (thousand pounds per square inch). A higher number means the material is harder to break. For CNC parts under load, tensile strength helps you know if the part will hold up.

Yield strength is the point where a material starts to bend and stay bent. Tensile strength is the point where it breaks. For most CNC parts, you design around yield strength. That way the part keeps its shape under load and never gets close to breaking.

Thermal conductivity tells you how fast heat moves through a material. Parts that need to shed heat fast, like heat sinks, work best with aluminum or copper. Parts that need to block heat, like insulators, use materials like PEEK or titanium. It also affects how fast the material heats up during machining.

Start with the load your part must handle. Check tensile and yield strength. Then look at weight (density), heat needs (thermal conductivity), and cost. Aluminum is light and cheap. Steel is strong and stiff. Titanium is light and strong but costs more. Plastics work when you need low weight and no conductivity.