CNC machining materials · 6CProto

Brass CNC Machining Services

Custom brass prototypes and production parts, from turned fittings and threaded connectors to milled housings and cosmetic hardware.

6CProto machines brass to your CAD model and drawing, then coordinates deburring, polishing, plating, and inspection where the part requires them. Our engineers review alloy, lead restrictions, stock form, critical dimensions, and finish before confirming the quote.

Send a STEP file and 2D drawing when available. You can also state your application, quantity, finish, and inspection requirements in the RFQ.

6CProto CNC turned brass parts arranged in trays for inspection

One prototype to repeat orders

CNC turning and 3-, 4-, or 5-axis milling

Typical CNC tolerance: ±0.02 mm

ISO 9001:2015 certified

*Selected features may reach ±0.01 mm after drawing review. Feasibility depends on geometry, alloy, stock form, finish, and inspection method.

Material selection

Brass Alloys for Your CNC Machining RFQ

The alloy name alone is not a complete material callout. Specify its UNS designation, product form, temper or hardness where applicable, governing standard, and any restrictions on lead. 6CProto currently lists C36000 and C26000 in its CNC material range; specialized grades can be reviewed against the drawing and available certified stock.

Alloy Good starting point for Stock and decision to confirm
C36000 free-cutting brass Turned fittings, bushings, inserts, fasteners, and detailed machined hardware. Usually rod or bar; contains intentional lead, so check end-use rules before selection.
C26000 cartridge brass Formed sheet or strip components with local holes, slots, and machined features. Confirm sheet temper and thickness; choose it for forming requirements, not as a direct C360 turning substitute.
C46400 naval brass Marine-related hardware where the design calls for a tin-bearing brass. Confirm product form, exact environment, and certification; marine suitability depends on service conditions.
C69300 ECO Brass Projects that need a low-lead copper alloy and a qualified substitute for leaded free-cutting brass. Check approved specification, stock, machining route, and the applicable product or water-contact requirement.

C36000 Free-Cutting Brass

Often the first candidate for small, detailed CNC turned parts because its lead content helps produce short chips and supports efficient cutting.

Typical uses

Threaded fittings, inserts, bushings, valve hardware, knobs, and electrical hardware when the electrical specification permits brass.

Important restriction

C36000 is intentionally leaded. It should not be described as lead-free or assumed suitable for drinking-water, food-contact, or other restricted applications.

RFQ: state C36000, rod or bar size, drawing standard, quantities, and any lead or end-use restrictions.

C26000 Cartridge Brass

A copper-zinc brass valued for cold formability. It is a practical choice for formed covers, stamped contacts, decorative sheet parts, and components that need secondary drilling or milling.

Typical route

Sheet or strip is cut and formed, then selected faces, holes, or slots are machined as needed.

What to specify

Temper or hardness, sheet thickness, bend direction, bend radius, and cosmetic faces. Formability changes with temper.

RFQ: include flat pattern and finished-part drawing if forming and CNC machining are both required.

C46400 Naval Brass

A tin-bearing brass frequently considered for marine hardware. The tin addition is a key difference from ordinary copper-zinc brass.

Typical uses

Machined fasteners and fittings used in marine-related assemblies where this exact alloy is approved by the design.

What to check

Exposure, mating metals, dezincification risk, stress, and the available certified stock. Do not substitute it for another naval alloy by name alone.

RFQ: provide the UNS number, product form, specification, and service environment. Supply is reviewed per project.

C69300 ECO Brass

A silicon-containing, low-lead copper alloy marketed as ECO Brass. It is one option to evaluate when the application cannot accept conventional leaded C36000.

Typical uses

Qualified fittings and machined hardware subject to a defined lead-content or product approval requirement.

What to check

The exact law or product standard, material certificate, available rod size, design properties, and machining cost. Approval is application-specific.

RFQ: send the governing requirement and approved material callout. Availability and production route are confirmed before quoting.

Need help choosing? Send the drawing and tell us whether the part is turned, formed, exposed to water or seawater, electrically functional, or cosmetic. We can review the material callout and process before quoting.

These comparisons support early selection; they are not certified design values. Final material properties depend on the specified standard, stock form, temper, and mill certificate. Material changes require approval from your design team.

 

Make the right material callout

Brass vs. Copper vs. Bronze: What Should You Specify?

“Copper” is a family description, not an interchangeable purchase specification. Start with the function of the part, then select an exact alloy and stock form.

Part priority Starting material Why Confirm before RFQ
Fast, detailed CNC turning C36000 brass Good chip control and an established rod-machining route. Lead restrictions, thread quality, and finish.
Cold-formed sheet geometry C26000 brass High formability in the appropriate sheet temper. Thickness, temper, bend radius, and formed tolerances.
High electrical conductivity Pure copper, such as C11000 Conductivity may take priority over ease of machining. Electrical requirement, burr control, and joining method.
Wear surface or bearing duty An application-specific bronze Bronze families are selected around load, wear, and lubrication. Mating material, service load, and approved alloy.

For copper or bronze parts, send a separate exact alloy callout rather than replacing a brass grade with a generic “copper” note. 6CProto lists copper and brass separately in its CNC material range.

From CAD to machined hardware

Brass CNC Machining Capabilities

Choose the route around the geometry. We review tool access, workholding, burr control, threading, surface finish, and the dimensions that actually affect assembly.

CNC Turning

For round fittings, bushings, threaded inserts, pins, and valve components made efficiently from rod or bar. Live tooling can add flats and side features where the part calls for them.

Explore CNC turning

CNC Milling

For prismatic housings, manifolds, pockets, mounting faces, and multi-face features. 3-, 4-, and 5-axis approaches are selected according to access and setup needs.

