Ferritic stainless steels don’t shine among other steels in terms of physical properties. However, they have exceptional quality in magnetic properties and chemical resistance. Ferric steel’s strength lies in its resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

A lathe is a large machine designed to rotate a workpiece against a single-bladed cutting tool. After the workpiece has mounted on top of the lathe, the lathe turns it against a single-bladed cutting tool. The cutting tool itself remains stationary, but the workpiece rotates against it to remove material.

Waterjet cutting uses the force of high-pressure water for material erosion and cutting. This process can cut thick sheets of stainless steel. However, if the particular stainless steel grade has low corrosion resistance, waterjet cutting can cause adverse effects.

Using a lubricant while machining stainless steels is essential. Lubrication serves multiple uses for machining. Firstly, it reduces the friction between the cutting tool and the metal. This increases tool life by reducing the wear of the tooling. Secondly, lubrication reduces the temperature during the machining process. This reduces the work hardening and overheating problems. Lastly, lubrication fluids also wash away the stainless steel residue from the workpiece and the tools.

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Lathecutting speedChart PDF

This is explained by the fact that the milling machine generally works on three axes X, Y and Z and the lathe generally only on two, X and Z. Although the milling machine can even work with 4 or 5 axes.

Precipitation Hardening stainless steels are also known as PH stainless steel alloys. These alloys have slight additions of elements like titanium, copper, phosphorus, or aluminum. After the formation of alloy, these steels undergo age-hardening treatment. Precipitation hardening stainless steels can have 3-4x the yield strength of austenitic stainless steel.

In short, both lathes and milling machines have their own unique functions and purpose. So, what’s the main features of these two machines exactly?

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Grade 304 is the most commonly machined stainless steel. It is because of the popular demand for this steel. Grade 304 steel has high corrosion resistance and durable nature. Additionally, it has a very ductile, tough, and weldable material. This leads to countless uses throughout different applications.

Cutting speedformula

Stainless steel machining is not as easy as materials like wood. Stainless steel has a high hardness and tensile strength. Therefore, machining stainless steel requires understanding the different metalworking processes that work well on this material.

A milling machine, as mentioned above, is a machine used to remove material from a workpiece by feeding the workpiece against a multi-bladed or -pointed cutting tool. The milling machine is one of the most versatile machines in the shop. Usually, they are used to mill flat surfaces, but they can also be used to machine irregular surfaces.

Drilling is a secondary machining process used in conjunction with other metalworking techniques. Drilling is done to create holes in the metal workpiece. Stainless steels are drilled for screw holes, secondary assembly, or aesthetics.

High-speed steel is commonly used in drill bits and power saws. These tools are made to handle high movement speeds. Cemented carbide tools are made with Tungsten Carbide, Titanium Carbide, or Tantalum Carbide.

The best part when working with 3ERP is the ease of production. You can provide your designs to 3ERP. 3ERP then creates the design with the in-house machinery. The machinery itself is the best in terms of quality and features. Therefore, you get advanced machining capabilities without paying for the equipment itself.

Work hardening is the phenomenon where stainless steel gets harder during machining. This occurs due to the plastic deformation of stainless steel. Work hardening significantly increases the difficulty in machining stainless steels. However, hardening can be decreased by feeding coolant to the cutting tool.

Austenitic stainless steels are divided into two subgroups: AISI 200 and AISI 300. Sometimes, molybdenum is added to these steels to increase corrosion resistance.

However,the tool in a milling machine rotates about its axis, while the workpiece does not. This allows the tool to approach the workpiece in many different orientations that more intricate and complex parts demand.

Yes, stainless steel can be machined. In fact, there are many different ways of stainless steel machining. Machining stainless steel can be quite easy once you understand the properties of stainless steel and the right machining methods to use.

Stainless SteelSFM chart

Although lathes and milling machines follow the same machining principle, extracting material from a block and shaping it to produce the specified part, there are many features that differentiate them. That is why most modern manufacturing facilities are equipped with milling machines and lathes.

