| Alloy Steel & Carbon Steel
Assortments of Alloy Steel
Alloy steel is a type of steel that contains additional elements mixed in with carbon to enhance its mechanical properties. These elements are added to improve characteristics such as strength, hardness, toughness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and hardenability. Heat treatment may be necessary to achieve the desired improvements in these properties. Alloy steel is a modified form of carbon steel, engineered to exhibit superior performance and versatility in various applications. By incorporating different alloying elements, alloy steel offers a wide range of options to tailor its properties to specific requirements.
AISI 4140 (SCM 440, 42CrMo4)
One of the most commonly used alloy steels in CNC machining services is a versatile material that offers a balanced combination of machinability, strength, and stiffness. It possesses good weldability, making it suitable for structural applications. This alloy steel finds extensive usage in the manufacturing of shafts, transmission components, gears, molds, and cold-forged automotive and industrial spare parts. Its excellent mechanical properties and adaptability make it a preferred choice for various machining operations, ensuring high-quality and reliable components for diverse industries.
AISI 4340 (SNCM 439, 40CrNiMoA)
In the heat-treated condition, this alloy steel exhibits exceptional toughness and strength, making it highly suitable for demanding applications. In its annealed condition, it offers excellent ductility and formability, allowing for easy shaping and fabrication processes. With average machinability and welding capability, this alloy steel offers versatility in various manufacturing operations. It finds primary usage in critical components such as power transmission gears and shafts, aircraft landing gear, and other structural parts. Its superior mechanical properties and adaptability make it a favored material for industries that require robust and reliable components under demanding conditions.
AISI 8620 (SCNM 220, 21NiCrMo2)
In the industrial bearing applications, a common alloy steel is employed, known for its high hardness and excellent resistance to corrosion. This alloy steel exhibits remarkable contact fatigue strength, especially after undergoing carburizing treatment. Interestingly, even after the carburizing process, the core of the component retains its toughness and malleability. This alloy steel is extensively utilized in various internal engine components, suspension parts, bushings, and automotive parts. Its outstanding mechanical properties and ability to withstand harsh operating conditions make it a preferred choice for industries that require reliable and durable bearing solutions.
AISI 4115 (SNCM 415, 15CrMo5)
Generally carburized for use, surface hardness can be between HRC 56-60 after case hardening. Mostly used as piston, transmission shaft and gear, spindle.
*Ref 1. Alloy Steel
Assortments of Carbon Steel
To put it simply, carbon steel (*Ref 2.) is a type of steel that contains a carbon content of less than 2.1% by weight. It is a broad term used to describe steel that is not stainless steel. As the carbon content increases in carbon steel, it exhibits improved machinability and has the ability to become harder and stronger through heat treatment. However, it should be noted that as the carbon content increases, the ductility of the steel decreases. In other words, carbon steel offers a range of properties that can be tailored based on the desired carbon content and heat treatment, allowing for a balance between machinability, strength, and ductility. This versatile material finds widespread use in various industries due to its affordability, availability, and ability to be modified to suit specific applications.
AISI 12L14 (JIS SUM24L, DIN 9SMnPb36, free cutting steel)
Free cutting steel (*Ref 3.), also known as AISI 12L14, is a type of steel specifically designed for excellent CNC machining capability. When dosed with Lead, it exhibits significantly improved machinability, making it easier to achieve precise and efficient machining operations. This steel can also be case hardened to a hardness value of HV450, further enhancing its durability and wear resistance. It is available in various forms such as square, round, and hexagon, providing flexibility in design and manufacturing. Free cutting steel is commonly utilized in a wide range of applications, including shafts, bolts, valves, bushings, pins, fittings, machine screws, surgical and dental instruments, certain automobile parts, and various instruments. Its superior machinability and versatility make it a preferred choice for industries that require high-quality, intricately machined components.
AISI 1215 (JIS SUM23, DIN 9SMn36, free cutting steel)
AISI 1215 is a type of free machining steel that has been resulphurized and rephosphorized to enhance its machinability. When subjected to machining processes, it produces small, manageable chips, allowing for smooth and efficient machining operations. To improve its resistance to corrosion, AISI 1215 steel can be treated with nickel plating, chrome plating, or zinc plating. This protective coating helps prevent the steel from corroding in various environments. AISI 1215 steel is primarily used in applications where extensive machining is required and the stress levels and shock loading are relatively low. It is commonly supplied for heavily machined components and parts that undergo minimal mechanical stress. Its excellent machinability and corrosion-resistant properties make it a preferred choice for industries that prioritize efficient machining operations and require protection against corrosion.
AISI 1015 (JIS S15C)
AISI 1015 is a commonly used low carbon steel with good toughness, weldability, and punching press properties. It may have lower strength compared to medium carbon steel, but it is still widely employed in the production of chains, rivets, bolts, and shafts.
AISI 1045 (JIS S45C)
This medium carbon steel is commonly used due to its excellent wear-resistance and high strength. It can be hardened through heat treatment to achieve a hardness of HRC 45. It finds widespread application in mechanical parts and structural steel, including sleeves, automobile shells, pistons, steam turbines, machine shafts, worms, gears, crankshafts, and spindles.
AISI 1144 (JIS SUM43, free cutting medium carbon steel)
This commonly used medium carbon steel is known as a free-cutting steel due to its sulfur content, which enhances machinability. It also possesses excellent wear-resistance and high strength. It is primarily supplied for transmission components such as gears, shafts, bolts, valves, bushings, pins, fittings, spring seats, machine screws, as well as surgical and dental medical components, automobile parts, and industrial instrument spare parts.
JIS SK4 (SK95)
Contained 0.9-1.0% carbon by weight ratio, so called high carbon tool steel with great toughness, high strength and good wear-resistance. High hardenability, can be tempered to hardness at least HRC 62, less deformation in quenching. Generally used in a wide range of industrials including regular springs, spiral springs, knitting needles, horns, measuring tapes, pins, shafts, plug gauges and washers.
This high carbon tool steel, containing 0.9-1.0% carbon by weight, is renowned for its exceptional toughness, high strength, and excellent wear-resistance. It exhibits high hardenability and can be tempered to achieve a minimum hardness of HRC 62, while experiencing minimal deformation during quenching. It finds widespread application in various industries, including the production of regular springs, spiral springs, knitting needles, horns, measuring tapes, pins, shafts, plug gauges, and washers.
JIS SK5 (SK85, spring steel)
JIS SK5 is a widely used high carbon tool steel containing 0.8-0.9% carbon by weight. It is known for its exceptional toughness, high strength, and good anti-corrosion properties. With high hardenability, it can be tempered to achieve a minimum hardness of HRC 62 while experiencing minimal deformation during quenching. Tempering treatment is necessary to enhance the springiness of machined parts made from JIS SK5. This steel is commonly supplied for various industrial components, including automobile parts, blades, regular springs, clips, and washers.
JIS SK7 (SK65, spring steel)
JIS SK7 is a commonly used high carbon tool steel with a carbon content of 0.6-0.7% by weight. It exhibits high hardenability and can be tempered to achieve a minimum hardness of HRC 59, while experiencing minimal deformation during quenching. Tempering treatment is necessary to enhance the springiness of machined parts made from JIS SK7. This steel is typically supplied for a variety of industrial components, including automobile parts, coil springs, clip springs, and washers.
*Ref 2. Carbon steel
Free cutting steel (Ref 3.) is a type of steel that allows CNC lathes with automatic feeding equipment to operate efficiently and economically without the need for constant human interaction.