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2024 Aluminum CNC Machining: High-Strength Alloy Guide

2024-T4 Aluminum (UNS A92024) is a good-to-machine material that we run regularly for export customers. It has a density of 2.78 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 469 MPa and a typical hardness of HB 120. Those numbers make it the right choice for wing skins and fatigue-critical brackets, and a poor choice when cost or corrosion resistance matters more than mechanical performance.

On our machines we hold +/-0.01 mm on turned and milled features and reach Ra 0.8 um where the drawing calls for it. Standard lead time for 2024-T4 Aluminum parts is 3-7 working days, including material procurement, machining and any finishing operation you specify.

2024-T4 Aluminum: key properties

Property Value
UNS / designation A92024
Density 2.78 g/cm3
Tensile strength 469 MPa
Hardness HB 120
Machinability Good
Suggested cutting speed (carbide) 300-500 m/min
Relative material cost 3 of 5

Machining 2024-T4 Aluminum: what to plan for

  • Very poor corrosion resistance bare
  • Requires cladding or anodize
  • Warping after machining

Cutting speed for 2024-T4 Aluminum with carbide tooling sits around 300-500 m/min. Going faster burns the edge; going much slower causes rubbing and a poor surface. Air blast or flood coolant both work, but chip evacuation must be positive. If your part has thin walls or a lot of stock to remove, say so in the RFQ — we plan roughing, stress relief and finishing as separate operations when the geometry demands it.

Parts we machine in 2024-T4 Aluminum

  • Wing skins
  • Fatigue-critical brackets
  • Aircraft fittings

Most 2024-T4 Aluminum work arrives as 2D drawings with a mix of critical and non-critical features. Loosening tolerance on the non-critical ones is the fastest way to cut cost, and we will tell you which features those are before we quote.

Tolerances, finish and lead time

Item Capability
General tolerance +/-0.01 mm
Achievable surface finish Ra 0.8 um
Minimum wall thickness 0.8 mm (aluminium) / 1.0 mm (steel and stainless)
Typical lead time 3-7 working days
Prototype quantity 1 piece
Production quantity 10 to 50,000 pieces

Frequently asked questions

What is the lead time for 2024-T4 Aluminum parts?

Standard is 3-7 working days from drawing release, assuming the material is in stock. Exotic grades and cast forms can add 5 to 10 days. Finishing such as anodizing or plating adds 3 to 5 days.

What tolerance can you hold in 2024-T4 Aluminum?

+/-0.01 mm is routine on turned and milled features. Tighter than that is possible on specific features by grinding or lapping, but it is quoted separately because it changes the process.

Do you keep 2024-T4 Aluminum in stock?

We hold common sizes of 2024-T4 Aluminum and buy mill-certified stock for everything else. Material certificates are supplied with the parts on request.

Can you supply 2024-T4 Aluminum parts with a certificate of conformity?

Yes. We issue a dimensional report, a material certificate and a certificate of conformity as standard for production orders, and full PPAP or AS9102 paperwork when the programme requires it.

Related pages

Get a price for your part

Send a STEP file and a drawing with tolerances, material and quantity. We quote within one working day and machine in our own facility in Shenzhen — milling, turning, EDM, grinding and finishing under one roof, no trading middleman.

Start an instant quote or send your drawings directly. English-speaking engineering support, DFM feedback before you commit to a batch.

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