In addition, there are many types of lathes that are specialized for different materials and techniques. And it is mainly used in the metallurgical industry or in the wood industry.

Iron has excellent physical properties like strength and durability. However, it is highly prone to corrosion and abrasions. Adding Chromium to iron adds the ability to resist corrosion and abrasions.

Metal lathecutting speedchart

3ERP is the global leader when it comes to stainless steel machining services. It provides a range of stainless steel machining services. Some of the popular offerings of 3ERP are CNC machining, rapid tooling, and sheet metal prototyping.

Type 409 is the cheapest grade of steel. Steels belonging to the ferritic family are generally cheaper. This is because of the reduced chromium content in these steels. Chromium is the major driving factor in steel cost.

In a lathe, the workpiece that is being machined spins about its axis, while the cutting tool does not. Remember, when looking to create quick, repeatable, and symmetrical cylindrical parts, the lathe machine is the best choice.

Stainless steel is a wide class of a number of materials. Many believe that stainless steel is one particular alloy, which is wrong. There are more than 150 grades of Stainless Steel. These different stainless steels are divided into various classes.

Use the best quality workpiece materials for the smoothest operations. There are many grades of stainless steel. Within each grade, there are multiple quality options. Spending a little extra early on can help in saving significant cost and tool breakage hassle.

Duplex stainless steels have two structural components in their design. Duplex alloys are a combination of austenitic stainless steels and ferritic stainless steels. Duplex stainless steels improve the qualities of these two constituent structural elements. There are three grades in duplex stainless steel: standard duplex, super duplex, and lean duplex alloys.

We could also consider the cutting tool as a difference. The cutting tool used in milling machines usually has several blades or points. In comparison, the cutting tool used in lathes usually has a single blade. With multiple blades or points, milling machines are able to grind away material from the workpiece.

Martensitic stainless steels are named after Adolf Martens. These steels are known for their exceptionally high hardness. Aging and heat treatments apply to these steels for high hardness and tempering. Martensitic stainless steels can have high carbon quality or low carbon quality.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) uses electrical pulses to melt the metal. The electrical pulses have a very high voltage and frequency. This process is limited in terms of stainless steel cutting thickness.

Selecting the right tool material is essential to get a high-quality result. Two common options for making tools are cemented carbide and high-speed steel.

Cutting speedchart for different materials

Using stainless steel has a lot of benefits. The benefits significantly outweigh any difficulties faced in the machining process. Here are a few of these benefits:

Milling is the most common primary stainless steel machining process. It uses high-speed rotating cutting tools for a stationary workpiece. Choosing the right tool when using milling machines on stainless steel alloys is important. Wrong tools or high speeds can result in rapid tool wear. Milling stain steel has a very high accuracy and a smooth cutting edge.

Threading is done on steel parts for mounting screws and fasteners. The threads can be inside a hole or the exterior of the workpiece. Threading on stainless steel are usually carried on pipes and tubes.

Ferritic stainless steels were discovered early in history (1912). However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that their popular applications took place. Ferritic stainless steels belong to the AISI 400 family.

Ensure that you have sharp tooling for consistent and precise machining. It is better to replace worn-out tools. Using blunt tools can cause tool breakage and even ruin the workpiece material. When working on steel, tools also require honing of the sharp edges.

416 stainless steel is the easiest to machine. In practice, machining of 400 series stainless steel grades is quite easy. On the other hand, machining 300 series stainless steel grades is difficult.

Cutting speedchart for turning

In our Marketplace you can discover a wide variety of CNC milling machines and lathes. If you are looking for versatility for your next project a milling machine is the best options but don’t forget that a lathe is superior for cylindrical parts.

Stainless steel is an alloy of Iron and Chromium. Other elements like Carbon can also be added to get some particular properties. The amount of Chromium is at least 11%.

As we mentioned at the beginning, the principle of machining is the same but not its operational method. Consequently, the main difference between lathe and milling machine is the relationship between the workpiece and the tool.

Stainless steel is one of the most commonly used machining materials. Stainless steel machining creates products and tools for every sector out there.

