6061-T6 Aluminum Bar

Heat-treatable 6061-T6 aluminum bar — the most versatile alloy for CNC machining. Available in round, square, flat, and hex shapes. Diameter 5-500mm. Tensile strength 310 MPa.

Temper T6 / T651 Diameter 5 – 500 mm Shapes: Round / Square / Flat / Hex
Get Quote Download Datasheet
Temper
T6/T651
Heat treated & aged
Tensile Strength
310 MPa
Yield: 276 MPa
Diameter Range
5-500mm
4 shape profiles
Hardness
95 HB
Brinell scale
Product Overview

Overview of 6061-T6 Aluminum Bar

6061 is the most widely used aluminum alloy in the world. Its popularity stems from an exceptional balance of mechanical properties, workability, and cost-effectiveness that no other alloy can match across such a broad range of applications.

The T6 temper provides excellent strength after solution heat treatment and artificial aging, achieving a tensile strength of 310 MPa and yield strength of 276 MPa. This makes it suitable for structural components that must bear significant loads while remaining lightweight.

6061-T6 is the ideal choice for CNC machining, structural components, and general engineering projects. It offers good corrosion resistance in atmospheric conditions and can be readily anodized for enhanced surface protection and aesthetics. Unlike high-strength 7xxx series alloys, 6061 maintains excellent weldability using both TIG and MIG processes, making it the preferred alloy when fabrication involves joining operations.

We supply 6061-T6 bar in round, square, flat, and hexagonal cross-sections with diameters from 5 mm to 500 mm. All material is produced to ASTM B211 and AMS 4120 standards with full mill test certificates (EN 10204 3.1).

Technical Data

Chemical Composition of 6061 Aluminum

Nominal chemical composition per ASTM B211 / AMS 4120. All values in weight percent (%).

Element Si Fe Cu Mn Mg Cr Zn Ti Al
Content (%) 0.40 – 0.80 ≤ 0.70 0.15 – 0.40 ≤ 0.15 0.80 – 1.20 0.04 – 0.35 ≤ 0.25 ≤ 0.15 Balance
Performance Data

Mechanical Properties by Temper

Key mechanical properties for 6061 aluminum bar across common temper conditions.

Temper Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elongation (%) Hardness (HB)
T6 310 276 12 95
T651 310 276 10 95
O (Annealed) 124 55 25 —
Product Range

Available Shapes & Sizes

6061-T6 aluminum bar is available in four standard cross-section profiles to match your project requirements.

Round Bar

Dia: 5 – 500 mm

Length: 1000 – 6000 mm. Most popular profile for CNC turning, shafts, pins, and general machining stock.

Square Bar

Side: 10 – 200 mm

Ideal for structural framing, brackets, mounts, and milling stock where flat reference faces are needed.

Flat Bar

T: 5 – 100 mm / W: 20 – 300 mm

Used for base plates, bus bars, connecting straps, and trim where rectangular cross-section is required.

Hex Bar

Across Flats: 10 – 80 mm

Perfect for fittings, fasteners, valve stems, and components requiring wrench-grip geometry.

Machining Tips

CNC Machining Guide for 6061-T6

6061-T6 is rated as one of the best aluminum alloys for CNC machining. Here are key tips for optimal results.

6061-T6 has an excellent machinability rating, making it one of the most CNC-friendly aluminum alloys available. Its balanced composition of magnesium and silicon creates chips that break cleanly, reducing tool wear and improving surface finish quality.

Cutting Speed

Recommended surface speed: 200 – 400 m/min for carbide tooling. Use 2-3 flute end mills for best chip evacuation. Higher speeds produce better surface finish.

Feed Rate

Feed per tooth: 0.05 – 0.15 mm/tooth. Start conservative and increase based on rigidity of your setup. Deep slotting may require reduced feed.

Coolant

Use flood coolant or mist to prevent built-up edge (BUE). Water-soluble coolant at 6-8% concentration works well. Dry machining is possible at lighter cuts.

Tooling Tips

Use sharp carbide tools with polished rake faces. Avoid dull tools — they cause burrs and gummy chips. For threading, single-point inserts give best results.

“6061-T6 is rated as one of the best aluminum alloys for CNC machining — offering clean chip formation, excellent surface finish, and long tool life.”

Use Cases

Applications for 6061-T6 Aluminum Bar

From precision CNC parts to structural frameworks, 6061-T6 serves a wide range of industries and applications.

6061 aluminum round bars
Round bar bundles for machining
6061-T6 bar close-up
6061-T6 bar stock
Aluminum extrusion profile
Extrusion profiles and structural parts
⚙

CNC Machined Components

Jigs, fixtures, tooling plates, prototype parts, and production components with tight tolerances and excellent surface finish.

🏗

Structural Frameworks

Handrails, support beams, framing members, and structural assemblies where weldability and moderate strength are required.

🚗

Automotive Parts

Drive shafts, suspension components, brackets, and lightweight structural parts for automotive and motorsport applications.

⚓

Marine Hardware

Boat fittings, cleats, hinges, and deck hardware where good corrosion resistance in saltwater environments is essential.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about 6061-T6 aluminum bar.

6061-T6 offers moderate strength (310 MPa tensile), excellent corrosion resistance, good weldability, and lower cost. It is the best all-around choice for general engineering. 7075-T6 provides nearly double the strength (572 MPa) but has poor weldability, lower corrosion resistance, and costs 30-40% more. Choose 7075 only when maximum strength is the top priority, such as aerospace and high-stress structural parts.
Yes, 6061-T6 is one of the most weldable heat-treatable aluminum alloys. Both TIG (GTAW) and MIG (GMAW) welding processes work well using 4043 or 5356 filler wire. However, welding reduces the T6 temper properties in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) to approximately T4 temper strength. For full strength recovery, post-weld solution heat treatment and aging can be performed. In most structural applications, the as-welded joint strength is sufficient.
Choose based on your machining process and part geometry: Round bar for CNC turning, shafts, pins, and rotational parts. Square bar for milling stock, frames, and parts needing flat reference surfaces. Flat bar for bus bars, base plates, and rectangular cross-section components. Hex bar for fasteners, fittings, and parts needing wrench-grip features. Select the profile closest to your finished part geometry to minimize material waste.
We offer h9 (precision drawn) and h11 (extruded/standard) tolerance classes per ISO 286. For example, a 50 mm diameter bar in h9 tolerance has a range of 49.938 – 50.000 mm. Centerless-ground bar with tighter tolerances (h6/h7) is available on request for critical applications. All material complies with ASTM B211 dimensional requirements.
Yes, 6061-T6 has good anodizing response and can be anodized using Type II (sulfuric acid) or Type III (hard coat) processes. Type II anodizing produces a clear or colored decorative finish with moderate wear resistance. Type III hard anodizing creates a thicker, harder coating (50-75 microns) for wear-critical applications. The anodized finish provides excellent corrosion protection and an attractive appearance. Note that 6063 alloy produces a more uniform decorative anodize finish if aesthetics are the primary concern.