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CNC machining in Steel A36 (structural)
Steel A36 (structural) is a proven choice for cnc machining: lowest-cost steel plate and structural shapes. On a representative plate at 50 pieces it estimates at about $45.40 per part, with a lead time of 5–10 days. Typical tolerance is ±0.005 in (±0.13 mm), or ISO 2768-m.
- Per part
- $45.40
- Tooling
- None
- Lead time
- 5–10 days
Price it in A36
Plate · CNC machining
Order total $2,808
- Tooling
- None
- no hard tooling
- Piece price
- $45.40
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 5–10 days
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Length120120 mm
Width80.080.0 mm
Thickness6.006.00 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity5050 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
A36 vs other cnc machining materials
The same plate at 50 pieces, priced in every material the process runs. ABS is the lowest all-in cost.
| Material | Per part | All-in | Weight | Tensile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | $30.80 | $41.50 | 59 g | 43 MPa |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | $30.80 | $41.50 | 54 g | 26 MPa |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | $32.10 | $42.80 | 68 g | 65 MPa |
| Nylon 66 (PA66) | $32.10 | $42.80 | 65 g | 83 MPa |
| Acetal (POM) | $32.10 | $42.80 | 80 g | 62 MPa |
| Acrylic (PMMA) | $32.10 | $42.80 | 67 g | 70 MPa |
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $33.10 | $43.90 | 153 g | 310 MPa |
| Aluminum 6063-T5 | $33.10 | $43.90 | 153 g | 186 MPa |
| Aluminum A380 (die cast) | $33.10 | $43.90 | 153 g | 324 MPa |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | $35.00 | $45.70 | 159 g | 572 MPa |
| Brass C360 (free-cutting) | $42.00 | $52.70 | 480 g | 400 MPa |
| Steel 1018 (cold drawn) | $45.40 | $56.20 | 445 g | 440 MPa |
| Steel 1045 (cold drawn) | $45.40 | $56.20 | 445 g | 625 MPa |
| Steel 12L14 (leaded free-machining) | $45.40 | $56.20 | 445 g | 540 MPa |
| Steel A36 (structural) | $45.40 | $56.20 | 444 g | 450 MPa |
| Copper C110 (ETP) | $48.50 | $59.20 | 503 g | 290 MPa |
| PEEK (polyether ether ketone) | $50.20 | $60.90 | 74 g | 98 MPa |
| Steel 4140 (annealed) | $52.20 | $62.90 | 444 g | 655 MPa |
| Stainless steel 304 | $60.60 | $71.30 | 453 g | 505 MPa |
| Stainless steel 303 | $61.10 | $71.80 | 453 g | 620 MPa |
| Stainless steel 316 | $62.70 | $73.40 | 453 g | 580 MPa |
| Stainless steel 17-4 PH (H900) | $66.60 | $77.30 | 440 g | 1379 MPa |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | $99.00 | $110 | 251 g | 950 MPa |
A36 at a glance
- Tensile strength
- 450 MPa71th pct
- Yield strength
- 250 MPa35th pct
- Density
- 7.85 g/cm³72th pct
- Elongation
- 23 %49th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
Strengths
- Lowest-cost steel plate and structural shapes
- Welds with E70 filler; AWS D1.1 requires little or no preheat up to 3/4 in (19 mm)
- Laser, plasma and waterjet cut cleanly
- Available as plate, bar, beams, angles and channels
Watch for
- Loose chemistry and mill scale make it inconsistent for precision machining; use 1018 or 1045 bar
- Not heat-treatable for hardness
- Rusts bare; blast and coat for outdoor use
- Hot-rolled flatness and thickness tolerances are wider than cold-rolled
Finishes for this combination
CNC machining design rules
At least 1/3 of cavity depth; 0.030 in (0.8 mm) minimum
Radius internal corners
Depth no more than about 4× pocket width
Limit pocket depth
0.030 in (0.8 mm) in metal; 0.060 in (1.5 mm) in plastic
Minimum wall thickness
About 4× diameter standard; up to 10× with peck drilling
Limit hole depth
About 1.5× diameter for most tapped holes
Limit thread depth
Match standard drill, reamer, and tap sizes
Use standard hole sizes
Questions
How much does cnc machining in A36 cost?
For a representative part (plate 120 mm × 80 mm × 6 mm, 4 × ø6.6 mm holes, r6 mm corners), SSG's estimator gives about $45.40 per part at 50 pieces. All-in with tooling and setup that is $56.20 per part. It is budgetary; principals quote firm prices from your drawing.
Is A36 a good material for cnc machining?
It is when you need lowest-cost steel plate and structural shapes and welds with e70 filler; aws d1.1 requires little or no preheat up to 3/4 in (19 mm). Watch for loose chemistry and mill scale make it inconsistent for precision machining; use 1018 or 1045 bar. Of 23 materials run in cnc machining, it ranks 15 on all-in cost for the same part.
What finishes work on A36 cnc machining parts?
Common options are bead blasted, vibratory deburr (tumbling), powder coat, e-coat (electrocoat), wet paint (liquid coating), zinc plating. The builder adds each finish's lot charge, per-part cost and days to the estimate.
What tolerance can cnc machining hold in A36?
Typical capability is ±0.005 in (±0.13 mm), or ISO 2768-m. Tighter tolerances are possible on called-out features at added cost; specify them on the drawing rather than as a blanket note.
Quote cnc machining in A36.
Upload your CAD or start from a template. The DFM check applies the rules above to your geometry.