Also known as mild steel, low-carbon steel is easy to machine, form, and weld. It's widely fabricated into low-strength fasteners, pins, and axles. You can surface harden this material for added wear resistance.

If you don't see the size you're looking for, check out our Made-to-Order Low-Carbon Steel Rods.

Gray cast iron machines faster with less wear on cutting tools than most types of steel. It also absorbs vibration, so finished parts run quieter than those made of steel. An oversized diameter allows for finishing to your exact requirements. It's often used for gears, pulleys, rollers, and bushings.

Widely used to make sight windows and light fixture lenses, these cast acrylic rods and discs maintain clarity over time. The material is scratch resistant and stands up to outdoor use better than polycarbonate. It maintains clarity over time and won't weaken from exposure to UV, though the pigment in colored acrylic will fade over time when exposed to direct sunlight. Comparable to Lucite and Plexiglas® acrylic, cast acrylic is easier to machine than extruded acrylic.

Among the strongest aluminum alloys, 7075 boasts a yield strength that rivals carbon steel rebar. Originally made for aircraft frames, it's now turned into gears, machine keys, and other high-stress parts. It's a good substitute for 2024 aluminum when forming and welding aren't top concerns.

Balance high strength and workability. Initially designed for aircraft frames, 2024 aluminum is turned into parts that need to be especially strong, such as couplings for servomotor shafts. It’s one of the most widely used high-strength alloys, made into fasteners, gears, and everything in between. It’s also easier to form and weld than 7075 aluminum, among the strongest aluminum alloys out there.

An MDS additive provides exceptional wear resistance as well as a self-lubricating surface. Made of cast nylon 6, they’re easier to machine than other MDS-filled nylon rods and discs, plus they are better electrical insulators. Use them to fabricate gears, sprockets, wear strips, and other high-friction parts. This material is comparable to Nylatron and Nycast.

With a high amount of ferrite, these cast iron rods are easier to machine without cracking than other impact-resistant ductile cast iron rods. Use them to create bushings, gears, pulleys, and pistons. These rods are also known as 65-45-12 ductile iron rods. All conduct electricity. They will become magnetic if exposed to a magnetic field. They’re often used to replace low and medium carbon steel rods.

Because these cast nylon 6 rods and discs are easier to machine than standard nylon 6/6, they’re often made into pulleys, screws, bushings, and bearings. They’re also better electrical insulators. They have a wear-resistant, slippery surface that reduces friction. This material is comparable to Nylatron and Nycast.

The most widely used aluminum, 6061 is made into everything from pipe fittings to containers to airplane parts. It balances strength and corrosion resistance, plus it's easy to machine and weld.

Don't see the size you need? Check out our Made-to-Order 6061 Aluminum Rods.

Offering a low-friction surface that prevents sticking and binding, these rods and discs are often machined into bushings and bearings. UHMW is impact and wear resistant to handle the scuffs, scrapes, and strikes that other plastic can’t.