6061 aluminum bars are solid extruded or drawn profiles supplied in straight lengths, offering excellent machinability, strength, and corrosion resistance. The 6061-T6 temper provides 290 MPa tensile strength, making these bars ideal for machined components, shafts, and structural applications.
HXM Aluminum supplies 6061 aluminum bars in round, square, hexagonal, and flat profiles. Round bar diameters range from 3mm to 400mm, with standard lengths up to 6000mm. Available tempers include T6, T651, T4, and O. All bars are certified to ASTM B221 standards.
Our bar processing services include cut-to-length, CNC turning, milling, and surface treatment. Contact us with your bar specifications for a competitive quotation.
Quick Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Alloy | 6061 (AlMg1SiCu) |
| Temper | T6, T651, T4, O |
| Standard | ASTM B221, EN 755-2 |
| Profile | Round, square, hexagonal, flat |
| Diameter (Round) | 3mm – 400mm |
| Side (Square/Hex) | 5mm – 200mm |
| Length | Up to 6000mm (cut to size) |
| Surface | Mill finish, drawn, anodized |
| Processing | Cut-to-length, CNC turning, milling |
Chemical Composition
For extruded and drawn 6061 aluminum bars, the chemical composition per ASTM B221 and EN 573-3 determines the extrusion surface quality, machinability, and dimensional stability of solid profiles. The composition is optimized for extrudability while maintaining the high strength and excellent machining characteristics that make 6061 bars the preferred alloy for CNC machined components.
| Element | Min (%) | Max (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.40 | 0.80 |
| Iron (Fe) | – | 0.70 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.15 | 0.40 |
| Manganese (Mn) | – | 0.15 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.80 | 1.20 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.04 | 0.35 |
| Zinc (Zn) | – | 0.25 |
| Titanium (Ti) | – | 0.15 |
| Others (each) | – | 0.05 |
| Aluminum (Al) | – | Remainder |
Composition notes for bars: The magnesium-silicon balance controls the extrusion speed and surface finish: higher silicon within the range improves extrudability and surface brightness, while magnesium drives the T6 age-hardening response. Chromium prevents grain growth during solution heat treatment, which is critical for bars that will be precision-machined. Iron content is controlled to minimize hard intermetallic particles that can damage cutting tools during CNC machining of bar stock.
Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum bars, tested per ASTM B221 and ASTM B557, are determined by the temper condition and the extrusion or drawing process. Drawn bars exhibit higher dimensional accuracy and slightly higher surface hardness due to work hardening from the cold drawing operation.
| Property | T6 Temper | T651 Temper | O Temper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa) | 290 | 290 | 150 |
| Yield Strength (MPa) | 240 | 240 | 83 |
| Elongation in 50mm (%) | 10 | 12 | 18 |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 95 | 95 | 30 |
| Elastic Modulus (GPa) | 68.9 | 68.9 | 68.9 |
| Fatigue Strength (MPa) | 96 | 96 | 62 |
Bar-specific mechanical considerations:
- Machinability rating: 6061-T6 bars are rated Class B (good machinability), achieving surface finishes of Ra 0.8 microns or better on CNC lathes at cutting speeds of 150-300 m/min with carbide tooling.
- Straightness tolerance: T651 bars are stress-relieved by stretching (1-3% permanent set), achieving straightness of 1mm per 300mm length. This is critical for precision machining applications.
- Size effect: Bars above 200mm diameter may exhibit slightly lower tensile strength (270-280 MPa in T6) due to slower quench rates in the core during solution heat treatment.
6061 aluminum bars are available in multiple profiles with a comprehensive size range:
| Profile | Size Range | Tolerance | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Bar | Dia: 3mm – 400mm | +/-0.05mm – +/-0.5mm | Shafts, machining |
| Square Bar | Side: 5mm – 200mm | +/-0.1mm – +/-0.5mm | Structural, fabrication |
| Hex Bar | AF: 5mm – 100mm | +/-0.1mm – +/-0.3mm | Fasteners, fittings |
| Flat Bar | 3x10mm – 50x300mm | +/-0.1mm – +/-0.5mm | Brackets, supports |
Extruded vs Drawn: Extruded bars are produced by pushing heated billet through a die, suitable for larger sizes and general applications. Drawn bars undergo additional cold drawing for improved dimensional accuracy and surface finish, preferred for precision machining applications.
