Pride's Expert Brass CNC Machining Services
At Pride, we don't just make brass parts; we create solutions. Whether you need a single prototype or mass production of over 100,000 fittings, we've got you covered. Our ISO9001-certified machine shop is all about precision and efficiency. Think of us as the friend you call when you need something done right—fast, reliable, and tailored to your exact needs.
Why brass? It’s strong yet malleable, resists corrosion, and can be polished to perfection. No wonder it’s the go-to choice for everything from aerospace and military components to plumbing fixtures, valves, automotive parts, and even musical instruments.
With our advanced CNC machines and a team of seasoned pros, we can handle it all—milling, turning, lathe work—you name it. We offer tolerances as tight as ±0.01 mm and deliver in as little as 3 days.
Need help? Our specialists are always ready to chat, offering personalized support to bring your vision to life. When you partner with Pride, you're not just getting parts; you're getting craftsmanship, expertise, and a team that genuinely cares about your success.
Custom Brass CNC Machining Services
Brass CNC Milling
Our 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis machining achieves ±0.01mm tolerances, delivering high-precision brass parts from simple shapes to intricate designs.
Brass CNC Turning
With live tooling capabilities, we seamlessly combine lathe and milling processes to produce precise cylindrical brass components, even for complex designs.
Brass Finishing Services
Enhance the durability and aesthetics of your brass parts with our range of finishes, including anodizing, sandblasting, powder coating, and plating, tailored to your specific needs.
About The Material
Brass is a versatile metal alloy made primarily of copper (60-70%) and zinc (30-40%). Sometimes, small amounts of elements like aluminum, tin, or lead are added to improve strength, corrosion resistance, or machinability.
As zinc content rises in brass, the alloy takes on a lighter hue. While this increase enhances its hardness, it also makes the material more prone to brittleness. The balance between strength and flexibility shifts with higher zinc levels, giving the alloy specific characteristics suited for different applications.
Brass has excellent properties for machining, such as:
- High Conductivity
- Corrosion Resistance
- Excellent Ductility
- Elegant Colors
- Excellent for Plating
- Easy to Machine
- Stable Dimensions
- Low Friction
Brass Alloys for CNC Machining
The most commonly used brass alloys at Pride for CNC milling and turning are C260 and C360. Choosing the right alloy is crucial for the success of your project. Each alloy has unique advantages, so it’s important to evaluate which one best meets your application requirements before starting.
Brass C260 (Cartridge Brass)
Brass C260 is renowned for its excellent plasticity, making it the most malleable brass alloy. It combines high strength with good machining performance and is easy to weld. However, it is less stable in general corrosive environments and may be prone to cracking. This alloy is widely used for complex cold and deep-drawn parts such as radiator shells, conduits, bellows, gaskets, cartridges, and detonators.
Brass C270 (Yellow Brass)
Brass C270, or yellow brass, is a versatile alloy with good corrosion resistance and ductility. Known for its bright yellow color, it is widely used in decorative applications, as well as in electrical connectors, plumbing fittings, and musical instruments. Its moderate strength and machinability make it suitable for a variety of uses.
Brass C280 (Leaded Brass)
Brass C280, also known as leaded brass, offers improved machinability due to its lead content. It combines good corrosion resistance with moderate strength, making it ideal for components like connectors, fittings, and couplings. This alloy is frequently used in plumbing and electrical applications, where precision and reliability are essential.
Brass C240 (Low Brass)
Brass C240, also called low brass, is a highly ductile alloy containing a higher proportion of zinc. This gives it a pale yellow color and excellent formability, making it ideal for decorative parts, jewelry, and applications requiring intricate designs. Its moderate strength and corrosion resistance make it suitable for non-structural applications.
Brass C230 (Red Brass)
Brass C230, or red brass, is known for its rich reddish color and excellent corrosion resistance. It combines good strength with high machinability, making it a popular choice for plumbing components, hardware, and electrical parts. Its appealing finish also makes it ideal for decorative applications.
Brass C210 (Gilding Metal)
Brass C210, also known as gilding metal, contains a high copper content, giving it a reddish tone and exceptional ductility. It is commonly used for applications requiring deep drawing and forming, such as bullet casings, medals, and jewelry. Its ability to take on a polished finish makes it ideal for aesthetic applications as well.
Brass C360 (Free-Cutting Brass)
Brass C360, often referred to as free-cutting brass, is a highly machinable alloy ideal for precision CNC machining. It features a high lead content, which improves its cutting efficiency and reduces tool wear. This makes it perfect for producing gears, screws, valve fixtures, and other intricate components. Its combination of machinability and strength makes it a top choice for high-speed production.
