Sourcing aluminum round bar comes down to one question: what does your part actually need to survive in service? Get the grade wrong, and you’re looking at rework, tooling problems, or structural failure down the line.
At O’Hare Precision Metals, we’ve supplied both 6061 and 7075 aluminum round bar from Arlington Heights, IL, since 1970. This breakdown helps engineers and buyers choose the right grade before the order goes in.
What Actually Separates 6061 and 7075 Aluminum Round Bar
These two grades serve different masters. 6061 is built for fabrication flexibility across a wide range of structural applications. 7075 is built for situations where strength is the deciding factor, and there’s no room to compromise on performance.
Knowing which master your application serves makes the decision straightforward. The sections below walk through each grade, how we grind them, and what companion services are available once your bar is ready.
6061 Aluminum: Reliable, Versatile, Easy to Work With
6061 is heat treatable and machines cleanly across welding, forming, and standard machining operations. We carry it for heavy-duty structures, marine components, truck parts, and furniture manufacturing. It handles corrosion well without special coatings.
This is the grade most buyers reach for when fabrication ease matters as much as structural performance. Moderate load applications, multi-operation parts, and assemblies that need to be welded all point toward 6061 as the practical, low-risk choice.
7075 Aluminum: Maximum Strength for Demanding Applications
7075 sits at the high-performance end of our aluminum inventory, listed specifically for aircraft and aerospace applications. It delivers maximum strength at minimum weight, which is exactly what structural aerospace components demand from cylindrical bar stock.
This grade requires closer attention to tooling and process parameters than 6061. When the drawing calls for it, it belongs in high-stress parts where the application specification requires it directly, and substituting a softer grade is not an option.
Precision Grinding: Where Both Grades Get Their Edge
We grind aluminum round bar to tolerances up to .0001 inches with a surface finish of 8 micro inches or better. In-process gauging runs during the grinding cycle, so dimensional verification is built into the operation, not added as a separate step afterward.
Our centerless grinding handles bar stock up to 9 inches in diameter and 50 feet in length, with both in-feed and through-feed capability. A ground bar in either 6061 or 7075 arrives at your floor ready for the next operation, with no secondary finishing needed to bring dimensions in range.
Companion Machining Services Available In-House
After grinding, your bar may need further work before it’s a finished part. Our in-house services include milling, turning, saw cutting, chamfering, burnishing, and custom machining, all with quality control inspection at each phase.
Milling holds tolerances of (+/-)0.0001 in. and (+/-)0.0005 in. and handles planar surfaces, slots, and cutouts. CNC automated saw cutting handles diameters up to 7 inches using cold saw blades. Turning reduces workpiece diameter to a specified dimension and produces a smooth finish on aluminum and other metals.
Other Aluminum Grades We Carry
If neither 6061 nor 7075 fits your specification exactly, our aluminum inventory includes 1100, 2014, 2024, 2219, 5083, 5086, 6063, 6262, 7049, 7050, 7079, 7175, and 7475. Each grade has a dedicated product page with application details to help you compare.
We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and run quality control inspections at every phase of our operation. Every bar that ships from our Arlington Heights facility meets the dimensional and surface finish requirements of your application.
Get the Right Aluminum Bar Stock for Your Application
Tell us your grade, diameter, and finish requirement, and we’ll take it from there. Our team has been working through material decisions with engineers and buyers since 1970, and we’re ready to help you get this order right.
Call us at (847) 640-6050, email sales@ohareprecision.com, or submit your specs through our Request A Quote form. We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CST at 2404 W. Hamilton Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
FAQs
Which grade is easier to machine, 6061 or 7075?
6061 is more forgiving across welding, forming, and machining operations. 7075 requires tighter process control, but it is the right call when your application specification demands it.
Do you carry both grades in precision-ground round bar?
Yes. We stock both 6061 and 7075 aluminum round bar, available through our aluminum bar stock product line at ohareprecision.com.
What tolerances can you hold on an aluminum round bar?
Our centerless grinding holds tolerances up to .0001 inches with a surface finish of 8 micro inches or better. In-process gauging runs during the grinding cycle to verify dimensions.
What services come after grinding?
We offer milling, turning, saw cutting, chamfering, burnishing, and custom machining in-house. Quality control inspection runs at each phase before your order ships.