Stainless Steel CNC Machining Service for Custom Part Manufacturing and Contract Fabrication

Stainless Steel Machining Service

Machining stainless steel is tough—it takes the right equipment, knowledge, and experience. Thankfully, advancements in stainless steel production, like adding complex oxides, have made it easier to work with. These improvements allow for higher cutting speeds, better productivity, and lower costs, helping machine shops stay competitive.

CNC Machining Parts

Stainless Steel Machining Operations

CNC Milling

  • Slab Milling

  • Slot Milling

  • Side & Face Milling

  • Form Milling

CNC Turning

CNC Turning Service

CNC Grinding

  • Surface Grinding
  • Cylindrical Grinding
  • Centerless Grinding
  • Internal Grinding
CNC Grinding

Heat Treatment

  • Annealing

  • Stress Relieving

  • Tempering

  • Quenching

Annealing Machined Parts
CNC Machining Parts with operators

Coating

  • Bead Blasting
  • Polishing
  • Powder Coating
  • Passivation
Machining Surface Finish

Machinability of Stainless Steel

  • Machining stainless steel involves gradually removing material to shape the final product.
  • Machinability is affected by:
  • Machining is both an art and a science, influencing part quality and performance.
  • Optimal results require balance, as even small changes in one factor can impact the entire process.
Stainless Grade            Description
Ferritic stainless steels Generally more brittle, making chip breakage easier but reducing flexibility.
Austenitic stainless steels Tough and ductile, they work-harden quickly, making them difficult to machine. These grades require slower speeds and specialized tooling.
Martensitic stainless steels Hard and strong, martensitic grades wear down tools quickly but generally provide good chip control.
Duplex stainless steels Combining ferritic and austenitic phases, duplex steels offer a balance of strength and corrosion resistance but require careful handling during machining.
Precipitation-hardening stainless steels These grades offer high strength but can be difficult to machine due to their hardness.
Stainless Steel Milling
CNC Turning Spacers
  • The structure of the metal, especially its grain size, plays a big role in how easy it is to machine.
  • Smaller grains help create a smoother finish and improve thread quality, but they also make the material harder and more prone to built-up edge (BUE) on cutting tools.
  • If the grain size varies between material batches, machinability can become inconsistent, meaning machining settings may need frequent adjustments.

Comparing Machining of Stainless Steel Grades

Stainless Grade  Strength Ductility Tool Wear Machining Technique Chip Formation Tooling Requirements
Austenitic (304, 316, 321, 303) Moderate to High High (work-hardens quickly) High (due to work hardening) Sharp tools, slow speeds, high feed rates Long, stringy chips Carbide or coated tools, coolant essential
Ferritic (430, 409, 439) Moderate Moderate (less work hardening) Lower than austenitic Moderate speeds and feeds, more forgiving to machine Short, manageable chips HSS or carbide tools, moderate coolant use
Martensitic stainless steels High Low to Moderate (depends on heat treatment) High (due to hardness) Slow speeds, moderate feeds, rigid setups Brittle, easy-to-break chips Carbide tools recommended, lubrication essential
Precipitation-Hardening (17-4 PH, 15-5 PH) Very High Moderate High (especially in aged conditions) Rigid setups, slower speeds, controlled cutting parameters Brittle chips, easier to manage than austenitic Carbide or ceramic tools, coolant needed for heat control
Duplex (2205, 2507) Very High Moderate (higher than ferritic, lower than austenitic) High (due to toughness and abrasiveness) Requires high-power machines, slow speeds, high feed rates Tough, continuous chips, hard to break High-quality carbide tools with coatings, flood coolant required

Quality Control

  • Purpose: Identifying defects such as surface scratches, tool marks, or burrs.
  • Tools: Magnifying glass, microscopes, the naked eye.
  • Applications: Initial filtering to ensure parts meet visual quality expectations.
  • Purpose: Measuring the dimensions of parts to ensure they meet specified tolerances.
  • Tools: Calipers, Micrometers, Height Gauges, CMMs, Go/No-Go Gauges
  • Purpose: Inspecting the first part produced to verify the setup and ensure compliance with specifications before full production.
  • Documentation: Detailed inspection reports for traceability.
  • Purpose:Evaluating the smoothness or roughness of a part’s surface.
  • Tools:
    • Profilometers: Measure surface roughness (Ra, Rz).
    • Comparators: Visual reference charts for surface textures.

Stainless Steel Machining Cost Drivers

Category            Description
Material
  • Material Grade: Different Stainless Steel Grades have different characteristics of machinability.
  • Material Wastage: Larger raw material blocks result in higher wastage, thus, costs.
Design Complexity
  • Geometry: Complex shapes and detailed features require more time and advanced setups.
  • Tolerances: High tolerances require slower speeds and more quality checks.
  • Surface Finish: High-quality finishes need additional passes or post machining processing.
Volume
  • Batch Size: Smaller batches have higher per-unit costs due to setup overhead.
  • Economies of Scale: Larger runs reduce per-part costs by spreading fixed expenses.
Tooling and Setup
  • Custom Tools: Custom cutting tools or jigs increase upfront costs.
  • Setup Time: Longer setup times for complex parts add to costs.
  • Machine Type: Advanced multi-axis machines are more expensive to operate.
Post-Processing
  • Secondary Operations: Processes like passivation, polishing, and heat treatment add expense.
  • Inspection and Testing: Advanced quality checks, such as CMM inspections, require time and resources.
Stainless Grades Machinability Rating
Grade 302 45%
Grade 303 78%
Grade 304 45%
Grade 316 45%
Grade 321 36%
Grade 347 36%
Grade 410 54%
Grade 416 110%
Grade 420 45%
Grade 430 54%
Grade 431 45%

 

Why Choose Us?

In addition to high-quality products and machining processes, we offer:

  • Advanced quality control processes that meet and outperform industry standards
  • Full-service machining from assistance with product development to final production
  • Advanced CNC manufacturing equipment
  • Vendor-managed inventory systems for supporting your process.
  • Custom packaging options
  • Total dedication to customer satisfaction with every project.

How can we help you ?

Stainless Steel Machinining Services are indispensable to various industries and their success depends on the careful selection of contractors.

Novelty Structures stands out as a reliable partner in providing high-quality Stainless Steel CNC Machining services tailored to demanding industrial needs.

Contact our team to further discuss your needs.

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