Carbon Steel Components

Steel is available in many grades, and the choice of alloy can drastically affect the properties of your precision-machined components. Do you need your components to be hard all the way through or just on the surface?  Are you going to plate your parts?  Do you need a wear-resistant surface?  Is it okay if your components contain lead?  All these and many others become part of the decision-making process in choosing the correct steel.  Common alloys machined at Swissturn include 1018, 1117, 1144, 12L14, 4140, and 41L40.  

1144 Steel is a popular type of carbon steel known for its excellent machinability and high strength. It belongs to the cold-drawn steels class, typically used in applications requiring precise dimensions and smooth finishes. The “11” in its name refers to the approximate carbon content of 0.11%, while the “44” indicates that it contains about 0.44% manganese. 1144 steel can be heat-treated to enhance its mechanical properties further. The material can achieve improved hardness and toughness by subjecting it to quenching and tempering, expanding its range of applications.

One of the notable features of 1144 steel is its ability to be easily machined.  It has a high level of machinability due to the addition of sulfur, which forms manganese sulfide inclusions that assist in chip breaking and lubrication during the cutting process. This property makes it a preferred choice for components that require intricate shapes or fine details. Moreover, 1144 steel exhibits good strength and wear resistance. Its combination of carbon and manganese provides a solid foundation for structural integrity and durability. A popular version of 1144 called Stressproof® has superior machining properties to the generic versions of 1144.  1144 is commonly used in applications such as shafts, gears, bushings, and bolts, where strength and reliability are crucial. 

12L14 Steel is an extremely popular free-machining alloy, ideal for components requiring considerable machining and close tolerances.  The lead allows the material to be machined quickly and efficiently to a smooth finish.

The machinability of 4140 Steel is approximately 65% in annealed condition.  If lead is added (41L40), it will become more machinable but lead also makes the material more difficult to weld.