---
title: Machining Aluminum in Reno: Grades and Parts | Wolf Machine
url: https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/aluminum/
business: Wolf Machine & Fabrication, Inc.
address: 4812 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502
phone: (775) 359-5570
hours: Shop Monday-Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday
type: Metal and plastic fabrication and machining (custom and CNC machining, welding, metal and plastic fabrication, gearbox and part repair, align boring, metal spray)
---

[Photo: Stock photo: square and rectangular aluminum bar stock]

- [Home](https://wolfmachinenv.com/)
- [Materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/)
- Aluminum

# Machining aluminum

Aluminum is one of the metals we machine, and it cuts fast and clean when the alloy, tool and setup are right. It is light, it takes sharp tools well, and thin walls and gummy alloys are the two things that need planning.

Stock photo: square and rectangular aluminum bar stock

Aluminum is the metal people reach for when a part needs to be light, corrode slowly or move heat. In a machine shop that means housings, plates and fixture parts. Here is how it behaves under the cutter and what we need from you.

## At a glance

- We machine aluminum at our Reno shop
- Cuts quickly with sharp tools and good chip clearance
- Grades from free-cutting to hard and strong
- Housings, plates and fixture parts
- Welding aluminum is covered on its own page

I have used Wolf Machine several times over the past few years for fabricating and repair of parts on my ultralight aircraft. [...] These guys are great to deal with. I wouldn't take my projects anywhere else.

James B. · Google review, September 2023 [Leave us a Google review](https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJVWVOfCI_mYARibcFMPsDEKc)

## How aluminum cuts

Aluminum is soft compared with steel, so it can be cut at high speeds and removed quickly. The challenge is the chip. In the softer, gummier alloys the chip can weld itself to the cutting edge, which spoils the finish. Sharp tools, plenty of chip room and coolant keep the cut clean.

Thin walls and long, slim parts move under the pressure of the cutter and ring like a bell. That chatter shows on the surface. The answer is firm clamping, light finishing cuts and sometimes leaving a part attached to the bar until the last operation.

## Common grades, as general education

Aluminum comes in families. The grades below are named from The Aluminum Association system as general knowledge, not as a list of what is in stock. If your drawing calls out a grade, we work to it. If not, tell us what the part does and we can talk through the options.

| Grade | What it is known for | Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| 6061 | Good strength, machines and welds well, corrosion resistant | Brackets, plates, fixtures, frames |
| 7075 | Very high strength, harder to weld | Heavily loaded parts and shafts |
| 2024 | Strong, good fatigue behavior | Structural parts |
| Cast alloys | Good for complex shapes, can hold pores | Housings, covers, pump bodies |

## What to tell us

Send the grade if you know it, plus a drawing or the worn original, the quantity and what the part does. Surface appearance matters on aluminum, so mention it if the finish is visible or a seal rides on the surface.

If a cast aluminum part has cracked, or you need a welded assembly, see the page on [aluminum welding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/aluminum-welding/). For new parts, start with [CNC milling](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/cnc-milling/) or [custom machining](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/custom-machining/), then send the quote request or call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570).

### Sources

- [The Aluminum Association](https://www.aluminum.org/) (2026-10-18)

### Aluminum parts people bring

- Mounting plates and spacers
- Housings
- Fixture plates
- Spacers, bushings and pulleys
- Replacement parts copied from a worn sample

### How to send us the job

Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in.

[Request a quote](#quote)

[What to put on a drawing](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/what-to-put-on-a-drawing/)

### Talk to the shop

[(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570)

| Monday to Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |

[Request a quote](#quote)

### Related

- [Aluminum welding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/aluminum-welding/)
- [CNC milling](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/cnc-milling/)
- [Custom machining](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/custom-machining/)
- [Stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/stainless-steel/)
- [Materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/)

## Other materials

[Copper](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/copper/) [Plastics](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/plastics/) [Stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/stainless-steel/) [Steels and steel alloys](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/steel-and-steel-alloys/) [Titanium](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/titanium/) [Tool steels](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/tool-steels/) [Brass](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/brass/) [Bronze](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/bronze/)

## Questions people ask

Still have a question? Call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570), Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

### Which aluminum alloy should I choose?

Choose by the job. 6061 is a common all-round choice, while 7075 is for high strength. If the part must be welded, say so before the alloy is picked.

### Do I have to know the grade to get a quote?

No. A drawing or a worn sample is enough to start, and we will ask about the grade if it matters.

[Photo: Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying]

## Request a quote

Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates.

[Call (775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570)

- From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part.
- Free consultations and prompt estimates
- Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform.
- Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company

Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours.

Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying