Yes. Most grades we machine weld clean, but heat treat, filler choice and joint design decide the result. We weld light-gauge aluminum frames, cabinets and brackets, then finish to print.
Most welding issues start before the torch is lit. Here is what goes wrong.
7xxx and some 6xxx grades are heat-treated and crack-sensitive. If the filler does not match the base alloy, the joint can crack within hours of cooling. We check the alloy certificate before choosing 4043 or 5356 filler.
Aluminum conducts heat five times faster than steel, so a 300 mm frame can move 0.5 mm or more at the far end. Weld sequence and fixture design matter more than machine settings. We rough machine, weld, then finish machine to ±0.005 mm.
Hydrogen trapped in the weld pool leaves pinholes. Clear anodizing turns them dark and hardcoat makes them worse. Gas flow, wire cleanliness and travel speed control this. We seal and inspect before any finish runs.
Aluminum oxide melts at 2,072 °C while the metal below melts at 660 °C. Without AC cleaning action or proper polarity, the arc rides on the skin and you get cold lap. Cleaning with a stainless brush and keeping the window short fixes it.
Weld first, machine second. That order solves most of the problems above.
A welded frame that is machined only before welding will not stay flat. The heat-affected zone softens 6061-T6 to roughly T4 strength, and the part moves as it cools. We leave 0.3–0.5 mm of stock on every critical face, weld the assembly in a fixture, then take the final cut after the part reaches room temperature.
For thin-wall enclosures and support frames, this keeps flatness and hole position inside ±0.005 mm. It also lets us drill and tap after welding, so threads stay clean and do not fill with spatter.
5052, 5083, 6061 and 6063 are the workhorses. They weld with 4043 or 5356 filler and hold up in frames, cabinets and brackets. 6061-T6 loses strength near the weld, but if the joint is not the load path, that rarely matters.
7075 and 2024 are a different story. Both are strong and machine beautifully, but they are generally considered non-weldable by arc processes. If a part needs 7075 strength and a welded joint, the usual answer is to split the design: machine the high-load detail, weld it to a 6061 or 5052 structure.
Use this to decide whether a joint should be welded or redesigned.
| Grade | Arc weldability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5052 | Excellent | Enclosures, panels, tanks |
| 5083 | Excellent | Marine and structural frames |
| 6061-T6 | Good, strength drops at HAZ | Brackets, housings, fixtures |
| 6063 | Good | Extrusions, frames, trim |
| 6082 | Good | Structural extrusions |
| 2024 | Poor, crack-sensitive | Aircraft skins, machined ribs |
| 7075 | Not recommended | High-load machined parts |
One shop for the whole part, so nothing gets lost between vendors.
AC TIG for thin sheet from 1.0 mm up, and for visible joints on cabinets, boxes and frames. Clean beads, low spatter, easy to finish.
For longer runs and thicker sections where speed matters. Good for support frameworks and welded assemblies that will be powder coated.
Faces, steps and locating features cut before welding so the fixture has something true to clamp against.
Final faces, bores, slots and threads cut after the assembly cools. Holds ±0.005 mm on critical features.
Laser cutting, forming and welding under one roof. Electrical boxes, chassis and support frames ship as one unit.
Anodizing, powder coating, bead blasting and laser marking. We pick finishes that hide weld porosity instead of highlighting it.
| Item | Capability |
|---|---|
| Max part size | 4,000 mm maximum processing size |
| Thin sheet | TIG from 1.0 mm thickness |
| Materials | 6061, 6061-T6, 2024, 5052, 5083, 6063, 6082, 7075, ADC12 |
| Tolerance after welding | ±0.005 mm on machined features |
| Finish range | Ra 0.8–1.6 μm standard, Ra 0.2–0.8 μm on request |
| Inspection | 100% inspection before shipment, reports on request |
| Order size | No minimum order quantity, one prototype to 10,000+ parts |
Numbers instead of adjectives.
Three wholly-owned plants and 150 technicians. Welding and machining sit in the same building, so a tolerance problem gets fixed the same day.
16 simultaneous 5-axis centers, 12 four-axis mills, 27 three-axis machines and 16 mill-turn centers. Post-weld features get cut without waiting for an outside shop.
That is ±0.0002 in. Final machining happens after the weld cools, so the tolerance applies to the finished part, not the pre-weld blank.
Raw material check, in-process monitoring and final inspection. Welded assemblies get the same treatment as single machined parts.
Send drawings or a STEP file. We return a quotation and free DFM analysis within 12 hours, including weld and machining notes.
From one prototype to 10,000+ part runs. Production can start within 24 hours of a released order.
Sheet metal boxes and support frames welded from 5052 and 6061, then machined and powder coated.
Welded brackets where the joint is not the primary load path, machined after welding for bolt-hole alignment.
Welded frames with 5-axis machined mounting faces. Flatness held after the weld cools, not before.
Not in the heat-affected zone. When you weld 6061-T6, the zone next to the weld drops to roughly T4 strength, so the joint is the weak point in tension.
If the joint carries the main load, either increase the weld length, move to 5052 or 5083, or redesign so the load goes through a machined feature instead of the weld.
7075 contains zinc and copper in amounts that form low-melting phases at the grain boundaries. As the weld cools, those boundaries tear before the metal gains strength.
There is no filler that fixes this in arc welding. Split the part into a machined 7075 detail and a 6061 or 5052 welded structure.
Both, on parts that need it. We rough machine, weld in a fixture, let the assembly cool, then finish machine the critical faces, bores and threads.
This costs one extra setup. It is the only reliable way to hold ±0.005 mm on a welded assembly.
It can. Clear anodizing darkens porosity and shows the filler as a slightly different shade. Hardcoat makes both effects stronger.
If appearance matters, we use 5356 filler, keep porosity low, and often recommend powder coating or bead blasting instead of clear anodizing.
Around 1.0 mm with AC TIG, if the joint is supported and the fit-up is tight.
Below that, distortion becomes hard to control on a frame or enclosure. We usually change the design to a folded or riveted joint, or add a thicker flange at the weld line.
If the part fits inside a 4,000 mm envelope and has no internal cavities, machining from solid gives better tolerance and no weld cleanup.
Welding wins when the part is a frame, a box or a large enclosure where 80% or more of the material would be removed as chips. Send the model and we will quote both routes.
Yes. We handle anodizing, powder coating, black oxide, plating, bead blasting and laser marking, then inspect 100% before shipment.
Material certificates and inspection reports are available on request. We work under ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 27001:2022.
Yes. Uploads are secure and confidential, and we sign an NDA on request before drawings are shared.
For prototype and low-volume runs there is no minimum order quantity, so you can test one welded assembly before committing to a larger batch.
Tell us the alloy, the joint and the tolerance that matters. We will reply with a quote and DFM notes within 12 hours.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
Trusted by engineers and manufacturers worldwide
Upload your 3D model or 2D drawing and get a quotation with a free DFM analysis. Maximum processing size 4,000 mm.
CNC Metals 13 grades
CNC Plastics 10 grades
Machines & processes 12 options
Surface & post-processing 10 options
Material: not selected Machine: not selected Post-process: not selected
Fill in this short form and we'll open WhatsApp with your message ready to send. We only use these details to reply to you.
Nothing is sent until you press send inside WhatsApp.
