What Is Stainless Steel Machining
Stainless steel machining is popular due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, which allows parts to be machined from thinner materials. Since stainless steel can withstand extreme temperatures, its strength can be further improved by cold hardening and heat curing processes to suit the intended application.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Machining
Strong
Fabrication shops often choose stainless steel machining services due to the superior strength of steel. Cold hardened stainless steel is a strong material, which means parts can be machined from thinner materials, reducing weight and cost. It can also be strengthened further through a heat curing process.
Corrosion Resistant
Machining shops like stainless steel due to its corrosion resistance. Many metal parts are put to use in harsh environments where corrosion presents a risk to the functionality and the safety of equipment. Stainless steel offers a guarantee of durability that many heavy duty and industrial clients require.
Laser Cutting Stainless Steel
In precision sheet metal fabrication accuracy is important. Parts with defects or inconsistencies will mean problems for equipment and is a waste of time and money. Laser cutting stainless steel allows machine shops to cut complex parts from sheet metal with a high degree of accuracy. As well, since the design is programmed into the computer, parts can be replicated with ease and with a high degree of accuracy.
Low Maintenance & Durable
Stainless steel machining services are a preferred choice for many customers due to the low maintenance requirements of stainless steel parts. As well, steel has an incredible ability to withstand extreme temperatures. The combination of these factors often results in a longer life cycle of steel parts compared to other metals.
Material:SS303 304 A2 304L 321 316 316L 410 416 420 430 630 17-4PH 1.4301 1.4305 1.4306 1.4401 1.4435 1.454 Nitronic50, etc. Process:CNC turning, CNC milling, Surface treament:Polish, Brush, Passivation, Sandblast, Etching, PVD,Teflon plated etc
Why Choose Us
Fast and Reliably Delivery
Iterate part designs quickly and accelerate product development with quick-turn parts. Our automated design analysis will help spot any difficult to machine features before your design is sent to the manufacturing floor and save you from costly reworks further down the product development cycle.
Advanced Capabilities
Get anodizing, tighter tolerances, and volume pricing options through our network of manufacturers at Hubs. You'll find plating (black oxide, nickel), anodizing (Type II, Type III), and chromate coating in larger part quantities; tolerances down to ±0.001 in. (0.020mm); and cost-efficient machined parts at higher volumes to lower piece-part price.
Manufacturing Analysis and Online Quotes
When you upload your 3D CAD file to request a quote, we'll analyze your part geometry to identify any features that may be difficult to machine such as tall, thin walls or holes that cannot be threaded.
Infinite Capacity
Eliminate downtime spent waiting for parts and safeguard in-house machining with on-demand relief and infinite manufacturing capacity.
How To Select The Right Stainless Steel For Stainless Steel Machining
Choosing the right stainless steel for your machining needs involves considering several important factors. Stainless steels were initially used in applications like gun barrels, cutlery, and nitric acid tanks. Over time, more compositions were developed to meet specific requirements, such as better corrosion resistance, higher strength, and heat resistance.
For instance, Type 304, a commonly used stainless steel, has variations like Type 316, chosen for its greater corrosion resistance in marine settings. Type 305 is better for cold forming, while Type 303 is the more machinable version of Type 304.
Five key criteria should be evaluated to pick the best stainless steel, listed below by priority:
Corrosion or Heat Resistance: This is the primary reason for choosing stainless steel. Consider the environment and the level of corrosion or heat resistance needed.
Mechanical Properties: Pay attention to strength at different temperatures. The balance between corrosion resistance and strength guides selection.
Fabrication Operations: Consider how the product will be made, including machining, forming, and welding. The most challenging operation usually takes precedence.
Total Cost: Look at the big picture, considering the material, production costs, and long-term benefits of a durable product.
Availability: Determine if the material is readily available by contacting steel service centers or mills.
While the main focus is on meeting end-use needs, don’t overlook the stainless steel manufacturing aspect, particularly machining.
Specifically, It's crucial to keep in mind that stainless steels are special kinds of metal blends that have at least 10.5% chromium along with iron. Moreover, other elements like nickel, molybdenum, columbium, or titanium are potentially added to it during melting to enhance specific properties. Considering these aspects, you can confidently select the right stainless steel for your machining projects.
Many parts and products can be machined from stainless steel. Typical industries that rely on stainless steel machining for their components and assemblies include:
●Aerospace
●Automotive
●Chemical processing
●Construction
●Electronics
●Food and beverage processing
●HVAC
●Medical
●Military and defense
●Oil and gas
●Pharmaceutical
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Stainless Steel Machining Manufacturer
When choosing a CNC machining manufacturer for your stainless steel parts, there are several factors to consider to make an informed decision. Among the most important considerations are the following:
Material Availability
Find a manufacturer that offers a variety of stainless steel grades to ensure that your material needs are met. Also, a company with a larger CNC material inventory is likely capable of handling high-volume production.
Here are some common grades of stainless steel for CNC machining:
304: This is one of the most widely used grades and is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and ease of fabrication.
303: This stainless steel has excellent machinability, making it ideal for components with tight tolerances.
306: This grade's superior corrosion resistance makes it an excellent option for components exposed to harsh environments, such as salt water.
17-4PH: This grade has high-temperature resistance, ideal for aerospace and medical applications.