Brass C464 (Naval Brass)
Brass C464, or naval brass, is specifically designed for excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments. It contains small amounts of tin to improve strength and resistance to seawater corrosion. This durable alloy is commonly used in marine hardware, propeller shafts, valves, and fittings. Its high strength and toughness make it suitable for heavy-duty applications in demanding conditions.
Brass C330 (Red Brass)
Brass C330, often called red brass, is known for its excellent corrosion resistance and durability. It contains a mix of copper, zinc, and a small percentage of lead, offering a balance of strength and machinability. Red brass is typically used in plumbing, electrical components, and decorative applications due to its appealing reddish hue and resilience in harsh environments.
Comparison of Common Brass Alloys
Brass alloy suitable for your project can always be found at Pride
|
Brass Alloy |
Hardness (HR30T) |
Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa) |
Yield Strength (MPa) |
Elongation at Break (%) |
Tensile Modulus (GPa) |
Copper Content (%) |
Common Applications |
|
C360 |
78 |
359 |
145 |
53% |
97 |
60-63 |
Fluid connectors, sensor bodies |
|
C280 |
52 |
345 |
140 |
20% |
117 |
59-63 |
Barometer bullets, screens, radiators |
|
C270 |
43 |
365 |
150 |
54% |
105 |
63-68.5 |
Mechanical parts |
|
C260 |
15 |
315 |
95 |
65% |
110 |
68.5-71.5 |
Radiator shells, conduits, cartridges |
|
C240 |
64 |
N/A |
170 |
12% |
110 |
78.5-81.5 |
Pipe materials |
|
C230 |
74 |
580 |
435 |
3% |
115 |
84-86 |
Cooling equipment |
|
C210 |
57-62 |
345-407 |
338-400 |
2-8% |
117 |
95 |
Conductive parts |
|
C464 |
83 |
450 |
250 |
30% |
110 |
60-62 |
Marine hardware, propeller shafts, shipbuilding components |
Key Notes:
Hardness (HR30T): Indicates the relative hardness of each brass alloy.
Tensile Strength: Divided into ultimate and yield strength, showing the maximum stress the material can handle and the stress point where it begins to deform.
Elongation at Break (%): Represents the material's ability to stretch before breaking, with higher percentages indicating better ductility.
Tensile Modulus (GPa): Measures the stiffness of the material.
Copper Content (%): Shows the proportion of copper in each alloy, affecting properties like conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Applications: Lists common use cases for each alloy based on its specific mechanical and physical properties.
Pride CNC Machining
Custom Brass CNC Machining with Finishes to Match Your Needs.
Your Design, Our Expertise.
CNC Machined Brass Applications
Brass is one of those materials that combines beauty and strength, making it a top choice for countless projects. From jewelry to furniture hardware, and even decorative handicrafts, it’s incredibly versatile. Thanks to CNC machining, you have endless possibilities when working with brass. Want to create small, intricate pieces like beads or watch components? No problem. Need larger, more complex parts like frames or hardware? Brass can handle that too. Brass's unique balance of softness and strength makes it easy to machine while still being durable enough to last. Whether your project is functional, decorative, or a mix of both, brass offers the best of both worlds.
Electronics & Electrical Industry
Brass is a top choice for electronic and electrical components thanks to its conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Some common uses include:
Connectors: Like plugs, sockets, and terminals.
Switches & Relays: Brass is great for electrical contacts due to its conductivity.
Circuit Board Components: Used in lead frames and heat sinks.
Plumbing & Valves
Brass is easy to machine and resistant to corrosion, making it perfect for plumbing systems and valves. Common applications include:
Pipe fittings: Such as elbows, tees, and couplings.
Valves & Pump Components: Brass is durable and wear-resistant, ideal for fluid and gas control systems.
HVAC Systems: Used in radiators and pipe connectors.
Decorative & Architectural Uses
With its golden finish and weather resistance, brass is popular in architecture and décor, including:
Door Handles & Locks: Durable and stylish.
Lighting Fixtures & Decor: Used in chandeliers, wall sconces, and ornamental pieces.
Building Facades: Brass panels add an elegant touch and develop a unique patina over time.
Machinery & Industrial Parts
Brass is easy to machine and wear-resistant, making it ideal for industrial applications like:
Gears & Bearings: Low friction and high durability make brass perfect for heavy-duty parts.
Bushings & Washers: Helps reduce friction between moving parts.
Molds & Fixtures: Ideal for prototyping and small-batch production.
Musical Instruments
Brass is essential in instrument making due to its acoustic properties and aesthetics, including:
Brass Instruments: Trumpets, trombones, saxophones, etc.
