What Should You Know About CNC Machining Brass Parts

Brass CNC Machining
Jack Lie CNC machining expert

Specialize in CNC Milling, CNC Turning, 3D Printing, Urethane Casting, and Sheet Metal Fabrication Services.


Are you looking for a material that excels in mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, malleability, conductivity, and even sound absorption? Then it would be best to look at brass. This unique metal combines all those desirable qualities in a single, versatile material.

Brass is a superior copper alloy with a long history of usage in various machining applications.  Because of its many benefits, it has developed into an important element of enterprises specializing in the manufacturing of components. Brass is often machined using CNC these days to produce a wide variety of items, including brass gears, pipes and fittings, bearings, flare fittings, and numerous others. Components manufactured of brass like these are used in various fields, including mechanical, automotive, electrical, and musical instrument production.

Brass CNC manufacturing has several advantages over other methods of CNC machining for metal, which is one of the reasons why it is in such high demand. This article will walk you through the six advantages of using brass for CNC machining. It will also assist you in distinguishing which brass grades are ideal for your next endeavor.

CNC machining in brass

6 Main Benefits of Brass CNC Machining

You will better understand why brass CNC machining is always in fashion by reading the following hints.

  1. High-Speed Machining
    The brass’s machinability is considered so high that it is frequently referred to as “100% machinability.” Shear resistance and high tensile strength are some of the mechanical features that are possessed by this alloy. When machining with brass, these qualities help increase the process’s speed. According to the study’s findings, brass CNC manufacturing is capable of rates five to twenty percent greater than those of other metal CNC machining techniques.
  2. Precision Machining & Dimensional Stability
    Brass is famous for its dimensional stability, making it an excellent material for production that requires stringent tolerances. Components of brass maintain their original dimensions because the material has a low deformation factor and a strong resistance to impact.
  3. High Workpiece-to-Tool Compatibility
    Because there is almost no chip formation during CNC machining of brass, the amount of wear and tear on the tools is quite low. For CNC machining, brass rod workpieces are recommended as the material of choice. These workpieces have a high level of compatibility with almost every kind of CNC machining tool. Productivity in machining is increased when there is less friction and tools have a longer lifespan.
  4. Availability of Numerous Material Grades
    Copper and zinc are the two elements that combine to produce brass in its purest form. Brass may be alloyed with various metals, including tin, aluminum, lead, and iron, to make brass alloys with specialized properties. These brass alloys can be used in a variety of applications. Including certain elements may also result in improved qualities, even when just a small amount (less than 0.05%) is included in the mixture. For instance, a trace quantity of tin may provide a brass alloy with outstanding resistance to the corrosive effects of saltwater.
  5. Higher Productivity & Profit
    The efficiency of the process is increased thanks to CNC machining of brass is a quick and accurate method. Brass is, in comparison to other materials, an economically suitable material; as a result, its use in machining materials provides advantages to capital investment. Because the tools used in this procedure have a longer lifespan, the expenses associated with changing them regularly are decreased. In addition to that, post-machining treatments are not necessary for the technique being described. The combination of these elements results in increased levels of productivity and profit.
  6. Brass CNC Machining is Environment-friendly
    Brass is an alloy made of copper that maintains raw copper’s chemical and physical characteristics. Nevertheless, a few of the properties are improved when using this alloy. As a result, the material that is used in this method is beneficial to the environment. In addition, brass CNC machining does not result in the emission of toxic gases or chemicals into the surrounding environment. The procedure generates no waste since any removed material may be recycled at a rate of one hundred percent. Consequently, this is an environmentally friendly method of machining.

Best Grades for Brass CNC Machining

CNC machining uses a broad range of brass alloys, each of which has unique qualities and applies to a certain sector of the economy. The following table provides a rundown of the top ten brass alloys that should be taken into consideration for CNC machining projects:

C230C330C353C360C365C464
Common NameRed BrassLow Leaded BrassEngravers’ BrassFree Machining BrassBrass PlateNaval Brass
DescriptionStronger than yellow-gold colored brassContaining relatively low amounts of leadKnown for being both wear-resistant and strong while maintaining good machinabilityThe highest machinability
Incredible strength due to its content of lead
Named after George Fredrick MuntzWell known for its incredible corrosion tolerance due to the additions of tin
AdvantagesGood corrosion resistance
Excellent machinability
Can be worked cold or hot
High water corrosion resistance
High strength
Excellent machinability

Good strength
Excellent machinability (less than C360)
Excellent resistance
Exceptional strength
Excellent machinability
Good corrosion resistance
Exceptional corrosion resistance and strength (similar to C464)
High machinability
Great corrosion resistance and strength
Can be hot worked
Fair to good machinability compared to the C360
DisadvantagesCan be sensitive to corrosion under severe environments
Requires cleaning and careful treatment during its use
Sensitive to highly corrosive conditions (acids)
Difficult welding
Not ideal for welding
Poor to fair cold and hot working
Lead content can cause a cracked surface finish in some cases
Sensitive to acids
Possible environmental impact from lead
Not suitable for welding
Limited cold formability
Causing structural cracks on the surface of the alloy
Prone to dezincification with time
ApplicationsDecorative parts, light fixtures, steam iron parts, architecture, jewelry, sprinklersPower cylinders, pumps, liners, tubing, ammunition primers Adapters, watch parts, wheels, couplings, gears, valve stemsScrew machine parts, musical instruments, electrical equipment, plumbing componentsBaffles, support sheets, tube sheets for condensers, heat exchangersCondenser tubes, missile components, naval applications, wear plates, fasteners, bushings

Final Words

The outstanding potential is offered by brass and its numerous alloys for various applications. Brasses provide multiple benefits, including exceptional strength and the possibility of excellent corrosion resistance, in addition to being incredibly cost-effective in making components by employing machining. 

Work with Runsom for Your Machined Brass Parts

So far, the overview and advantages of CNC machining in brass have been discussed. Now, you must be sure to source these CNC machining services from a company you can trust to get the best quality products. Runsom Precision is a reliable supplier of CNC machining services and solutions in China. For more than ten years, we have been serving a multitude of critical industries including medical, automotive, marine, aerospace, and much more. And we are proficient in creating high-precision brass components with advanced CNC machining technologies and a wide variety of grades of brass materials.


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