Experience
An experienced manufacturer will thoroughly understand the properties of different stainless steel grades and how to machine them optimally. This expertise and knowledge can also help ensure that your parts are manufactured to the highest quality standards. Similarly, verify whether the manufacturer has worked on similar projects in the past to avoid costly mistakes.
Equipment
A reliable partner will have durable and precise manufacturing equipment, including the most recent software and programs. This is especially important to avoid the possibility of breakdowns that could cause production delays. Moreover, advanced pieces of equipment can be more cost-effective in the long run as they can produce precise parts, resulting in fewer mistakes and less waste.
Quality Control
A manufacturer with a strong quality control system can guarantee that the parts you receive meet specifications, industry standards, and safety regulations. Additionally, it ensures few to no defects in the machined components. This can reduce the expenses associated with rework, repairs, and replacements.
Certifications
ISO certification demonstrates a company's commitment to quality control and continuous improvement. It also shows that they have implemented a quality management system that meets or exceeds international standards.
Budget
Considering the budget ensures that you receive the best value for your money. It is recommended to obtain quotes from multiple manufacturers to compare the costs of the parts and any additional fees.
The versatility, aesthetic appeal, and varying grades of stainless steel make it one of the most common choices in many industries. While it is most applicable in medical or aerospace applications, stainless steel machining is often used to create custom parts for:
Custom Machined Hardware
Defense
Consumer Electronics
Automotive Parts
And many others!
Custom Stainless Steel Parts for Medical Applications
Stainless steel is particularly suited to creating CNC machined parts for medical implantable devices, surgical instruments, and other medical components. Stainless steel features antibacterial properties, resists staining, does not deform over time, and is rust-proof. These features reduce the risk of infection from contaminants or surface imperfections.
Stainless Steel Components for the Aerospace Industry
While aluminum was once the go-to material for the aerospace industry, stainless steel is becoming more prevalent. While stainless steel machined components are heavier than their aluminum counterparts, stainless steel machining creates components with better resistance to corrosion and general wear and tear. Additionally, stainless steel’s resistance to high temperatures makes it an excellent choice for aerospace applications.
Overcoming Challenges In Stainless Steel Machining
There are various challenges when CNC machining stainless steel. However, there are ways to overcome such challenges, and they include:
Avoid Deformation of Your Workpiece
Numerous elements, including feed rate, speeds, and cutting tools, can cause a workpiece to deform. Increasing tool deflection while utilizing a worn cutting tool would make pieces out of tolerance and distorted. This is why it's crucial to machine stainless steel at the proper speed and feed rate.
Select Special End Mills and Drills
It is advisable to use high-quality tools, such as drills and end mills made of tungsten or molybdenum HSS. They can resist the strain of the process when cutting stainless steel with little wear. These devices also enhance surface quality. Use durable tools sparingly because doing so could slow down machining and raise manufacturing expenses.
Use Pecking and Chip-breaking Cycles
One method of controlling chip formation in machining is pecking and chip-breaking cycles. This helps get rid of lengthy, stringy chips. Checking tools frequently is another technique to control chip formation because chip production is increased by worn cutting tools.
Manage Generated Heat
Heat is one of the causes of stainless steel CNC machining failures. It is advisable to keep the cutting speed moderate and use coolants to control the heat. Additionally, it is often advised to halt machining when the material begins to overheat.
Different Ways To Clean Stainless Steel Machining Parts
Stainless steel is renowned for its incredible resistance to corrosion, durability, lighter weight, and how easy it is to clean. Because of these factors, maintenance of sanitary stainless steel components are a fairly simple matter so long as you have a grasp on the best ways to do so. To help you better understand what we mean, allow us to share some of the different ways to clean stainless steel parts that will keep them healthy and even longer lasting than they already are.
Oil and Grease
For a lot of industries, oil and grease is a common plague on their tools and equipment that can be difficult to remove due to their slick and viscous nature. The best way to solve this issue is by using a solvent instead of water with a non-abrasive cloth to avoid scratches. Some of the solvents you should use include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, or methylated spirits. Use the non-abrasive cloth to apply the solvent several times until your tools and parts are clear of oil and grease.
Localized Rust
Rust will forever be the greatest enemy of metals everywhere. While stainless steel is much more resistant than other metal materials, it's not impervious. If you notice some small spots of rust on your stainless-steel parts, you can use an oxalic acid solution to dissolve the contaminating particles.
First, apply the oxalic acid solution with a cloth and then allow the solution to rest on the surface so it has time to dissolve the contamination. Then, rinse the solution away with clean water.
Corrosion Symptoms
Again, while highly resistant to corrosion, it's not impervious. However, it does allow for a greater window to catch corrosion before it becomes a larger problem. Minor and moderate corrosion can be treated using an all-purpose lubricant or phosphoric acid-base stainless-steel cleaner.
Of the different ways to clean stainless steel parts, this is by far the simplest. You simply need to wipe the affected area with WD-40 and then rinsed with clean water.
Substances To Avoid
There are a few substances you should avoid using so that you don't accidentally damage your parts more. These substances include:
●Abrasive cleaners
●Chloride cleaners
●Chloride bleach
●All-purpose cleaners
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Ruixing was founded in 2005 and passed ISO9001-2015. We are specialized in machining services for 18 years more. We are your professional partner of machining parts.
Our service focus on the professional machining service for Industry Automation, Aerospace parts, Knitting Machine Parts, Instruments & Meters, Sensor, Medical Equipment, Beauty & Personal Care, Consumer electronics and hardware, etc.
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