CNC Machining Carbon Steel Parts and Components
You can find steel parts in all sorts of products around you. Steel is one of the most-used metals for everything large and small. It’s fairly easy to machine, inexpensive, and very durable.
Spex uses CNC machines to manufacture high quantities of precision steel parts and components. We are an industry-leading machine shop and help our customers fulfill their part needs.
Benefits of carbon steel parts
Steel is a widely used material worldwide and it’s incredibly versatile. Compared to other metals, steel is used in more parts than anything else. The commonality of carbon steel, and the ability to use it in so many applications makes it one of the best options.
Carbon steel bar stock is available in round, square, and hexagonal shapes, and it can be significantly less expensive than other metals. Steel parts are also relatively easy to machines. That makes tight tolerances and complex part designs achievable.
The main downside is that steel doesn’t have great corrosion resistance. Steel parts aren’t the best option for work environments where moisture or chemicals are present. An additional layer of protection can be added by plating or heat treating steel parts.
Given the low costs and design versatility, steel is often used for high-volume parts, where many thousands or millions of identical parts are needed.
CNC machining steel parts
Carbon steel is used in many CNC machining projects. CNC machining offers tight tolerances for complex steel parts, and high quantities of identical parts can be made quickly and efficiently.
Spex machines thousands of custom carbon steel parts, including:
- Fittings
- Adapters
- Connectors
- Pipe fittings
- Ferrules
- Stems
- Outlets
- Pins
- Inlets
- Manifolds
- Sleeves
- Nuts & Bolts
- Screws
- Studs
Carbon steel alloys are used to make parts in a wide variety of industries, including: Hydraulics, Measurement, Instrumentation, Appliance, Petroleum, Gas, Electric, and Automotive.
Common grades of carbon steel
Like most metals, there are various grades or alloys of carbon steel that each have slightly different properties.
Common grades of carbon steel include: 12L14, 11L37, 11L41, and 1008.
11L37 Steel is a general purpose alloy. This provides good strength, stress resistance, and is easy to machine due to the added lead.
11L41 Steel is a free machining alloy that provides good strength and hardness. The hardness is deeper and more uniform throughout the metal.
12L14 Steel is the most used alloy for precision machined parts. It’s considered a free machining alloy and complex designs and tight tolerances can be machined quickly.
1018 Steel is a standard use alloy. 1018 isn’t always ideal for precision machining, but parts can be easily welded and cold formed.
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