# Recommended Alloys The alloys listed here are based on **observed behavior during dry milling on the Snapmaker Artisan** and documented testing. *** ### EN AW-6026 LF (Primary reference) Primary reference material used in this documentation.\ \ It has shown comparatively clean cutting behavior, with a lower tendency for built-up edge than some common alternatives like 6061-T6.\ Chip formation is generally predictable, and good surface finish is achievable.\ \ Most examples and parameter sets in this documentation are based on 6026 LF. *** ### EN AW-6061 (Fallback option) Widely available and workable under dry conditions.\ \ Cutting behavior is generally stable, but it can show a higher sensitivity to chip evacuation and tool sharpness.\ Built-up edge may appear earlier than on 6026 LF, and surface finish typically benefits from extra tuning or lighter finishing engagement.\ \ A practical alternative when 6026 LF isn’t accessible. *** ### Alloys closer to machine limits **EN AW-7075** It offers good machinability, but typically involve higher cutting forces or narrower stability margins.\ These are better approached once strategies and machine behavior are well understood. *** {% hint style="info" %} **Note on temper**\ Some alloys, like **6026 LF** or **6061**, are supplied in heat-treated conditions (often **T6/T8**), but this is not always written explicitly.\ Suppliers may describe the same condition as *“machining grade”*, *“hardened”*, or *“for automatic machining”* instead of stating the exact temper. Others, like **5083**, are **non-heat-treatable** and behave very differently during machining. **For sourcing**, aluminium sold as *machining grade* or *free-cutting* is usually supplied in a heat-treated condition such as **T6 or T8**, which tends to offer more consistent cutting behavior. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://miwicnc.gitbook.io/miwicnc/materials/aluminium/recommended-alloys.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.