HUASHENG PRECISION · Updated September 17, 2026
Material Comparison for CNC Parts: A Requirements-First Worksheet
Use this worksheet to compare candidate materials for one drawing. Start with constraints that cannot change, then compare only the candidates that remain. It is a purchasing and design-review aid, not a table of interchangeable materials.
Review the requirements
Swipe horizontally to read the table.
| Requirement | Record for each candidate | Decision gate |
|---|---|---|
| Material identity | Exact grade, temper or condition, filler and stock form. | Reject a candidate that cannot be specified or documented as required. |
| Operating conditions | Temperature range, load, exposure and duration. | Ask the design owner to review gaps in supplier evidence. |
| Mating features | Fits, fastening, contacts and finished dimensions. | Identify design changes required by a substitution before approval. |
| Finish and appearance | Coating, colour, texture, exposed faces and masking. | Compare in the final condition, not just as-machined stock. |
| Supply and cost | Available stock size, minimum purchase, machining and required records. | Compare total quoted scope at the same quantity and revision. |
Worked example: two different enclosure questions
A dry bench enclosure and a repeatedly cleaned evaluation housing may share the same outer shape but have different constraints. For the bench enclosure, assembly and appearance may drive the comparison; for the cleaned housing, the specified exposure becomes a separate gate. Do not copy a material choice from one application to the other solely because the CAD looks similar.
Use a three-state decision log
For each requirement mark “supported by identified evidence”, “open question” or “not acceptable”. Record the source document or drawing revision beside the answer. An open question is not a pass: send it to the material supplier, design owner or manufacturing reviewer who can resolve it.
Keep performance data comparable
When using a supplier datasheet, retain the grade and test conditions. Reinforced and unfilled grades, different tempers, or different test methods can produce misleading comparisons if placed in one column without context. Use the detailed material guides below for the next questions to ask.
Copy this request into your enquiry
Drawing / revision: __; quantity: __; approved material: __; candidate alternative: __; reason for comparison: __; conditions that cannot change: __; open questions: __; required documents: __. Ask for proposed differences to be listed separately and do not authorise substitutions until reviewed.
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