Percussion Instruments: Cymbals, gongs, and bells.
Decorative Parts: Used in both structure and embellishments.
Marine & Shipbuilding
Brass is highly resistant to seawater corrosion, making it crucial for marine applications like:
Boat Fittings: Propellers, valves, and piping systems.
Marine Equipment: Used in sensors, gauges, and connectors.
Corrosion-Resistant Parts: Ideal for long-term use in harsh marine environments.
Automotive Industry
Brass plays a key role in car manufacturing, commonly found in:
Radiator Components: Excellent heat conductivity makes it perfect for radiators and heat exchangers.
Electrical Connectors: Used in car wiring systems and sensors.
Decorative Parts: Like badges, door handles, and interior trims.
Medical Equipment
Brass has antimicrobial properties and corrosion resistance, making it useful in healthcare:
Surgical Instruments: Easy to sterilize and maintain.
Medical Equipment Parts: Such as valves, connectors, and sensors.
Art & Handicrafts
Brass’s beauty and workability make it a favorite for artists and craftsmen:
Sculptures & Ornaments: Its golden sheen and durability are perfect for decorative pieces.
Jewelry & Accessories: Often used for vintage-style jewelry.
Other Applications
Coin Production: Brass alloys are commonly used for minting coins.
Watches: Brass is great for watch movements and cases due to its durability.
Ammunition Casings: Its flexibility and corrosion resistance make brass a go-to material for bullet casings.
Surface Finishes For CNC Machined Brass Parts
Pride offers a variety of premium finishes for your CNC-machined brass parts, including powder coating, bead blasting, and plating. Each process provides unique visual and functional benefits. Powder coating offers a wide range of colors with excellent corrosion and wear resistance, ideal for long-term protection. Bead blasting creates a smooth matte texture, enhancing the feel while concealing minor machining marks. Plating adds a metallic shine, improving aesthetics and oxidation resistance.
Whether you prioritize appearance, durability, or functionality, Pride delivers the perfect solution to ensure your brass parts achieve the best performance and look.
Surface Finishes
As Machined
Description: The machined brass parts are left with visible tool marks and potentially sharp edges or burrs, which can be removed upon request.
✅ Pros: Maintains tight tolerances and is cost-effective.
❌ Cons: Visible machining marks, may require additional finishing for enhanced appearance.
Bead Blasted
Description: A process where fine abrasive particles (such as glass beads) are blasted onto the surface, creating a smooth and uniform matte finish while removing tool marks.
✅ Pros: Reduces surface roughness, provides a non-reflective matte appearance.
❌ Cons: May slightly alter surface dimensions, offers limited corrosion resistance.
Polishing
Description: The process of manually polishing in multiple directions or using chemical polishing to achieve a smooth and reflective surface.
✅ Pros: Enhances visual appeal with a mirror-like shine.
❌ Cons: Surface may require maintenance as it is prone to fingerprints and oxidation.
Decorative Chrome Plating
Description: A process of electroplating a thin layer of chrome onto brass components to enhance aesthetics and durability.
✅ Pros: Provides a bright, reflective finish with excellent wear resistance.
❌ Cons: Over time, chrome plating may develop cracks or wear off.
Powder Coating
Description: Applying a dry powdered paint to the component and baking it in an oven to form a strong, wear- and corrosion-resistant coating, more durable than traditional painting.
✅ Pros: Offers a wide range of colors, high corrosion and wear resistance.
❌ Cons: Coating thickness may affect precise tolerances.
Nickel Plating
Description: Electroplating or chemical plating a layer of nickel onto the brass surface to enhance its corrosion and wear resistance.
✅ Pros: Provides excellent protection against oxidation and wear.
❌ Cons: The plating may degrade over time if exposed to harsh environments.
Gold Plating
Description: Electroplating brass components with a thin layer of gold for increased conductivity, corrosion resistance, and durability.
✅ Pros: Improves conductivity, aesthetics, and oxidation resistance.
❌ Cons: Gold plating is expensive and may wear off over time.
Silver Plating
Description: Coating brass parts with a thin layer of silver via electrolysis to improve conductivity, corrosion resistance, and durability.
✅ Pros: Enhances conductivity, solderability, and anti-tarnish properties.
❌ Cons: Silver can tarnish over time and may require periodic cleaning.
Brushed Finish
Description: A process where abrasive belts or brushes create fine, uniform lines on the surface, producing a textured, satin-like appearance.
✅ Pros: Reduces the visibility of fingerprints and minor scratches.
❌ Cons: Not as reflective as polishing and requires periodic maintenance.
