Core Advantages

Brass remains one of the most popular materials for CNC machining thanks to its excellent machinability, good electrical and thermal conductivity, natural corrosion resistance, and attractive surface finish. Compared with stainless steel, brass machines significantly faster and accepts polishing and plating more easily; compared with aluminum, brass offers higher strength and better resistance to dezincification in moist environments (with appropriate grade selection).

Key advantages of brass CNC milling:

Excellent machinability:

Free-cutting brass (e.g. C360) is among the most machinable metals available, with cutting speeds and tool-life advantages versus stainless steel and most steels.

Natural corrosion resistance:

Performs well in moist environments without additional coatings (with suitable grade selection).

Good dimensional stability:

Moderate thermal expansion and minimal distortion during machining.

Strong electrical & thermal conductivity:

Suitable for connectors, terminals, and thermal-management hardware.

Versatile surface finishing:

Readily accepts plating, polishing, and decorative finishes.

RoHS-compliant options:

Low-lead and lead-free grades available to meet environmental regulations.

Material Properties

We machine a wide range of brass alloys and provide engineering guidance to help you select the optimal grade for your application.

C360 Free-Machining Brass

The most popular free-cutting brass, with approximately 3% lead. Outstanding machinability makes it ideal for high-volume, high-precision components such as connectors, valve bodies, and threaded parts.

Typical properties (H02 half-hard): Tensile strength 340–400 MPa, hardness ~80–85 HRB, good thermal and electrical conductivity. Note: not RoHS-compliant by default.

C260 Cartridge Brass

Low-lead brass with excellent ductility and cold-forming behavior. Best suited for thin-walled parts, deep-drawn features, and complex geometries.

Typical properties: Tensile strength 300–370 MPa (annealed to half-hard), high elongation.

H59 / H62 - Common in Asia-Pacific Supply Chains

Widely used Chinese-standard grades. H62 has higher copper content and slightly better corrosion resistance than H59; H59 has higher zinc content and lower cost. They map approximately to international C272/C280-class grades and offer strong cost-performance for plumbing and structural parts.

Brass Grade Selection Guide

Grade	Lead Content	Machinability	Strength	Typical Applications	RoHS-Compliant
C360	~3%	Excellent	Medium-High	Connectors, valves, threaded parts	No (low-lead alternatives available)
C260	Low	Good	Medium	Thin-wall parts, fittings, decorative	Yes
H62	Low	Good	Medium-High	Plumbing hardware, brackets	Yes (with appropriate spec)
H59	Medium	Good	Medium	General hardware, structural parts	Depends on lot specification

Machining Capabilities

Equipment:

3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining centers

Size capacity:

Up to 800 × 600 × 400 mm

Minimum feature size:

0.3 mm thin walls and Ø0.5 mm small holes (geometry-dependent, subject to DFM review)

Production range:

From 1-piece prototypes to 100,000+ production runs

Tolerances & Surface Finish

General tolerance:

±0.025–0.05 mm (ISO 2768-fH) on most features

Precision tolerance:

±0.01 mm achievable on critical dimensions with appropriate fixturing and inspection

Tight-tolerance features:

±0.005 mm on selected features when supported by post-machining grinding or lapping (quoted on request)

Surface roughness:

Ra 0.8 μm standard; Ra 0.2 μm achievable with mirror polishing

Inspection:

100% CMM inspection on critical dimensions with full reports

Tolerance ranges depend on part geometry, material lot, and feature accessibility. We confirm achievable tolerances during DFM review.

Supported Part Types

Electronic connectors: high-conductivity precision contact components

Valve bodies & fittings: pressure-tight fluid-control parts

Heat sinks: complex fin structures for thermal management

Electrical contacts: high-precision conductive elements

Decorative hardware: bathroom, furniture, and musical instrument parts

File Formats & DFM Support

Accepted formats: STEP, IGES, DXF, SolidWorks (.sldprt). We provide free DFM (Design for Manufacturability) feedback to optimize your design for cost, quality, and manufacturability.

Surface Finishing

One of brass's strengths is its excellent response to surface treatments. We offer:

Electroplating: Nickel, chrome, gold, and silver plating - ideal for electronic connectors and high-end decorative parts. Brass typically provides better plating adhesion than aluminum.
Polishing: Mirror polish and brushed finishes; surface roughness down to Ra 0.2 μm. Common for clocks, bathroom hardware, and musical instruments.
Passivation & clear lacquer coating: Prevents oxidation and discoloration - well suited to parts requiring long-term storage or export shipment.
Sandblasting & tumbling: Effective deburring and uniform matte finish. Cost-effective for high-volume parts.

Lead Time

Transparent and reliable delivery schedules:

Quotation: within 24 hours
DFM feedback: 24–48 hours
Prototyping: 5–7 working days
Small batch (<100 pcs): 7–10 working days
Production (1,000+ pcs): 10–15 working days
Note: Surface finishing typically adds 1–2 working days. Rush service is available for urgent projects (additional fees, quoted upfront).

FAQ

Q1: Which brass grades are best for CNC milling?

C360 is generally the best choice for high-precision, high-volume machining due to its excellent free-cutting properties. C260 is preferred for thin-wall parts or applications requiring good ductility. H62 is widely used in Asia-Pacific supply chains and offers strong cost-performance for plumbing and structural parts.

Q2: Is C360 brass RoHS-compliant?

Standard C360 contains approximately 3% lead and is not RoHS-compliant by default. Low-lead and lead-free RoHS-compliant brass grades are available - please specify your requirement when requesting a quote.

Q3: What tolerances can you hold on brass parts?

General tolerances of ±0.025–0.05 mm (ISO 2768-fH) on most features, ±0.01 mm achievable on critical dimensions, and ±0.005 mm available on selected features when supported by grinding or lapping. The achievable tolerance depends on part geometry and feature accessibility.

Q4: Can you mill brass parts with wall thickness under 1 mm?

Yes. Our minimum stable wall thickness is 0.3 mm, subject to DFM review. We have extensive experience with thin-wall brass machining.

Q5: What surface finishes are available for brass parts?

Nickel, chrome, gold, and silver plating; mirror polishing; brushed finishes; sandblasting; passivation; and clear lacquer coating.

Q6: What is your minimum order quantity?

Flexible - from 1-piece prototypes to mass production. No strict MOQ.

Q7: How long does brass CNC milling usually take?

Prototypes typically take 5–7 working days, small batches 7–10 working days, and production runs 10–15 working days. Surface finishing may add 1–2 working days.

Q8: Can you provide material certifications?

Yes. We provide material certificates (Mill Certs) and RoHS test reports on request.

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