Carbide tooling is faster than high-speed steels. In addition, carbide tools provide a better finish. This makes them ideal for mass production and high cutting speeds. However, high-speed steels are considerably cheaper.

Turning requires a stationary cutting tool and a rotating workpiece. The tool comes in physical contact with the rotating workpiece to remove material. Turning is a common process for machining austenitic stainless steel. It is important to keep tool overhang minimum when machining stainless steels.

Martensitic grades are used for surgical instruments, dental equipment, door beams, bumpers, firearms, cutlery, and ball bearings.

PH hardened steels find applications in extremely high strength requirements. Common examples are marine construction, aircraft, nuclear plants, and the chemical industry.

Stainless steel products are the preferred choice for many industries. Machine parts, in particular, are made using this material due to its rugged and corrosion-resistant nature. If you want to use stainless steel for your next project, get in touch with 3ERP to find the exact quotes.

This article will discuss the different grades of stainless steel and the methods to machine them. It will also provide several tips to make stainless steel machining the easiest metalworking process.

The tool connections and the machine setup should be extremely tight. Any tool chatter gets amplified and results in poor machining. Additionally, the machine bed should not have excessive vibration after workpiece fittings.

Stainless steel is not that hard to mill. However, it requires expertise and the right tool selection. The expertise helps in ensuring correct cutting speeds and tight setups.

In today’s post we help you to better understand the main features of these two popular industrial machines. Because a deeper understanding of the differences between lathes and milling machines will help you maximize its capabilities.

To sum up, there are different milling machines with specific functions, sizes and characteristics. They can be classified by different criteria, the most commonly used are:

Austenitic stainless steel is the most popular variety among all stainless steels. These steels are named so because they have an Austenite structure. Austenitic stainless steels are non-magnetic in nature. Additionally, they cannot be hardened by heat treatment. These properties are derived by elements like Nickel, Manganese, and Nitrogen.

Stainless steel can have some difficulties during machining. These difficulties are common in most machining processes. However, with certain precautions, the issues with machining stainless steel can be avoided.

Grinding is done to enhance the surface finish of the stainless steel. It can also make the workpiece more accurate by removing material in very low volume. Grinding rubs abrasive wheels against stainless steel workpieces. This process can also remove the burrs created due to welding. Grinding can help in creating a smooth cutting edge on stainless steel parts.

Cutting speedChart for milling

Duplex stainless steels are used for heat exchangers, tubes, shells, columns, condensers, reactors, piping systems, and other commercial equipment.

The problem with 304 stainless steel is work hardening. 304 shows properties of rapid work hardening during machining. This problem is resolved by adding sulfur to the workpiece.

316 stainless steel has one of the poorest machinability rating. It requires specialized cutting tools for machining. Therefore, 316 stainless steel is used for parts when no other option will work.

The primary issue arises due to overheating of the steel surface. Overheating is commonly encountered during any machining process. In the case of stainless steel alloy, overheating compromises the corrosion resistance of the materials. However, overheating can be avoided by monitoring the workpiece. Stainless steel shows tinted colors on the surface when heated.

Laser cutting uses an amplified light beam for melting and removing stainless steel. This method only works for thin sheets of stainless steel. It is better than cemented carbide tools because tool wear doesn’t occur. However, it is very expensive and requires highly skilled labor.

Low-carbon alloys can also prove to be difficult to machine. This is because of the high softness of these steels. The softness results in the adhesion of steel chips to the cutting tools. This shortens the tool life as well.

Every steel variety can give a certain degree of trouble during machining. However, some steels are more problematic in this regard than others. Here are some of the difficult-to-machine steels and the trouble they give:

High carbon steels are difficult to machine due to their extremely high strength and hardness. Additionally, these steels contain carbide-grade materials in them. These factors wear out the tools quite fast.

This heat reaction is fixed with the process of pickling. Pickling involves treating stainless steel with hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. The acid dissolves the oxidation layer from the steel, restoring the alloy’s corrosion resistance.