Explore CNC milling

Secondary Operations

Drilling, tapping, reaming, deburring, polishing, and plating can be planned as part of the same manufacturing route. Specify finished dimensions when coating thickness affects fit.

Explore surface finishing

What we review before quoting

Stock availability, lead restrictions, feature access, minimum wall sections, blind holes, critical threads, required cosmetic faces, and inspection method can each change the best route.

Typical part families

  • Fittings, couplings, and valve hardware
  • Electrical and instrument hardware
  • Fasteners, bushings, inserts, and knobs
  • Decorative metal components and enclosures

Appearance and function

Finishing Options for Brass Parts

The best finish depends on appearance, environment, contact surfaces, and whether dimensions are measured before or after finishing.

As Machined and Deburred

Retain the natural brass color and visible tool marks where appearance is secondary. Define edge breaks and burr limits on functional holes and threads.

Polished or Brushed

Use polishing for a reflective look or brushing for a directional finish. Mark cosmetic faces and any edges that must retain their geometry.

Nickel or Chrome Plating

Plating changes color, corrosion behavior, and size. Specify layer sequence, required thickness, masked areas, and whether blind holes must be coated.

Clear Protective Coating

A clear coating can slow visible tarnishing. Confirm coating type, visual sample, handling exposure, and whether the coating can be used on contact surfaces.

Finish suitability and appearance should be confirmed on a sample when color or surface uniformity is critical. Do not assume every coating reaches deep blind holes uniformly.

Drawing-led inspection

Quality Checks Built Around Your Brass Part

6CProto is ISO 9001:2015 certified. We use the drawing to define which dimensions, threads, surface requirements, and certificates matter to the order.

Before production, we confirm the requested alloy and stock form against the RFQ. During machining and finishing, we review the dimensions and features that affect fit, including bores, threads, sealing faces, and coated areas. First article or dimensional reports can be requested as part of the quote.

For tight tolerance requests, specify the inspection condition and whether the limit applies before or after plating. The ±0.02 mm figure above is a typical CNC capability statement, not a blanket tolerance for every feature.

Include in your RFQ

  • 3D CAD file and controlled 2D drawing
  • Exact UNS alloy, stock form, and material standard
  • Lead, water-contact, RoHS, or other end-use requirements
  • Critical dimensions, threads, and datums
  • Finish, plating thickness, and cosmetic faces
  • Quantity, inspection report, and certificate needs

A 6CProto brass project

Nickel and Chrome Plating Around Blind Holes

This published project shows why brass finishing should be considered during design and process planning, especially around holes and recessed features.

6CProto brass component with nickel and chrome electroplated finish

Challenge: A client requested nickel followed by chrome plating. The first process trials showed inconsistent coverage inside blind holes and discoloration near hole entrances.

Process response: The 6CProto team used auxiliary electrodes and adjusted plating parameters to improve coverage and appearance around those features.

RFQ lesson: Mark holes that must receive coating, state the layer sequence and thickness, and define where finished dimensions are measured.

Useful before you send the drawing

Design Tips for Brass CNC Parts

Specify the Finished Condition

For plated threads, bores, and press fits, state whether the final dimensions apply after coating. Add masking notes where electrical contact or thread fit must be preserved.

Design for Chip and Burr Control

Call out burr-sensitive cross holes, sealing lands, and edges. Blind holes should have enough access for tools, cleaning, and any required coating.

Separate Functional and Cosmetic Limits

Identify the faces customers see and the surfaces that mate with other parts. Apply tight tolerances where function requires them, then review the rest for cost.

Brass CNC Machining FAQs

Which brass grade is best for CNC machining?

C36000 is a common starting point for turned and intricately machined parts because it cuts efficiently. C26000 is more often chosen for formed sheet or strip parts. Your lead restrictions, service environment, and approved drawing may call for a different grade.

No. C36000 free-cutting brass intentionally contains lead to improve machining. If lead content is restricted, state the governing requirement in the RFQ so 6CProto can review an approved alternative and certified stock.

Yes, C26000 is listed in 6CProto’s CNC material range. It is commonly selected when sheet formability is important; send the thickness and temper because those details affect the forming and machining plan.

Yes, subject to the drawing and finish specification. Plating thickness can change fit, while blind holes and recessed areas may need special process planning. Define layer sequence, coating thickness, masked areas, and the finished dimensions.

6CProto commonly quotes CNC work around ±0.02 mm, with selected features potentially reaching ±0.01 mm after review. Actual capability depends on feature size, geometry, material condition, finishing, and measurement method.

Yes. 6CProto supports one-piece prototypes as well as repeat orders. Quantity, complexity, stock, finish, and inspection scope determine the quoted price and schedule.

Brass is a copper alloy, usually containing zinc. A brass such as C36000 may be easier to machine efficiently, while an unalloyed copper grade such as C11000 is often considered when high electrical conductivity is the priority. Specify the exact alloy rather than “copper” alone.

Send STEP or another 3D CAD file, a controlled 2D drawing, alloy and standard, quantities, finish, tolerances, end-use restrictions, and any material certificates or inspection reports you need. 6CProto can review unclear material choices with you before quoting.

Ready to make the part?

Send Your Brass Drawing for an Engineering Review

Tell us what the part must do and where it will be used. We will review the requested alloy, machining route, finish, lead restrictions, and inspection needs before quoting.

Need to protect a design? 6CProto states it can sign an NDA for project files.

Brass C260 — Material overview

Brass is an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc. This golden-hued material not only exhibits excellent weather resistance and corrosion resistance, but its tensile strength also rivals that of low-carbon steel, demonstrating outstanding mechanical properties. Brass boasts exceptional machinability, enabling it to support higher feed rates during processing operations such as cutting and stamping, while requiring minimal cutting fluid. This combination significantly reduces both processing costs and process complexity.