Product Features
- Excellent machinability: 6061 is rated as one of the most machinable aluminum alloys, producing clean chips and achieving fine surface finishes on CNC lathe and milling machines.
- High strength: 6061-T6 bars deliver 290 MPa tensile strength, making them suitable for load-bearing machined components and structural applications.
- Good corrosion resistance: The Mg-Si composition provides excellent atmospheric corrosion resistance without protective coating.
- Multiple profiles available: Round, square, hexagonal, and flat bars to suit different machining and structural requirements.
- Dimensional stability: T651 temper bars are stress-relieved by stretching, maintaining dimensional stability during machining operations.
- Good anodizing response: 6061 bars produce uniform anodized coatings for decorative and protective surface finishes.
Applications
6061 aluminum bars are used across diverse industries for machined and structural components:
- Machined components: CNC machined parts, shafts, bushings, fittings, and custom components requiring precision and strength.
- Structural supports: Support bars, brackets, and structural elements in architectural and industrial applications.
- Fasteners and hardware: Hex bars for bolt and nut manufacturing, threaded fasteners, and hardware fittings.
- Aerospace components: Aircraft fittings, structural pins, and aerospace machined parts requiring high strength-to-weight ratio.
- Automotive: Custom automotive components, drive shafts, and structural parts.
- Marine hardware: Marine fittings, rail stanchions, and deck hardware benefiting from corrosion resistance.
Recommended temper by application: T6 for general structural and machined components; T651 for precision machining requiring dimensional stability; T4 for moderate strength with post-machining aging; O temper for forging and severe forming operations.
HXM Aluminum provides comprehensive bar processing services:
- Cut-to-length: Precision sawing to custom lengths with +/-0.5mm tolerance, including mitre cutting.
- CNC turning: Lathe turning of round bars to reduced diameters, stepped shafts, and custom profiles.
- CNC milling: Milling of bar stock to produce flats, slots, and custom geometries.
- Surface treatment: Anodizing, powder coating, and polishing for corrosion protection and decoration.
- Deburring and chamfering: Edge finishing for safe handling and proper assembly fit.
- Custom packaging: Bar bundles with protective material, end caps, and export packaging.
Why Choose HXM Aluminum
- Comprehensive profile range: Round, square, hexagonal, and flat bars in a single alloy, simplifying your supply chain.
- Full certification: ASTM B221 compliance with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates for every shipment.
- Machining-ready stock: T651 stress-relieved bars for precision machining with minimal warpage.
- Custom cutting service: Cut-to-length and CNC pre-machining to reduce your processing time.
- Export experience: Professional bar packaging for international shipping with full documentation and traceability.
Related 6061 Products
Need 6061 aluminum in other product forms? Our full-range production capability means you can source bars, tubes, sheets, and more from a single supplier with consistent quality certification:
All 6061 products share the same alloy chemistry and are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. Contact us for a bundled quotation covering multiple product forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 6061-T6 and 6061-T651 aluminum bar?
What is the difference between extruded and drawn 6061 aluminum bar?
Can 6061 aluminum bars be machined on standard CNC equipment?
What profiles are available for 6061 aluminum bars?
Can 6061 aluminum bars be forged?
Why choose T651 temper bars for CNC machining?
How are 6061 aluminum bars packaged for export?
How do I request a quotation for 6061 aluminum bars?
Request a Quote
Ready to source 6061 aluminum bars for your project? Include these specifications:
- Required information: Alloy/temper, profile type, dimensions, length, quantity, surface finish, delivery destination
- Quotation turnaround: Within 24 hours
- Minimum order: [COMPANY DATA REQUIRED]
- Lead time: [COMPANY DATA REQUIRED]
Click “Get A Quote” to submit your bar specifications.
