Olympus Machining

Precision CNC machining in Hanover, PA. ITAR registered, CMMC Level 1 compliant.

Olympus Machining LLC — precision CNC machine shop in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

About Olympus Machining

Olympus Machining at Olympus Machining LLC is delivered from our ITAR-registered precision CNC machine shop in Hanover, Pennsylvania (York County). This page (https://www.olympusmachining.com/) documents the scope, controls, and engineering practices we apply for OEM, aerospace, defense, and medical buyers requesting olympus machining.

Olympus Machining is CAGE 9V9P0, CMMC Level 1 self-attested per FAR 52.204-21, and NAICS 332710. CMM dimensional inspection is performed in-house on Haas HMM 430 and Chien Wei CWB-450-CNC. AS9102 Rev C First Article Inspection packages, material certifications with heat/lot traceability, and Certificates of Conformance are produced on request as part of olympus machining.

To request a quote, supplier qualification documentation, or a controlled copy of our capability statement related to olympus machining, contact info@olympusmachining.com or call (717) 634-5094. Olympus Machining LLC, 639 Frederick Street Suite 1, Hanover, PA 17331.

Related pages

    Back to Materials

    Aluminum 6061 vs 7075: Properties, Machinability & Cost

    6061-T6 and 7075-T6 are the two most commonly specified wrought aluminum alloys in CNC machined parts. This guide compares their mechanical properties, machinability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and cost from the perspective of a U.S.-based, ITAR-registered CNC machining shop in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

    Quick Reference

    • 6061-T6: Mg-Si alloy. ~45 ksi tensile. Weldable, corrosion-resistant, anodizes well, low cost. AMS 4027 / ASTM B221.
    • 7075-T6: Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. ~83 ksi tensile. Not weldable in production, reduced corrosion resistance, 2–3× cost. AMS 4045 / QQ-A-250/12.

    Property Comparison Table

    Property 6061-T6 7075-T6
    Ultimate tensile strength 45 ksi (310 MPa) 83 ksi (572 MPa)
    Yield strength 40 ksi (276 MPa) 73 ksi (503 MPa)
    Elongation at break 12–17% 11%
    Brinell hardness 95 HB 150 HB
    Density 2.70 g/cm³ 2.81 g/cm³
    Modulus of elasticity 10.0 Msi (68.9 GPa) 10.4 Msi (71.7 GPa)
    Fatigue strength (5×10⁸ cycles) 14 ksi 23 ksi
    Machinability rating ~50 ~70
    Weldability Excellent (TIG, MIG) Poor — not recommended
    Corrosion resistance Excellent Fair — usually anodized or Alclad
    Relative cost (per lb) 1.0× (baseline) 2.0–3.0×
    Primary alloying elements Mg, Si Zn, Mg, Cu

    Values are typical for T6 temper bar/plate stock per ASM Aerospace Specification Metals data. Actual values vary by mill, lot, and certification.

    Machinability Notes

    Both alloys are friendly to high-speed CNC milling and turning. The practical differences show up in chip control, surface finish, and thin-wall behavior.

    • 6061-T6: Softer and more ductile. Chips tend to be stringy without proper geometry — we run polished-flute, high-rake aluminum-specific tooling with through-tool coolant or mist. Built-up edge can occur at low surface speeds; we keep SFM above ~1,000 for 1/2" end mills. Excellent for tapping and thin-wall pockets where elastic deflection is a concern.
    • 7075-T6: Harder and produces shorter, cleaner chips — generally rated ~70 on the machinability index versus ~50 for 6061. Higher surface speeds (1,500–4,000 SFM with carbide) are routine. Better natural surface finish, which matters for as-machined Class 2 finishes and aerospace cosmetic requirements. Slightly more sensitive to residual-stress distortion when removing large pocket volumes from plate stock — we rough, stress-relieve where required, then finish.

    Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) Guidance

    • Weldments → 6061. 7075 is not weldable in production — the heat-affected zone cracks and loses 40–60% of its strength. Any welded assembly should be specified in 6061-T6 (welded, then T6 re-heat-treated if strength is critical) or 5083 for marine service.
    • Anodized cosmetic parts → 6061. 6061 accepts Type II (decorative) and Type III (hard-coat) anodize with consistent color. 7075's copper content produces a darker, less uniform anodize finish — Type III on 7075 is common for tooling but cosmetically variable.
    • Strength-driven aerospace / defense parts → 7075. When the load case sets the wall thickness or pocket depth, 7075-T6's ~83 ksi tensile lets us thin-wall further and reduce mass — common for aerospace structural fittings, receivers, and bracketry per AMS 4045.
    • Marine / wet-service → 6061 (or 5083). 7075 is susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking in the short-transverse direction unless specified in -T73 or -T7351 temper. Default to 6061-T6 for fluid-handling and marine hardware.
    • Tooling plates and fixtures → 7075 or MIC-6. 7075-T651 plate (stress-relieved) holds tolerance through heavy stock removal. For dimensional stability without strength requirements, cast tooling plate (MIC-6) is a lower-cost alternative.
    • Cost-sensitive volume parts → 6061. 6061 raw stock typically runs $3–5/lb versus $8–12/lb for 7075. For production runs where the design isn't strength-driven, the alloy choice is the single largest material cost lever.

    Common Applications We Machine

    6061-T6

    • • Anodized enclosures and housings
    • • Welded weldments and frames
    • • Fluid-handling manifolds
    • • Marine and outdoor hardware
    • • Optical and laser-mount baseplates
    • • General-purpose machined brackets

    7075-T6 / T651

    • • Aerospace structural fittings (AMS 4045)
    • • Defense receivers and chassis
    • • High-load brackets and clevises
    • • Plastic injection-mold tooling plates
    • • Drone and UAV airframe components
    • • High-stress motorsport hardware

    How Olympus Machines Both Alloys

    Both 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 are routine production materials at our Hanover, PA shop. We process them on 3-axis, 4-axis, and live-tool turning platforms (Chien Wei CWB-450-CNC) with aluminum-specific high-helix carbide tooling and through-spindle coolant. Material certifications (mill certs) are retained for every lot, and heat/lot traceability is included on Certificates of Conformance for aerospace and defense customers. CMM inspection on our Haas HMM 430 supports AS9102 first article inspection packages — see our CMM inspection services page.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is 7075 worth the extra cost over 6061?

    Only when the load case or weight target requires it. For strength-driven aerospace and defense parts, the 80%+ strength gain justifies the 2–3× material premium because it lets the design thin-wall further. For general structural, fluid-handling, or anodized cosmetic parts, 6061-T6 is the correct default.

    Can 7075 be anodized?

    Yes — typically Type III (hard-coat) for tooling and military hardware. Type II decorative anodize on 7075 produces a darker, less uniform color than on 6061 due to the copper content, so it is not preferred for cosmetic parts.

    What about 2024 aluminum?

    2024-T3 is a copper-alloy aluminum with strength between 6061 and 7075 (~68 ksi tensile) and good fatigue performance — common in aircraft skin panels. It shares 7075's corrosion limitations and is not weldable. Ask us if 2024 is the right choice for your part.

    Need a Quote on 6061 or 7075 Parts?

    Send drawings and we'll return a quote with material recommendation, lead time, and tolerance review.

    Start a Quote

    Related

    Last reviewed: May 12, 2026