Aluminum is a high-quality, silver metal that’s soft, lightweight, and durable. Aluminum is commonly used for 5-axis CNC machining in military, aircraft, and aerospace applications.
Aluminum is an ideal material to use for CNC machined spacecraft and aircraft components. Its unique properties allow it to be developed into strong, lightweight, and inexpensive parts that are necessary for creating safe and efficient equipment. Even though materials like steel and iron are stronger than aluminum, these materials are much heavier. Too much weight added to airplanes or spacecraft will restrict their ability to properly take flight.
Professionals have estimated that roughly 80% of the materials that make up today’s aircraft come from aluminum. This is easy to believe because aluminum possesses many desirable characteristics that manufacturers in the industry look for. One of the most sought-after elements that aluminum has is its corrosion resistance. Materials that are easily corrodable can be extremely dangerous for aircraft and spacecraft machinery. This is why aluminum is a great choice. This material can efficiently work in chemical environments and is highly resistant to corrosion.
High-quality components machined with aluminum include:
Owens Industries incorporates the latest in metal shaping, grinding, cutting, and deburring techniques to create precision parts too complex for lesser machine shops.
If you think aluminum is the appropriate material for your component, contact Owens Industries today. If you believe a different material would work better, visit our materials page to see what other materials we commonly use with our 5 Axis machining and milling services. Don’t see a material you want on the list? Just notify us about what material(s) you want to use.
To get additional information about the types of component parts we’ve made for past projects, take a look at our image and video work galleries.
![]() |
Part | Application | Industry | Machining Process Used | Specific Feature |
Control Valve Housing | Aircraft Brake | Aerospace | 4-Axis Milling | MIL Spec Ports and Internal Features |
Swivel Bracket | Aerospace | Aircraft OEM | 4-Axis Milling | 3 Piece Assembly |
Support Assembly | Aerospace | Aircraft OEM | 5-Axis Milling | Aluminum Tube with Formed Welded Bracket |
Stator | Blood Gas Analyzer | Medical | 3-Axis Milling | Circle Interpolate Boss with 0.0005" Tolerance |
Rotor | Blood Gas Analyzer | Medical | 4-Axis Milling | 0.010" Thick Cell Walls |
Rotor Housing | Blood Gas Analyzer | Medical | 4-Axis Milling | Micro Milling of Housing to Accept Electronics |
Gas-Fluid Manifold Block | Fluid Control | Natural Gas Industry | 4-Axis Milling | Drill and tap (8) NPT Threaded Holes |
Machined Reflector | Wing Lights | Aerospace | 5 Axis Profile Milling | Milling and Polishing 16 Reflective Pockets |
Optics Block | Laser Alignment Tool | Research and Development | 5-Axis Machining | Hole Alignment Tolerance 0.001mm |
Valve Housing | Titan Rocket | Rocket Engine Component | 5-Axis Machining | 5-Axis Milling of Cylindrical Elbow Housing |
Cylinder Block | Gas Flow Manifold | Natural Gas Industry | 5-Axis Milling | Machine 12 Micro Finish Surfaces for Press Fit Bushings |
Lens Cell | Flow Viewing Port | Natural Gas Industry | Mill/Turn | Turn 2.075-32 ID Thread |
Battery Core | Safety Equipment | Aerospace | Swiss Screw Machine | Black Anodized Sleeve |
DM Cover | Satellite Component | Space Research | Mill/Turn | Turn, Mill and Drill Flanged Cover |
Paddle | Actuator Arm | Military | 4-Axis Machining | Milling 0.020" Thick Webs with 0.002" Flatness |
Piston | Engine Valve | Aerospace | Conventional CNC Turning | Maintaining Class 1 Diameter Fit Tolerance |