Carbon Steel CNC Machining

Two grades of steel are best for machining. The type of parts you need will dictate which grade you choose:

1018 steel is a mild, low-carbon steel that is machinable, weldable, and useful without high strength requirements.
As medium carbon steel, 1045 carbon steel is stronger than low carbon steel but is easy to machine.

Steel is the workhorse of the industry because of its economical cost, wide availability, ease of processing and good mechanical properties. Most steels have good machinability and weldability and take well to heat treatments. Some are stronger and harder than others but most steels offer a combination of toughness and wear resistance.

Steel is a good choice in terms of strength and durability, but its weight is the biggest drawback in comparison to other materials. There are more than 3500 grades of steel to work with and different grades behave differently when being machined. Some types of steel are specifically designed for greater ease when machining. Some steels have high work hardening tendencies and this necessitates the need to keep the machining process moving so there is no unnecessary heat build up.

It is also important to keep tools sharp when CNC machining steel. Other steels, except stainless steel, are prone to rust. Surface treatments are usually recommended.

At ECOREPRAP, we provide mild steel and medium carbon steel machining services, as well as surface treatments.