At Focused on Machining, we bring years of expertise across a wide range of materials such as stainless steel, titanium, Monel and Inconel. Here, we’re focusing on our experience with 7000 series aluminum, a strong alloy that’s a popular material choice in a variety of industries. 

An Overview of Aluminum 7000 Series

The 7000 series of aluminum alloys is among the strongest aluminum alloys available. It’s well known for its applications in aerospace and structural components. Because of our extensive experience in aerospace machining, we’ve grown very familiar with 7000 series aluminum.

7000 series aluminum has zinc as its primary alloying element, which differentiates it from 6000 series aluminum, another popular aluminum alloy that we often machine. The zinc content gives it high tensile strength properties, and its strength-to-weight ratio is one reason it’s so popular in applications like aircraft.

At Focused on Machining, we frequently work with several popular alloys from the 7000 series, with 7075 aluminum being the most common. This alloy is prized for its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, machinability, and the ability to further enhance its strength through heat treatment. We also regularly machine 7050 aluminum, another high-performance alloy in the 7000 series.

Among the drawbacks of 7075 is its limited corrosion resistance, which leads some engineers to choose 6000 series aluminum instead.

7000 Series Aluminum at Focused on Machining

We have been machining 7075 and 7050 for many years at our Colorado CNC machine shop, we sometimes feel like we’ve done it all with these alloys. Our customers see several benefits from our deep experience with 7000 series aluminum:

Speed: When a machine shop lacks experience with alloys like 7050, they often move cautiously, double-checking tooling and slowing down production. At Focused on Machining, we’re so confident in our expertise with 7075 and 7050 aluminum that we push our machines to their limits every time. This ensures that our customers receive their parts as quickly as possible without compromising on quality.

Price: We order so much of these materials that it’s unlikely any other shop can beat our pricing. We’re always getting the best prices from vendors because we have a long-term relationship with them and we’re ordering in such large quantities. 

Processing: 7000 series aluminum often requires multiple post-processing steps and inspections. We have a trusted network of reliable aluminum processors who are experienced in working with these alloys. They are able to handle all of these processes under one roof, reducing lead time and minimizing the chances of any damage in shipping.

Knowledge: At certain times, there may be limited availability for a particular variety of 7000 series. For instance, maybe a customer asks for a large bracket in 7075 T6 six-inch plate, and we are not able to find it at that moment. However, we have the suppliers and the machining experience to find and machine it from T3 six inch plate or 7050 T6 six inch plate. 

Talk to Us About Your Next 7000 Series Aluminum Project

At Focused on Machining, we’ve been making high-quality parts from 7000 series aluminum for years. We have the expertise to make what you need and the trusted partner network to get any post-processing steps done. And if you’re not sure if 7000 series aluminum is right for your project, we can offer some advice on selecting the right material for your CNC machined part.  

Request a quote today to see how we can help with your next project.