Material Selector
Filter 1,200+ metals & plastics by strength, weight, cost, machinability, temperature and corrosion resistance.
Open toolmfgiq is the decision layer for custom manufacturing. Compare materials, processes and finishes with real data and free tools — then get your part made by a vetted factory. No guesswork. No sales pressure.
Interactive, data-backed tools that answer the questions you actually have at the start of a project — what material, what process, what finish, what it'll cost. Free, no login, no email wall.
Filter 1,200+ metals & plastics by strength, weight, cost, machinability, temperature and corrosion resistance.
Open toolAnswer a few questions about volume, geometry and tolerance — get the right process: CNC, 3D printing, molding, sheet metal or casting.
Open toolCompare anodizing, powder coating, plating, bead blasting and more by look, durability, cost and lead time.
Open toolGet a ballpark machining cost from material, size and quantity in seconds — so you can budget before you ever send a drawing.
Open toolStandard ISO tolerances, fits and what's realistically achievable by each process — no more guessing your callouts.
Open toolSanity-check your design against common manufacturability rules for your chosen process before you request a quote.
Open toolMost manufacturing sites are blog posts and a quote button. mfgiq is powered by a structured database of materials, processes and finishes — so every tool and every comparison draws from the same verified data.
| Property | 6061-T6 | 7075-T6 |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | 276 MPa | 503 MPa |
| Machinability | Excellent | Good |
| Corrosion resist. | Good | Fair |
| Relative cost | $ | $$$ |
| Best for | General use | High-stress |
The exact questions engineers type into Google and ask AI — answered with a direct verdict and a real data table, not a 2,000-word ramble.
Two of the most-specified aluminum alloys — strength vs machinability vs cost.
Compare →Which process wins at your volume? The crossover point that actually matters.
Compare →Finish face-off: durability, look, thickness, cost and color options.
Compare →When to print and when to cut — by tolerance, material and quantity.
Compare →The classic trade-off: weight, strength, cost and corrosion, side by side.
Compare →Two workhorse plastics compared on toughness, heat, clarity and cost.
Compare →Use the tools and comparisons to lock in the right material, process and finish — with real data behind every choice.
Sanity-check tolerances and manufacturability, and get a ballpark cost — before you ever send a drawing.
When you're ready, send your file and get a real quote from a vetted factory — CNC, molding, sheet metal and more.
Make the right call on material, process and finish in minutes — then get it made. Free tools, no login.