Black Oxide (Chemical Blackening)
Description: A chemical conversion process that forms a black oxide layer on the brass surface, improving corrosion resistance and reducing glare.
✅ Pros: Provides a low-reflective, industrial look with mild corrosion resistance.
❌ Cons: Requires sealing for better durability, may not be as wear-resistant as plating.
Chemical Etching
Description: Using chemical solutions to selectively remove material, creating detailed patterns or textures on the surface.
✅ Pros: Allows for intricate designs without affecting mechanical properties.
❌ Cons: Time-consuming and requires precise chemical control.
Passivation
Description: A chemical treatment that removes contaminants and forms a thin, protective oxide layer to enhance corrosion resistance.
✅ Pros: Increases the longevity of brass components without altering their appearance.
❌ Cons: Does not provide additional aesthetic improvements.
Gallery of CNC Machined Brass Parts
Our team takes pride in our exceptional manufacturing capabilities and craftsmanship. With advanced technology and extensive industry experience, we efficiently meet the diverse production needs of various industries. From high-precision medical devices and rigorous aerospace technology to prototype development for innovative startups and complex marine robotics systems, we provide end-to-end solutions from design to finished product.
No project is too big or too small—each challenge is an opportunity to showcase our expertise, and every order reflects our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Choose us for a manufacturing experience that exceeds expectations!
Why Choose Us?
Saving Your Cost
With our efficient production processes and strict cost control system, we help you save up to 30%-50% without compromising quality. Whether for large-scale production or small-batch customization, we offer the most cost-effective solutions.
Engineering Support
Our experienced team provides comprehensive engineering support for your projects. From material selection to design optimization, we analyze manufacturability and offer practical recommendations to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure optimal product performance.
Quality Assurance
As an ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturer, we prioritize quality at every stage. We provide comprehensive quality certifications, including SGS, RoHS, material certificates, and inspection reports, ensuring every product meets international standards and your highest expectations.
Our Happy Clients!
Emily Zhang
R&D Engineer
James Carter
Project Manager
Sarah Lee
Procurement Manager
CNC Machining brass FAQs
Is it easier to machine harder and stronger materials?
Not necessarily. The harder and stronger a material is, the more cutting force is required, which also generates higher cutting temperatures. This leads to faster tool wear and increased machining difficulty. High-hardness materials generally have poorer machinability. However, softer materials aren’t always easier to machine either. For example, metals like iron and copper, while relatively soft, tend to be sticky and can cause tool buildup, making machining more challenging. Ideally, moderately hard materials—like brass C360—offer the best machinability, as they provide a good balance between surface quality and tool longevity. In some cases, slightly harder materials can even result in a better surface finish.
What are the general tolerances Pride can achieve?
At Pride, we follow strict international standards for machining tolerances. For metals, our general tolerance is ±0.005 inches (±0.127 mm), complying with ISO 2768 standards. For plastics and composite materials, the tolerance range is ±0.010 inches (±0.254 mm). If your project requires tighter tolerances, we can customize the precision to meet your exact specifications.
How precise can Pride's machining tolerances be?
With our expertise in precision machining, we can achieve tolerances as tight as ±0.0002 inches (±0.005 mm). Whether it’s complex geometries or highly strict dimensional requirements, we manufacture and inspect every part to ensure it meets the highest industry standards.
Is brass easier to machine than aluminum?
Yes, brass is generally easier to machine than aluminum. C360 brass, in particular, is known for its excellent machinability, thanks to the lead content in the alloy, which acts as a natural lubricant. This allows for lower power requirements, faster cutting speeds, and significantly reduced tool wear. As a result, brass not only machines efficiently but also produces high-quality surface finishes and tight dimensional accuracy.
What is CNC machining for brass?
Brass CNC machining refers to using computer numerical control (CNC) technology to precisely shape and fabricate brass components. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, offering the aesthetic appeal and conductivity of copper with the added strength and durability of zinc. It is corrosion-resistant, weather-resistant, and easy to machine, making it a highly desirable material for CNC machining. Thanks to its outstanding machinability, brass can be processed at high speeds with minimal coolant use, making it a cost-effective and efficient option.
Is brass easier to machine than steel?
Yes, in most cases. While free-machining steels (like 12L14) are known for their good machinability, brass alloys are often even easier to machine. Brass has lower cutting resistance and generates less heat during machining due to its self-lubricating properties, which also slow down tool wear. These advantages make brass a top choice for CNC machining, particularly for high-precision and high-surface-quality components.
We're well-known as one of the leading brass manufacturers and suppliers in China for our quality products and customized service. Please feel free to wholesale brass made in China here from our factory.