Experience Matters With Stainless Steel Machining

For parts and components in any industry where high corrosion resistance, good tolerance to heat and top strength to weight ratio is a must, stainless steel is often the most cost-effective alloy. The popularity of stainless steel makes it an important part of any machining company business, but it is not always an easy material to machine.

The main issue with stainless steel is that various grades and tempers will respond differently to machining. There are austenitic, ferritic, martensitic and precipitation hardening stainless steels, all which have their own particular characteristics. In most applications, the austenitic stainless steels, from 201 to 310 will be the most commonly used.

While the most commonly used, the austenitic stainless steels are not easy to work with. They can be very prone to work hardening, which is always a concern during stainless steel machining.

Cutting Edge Technology

At JBC Machine, we use cutting edge technology in all of our stainless steel machining processes to ensure that the stainless steel and the process are carefully matched for each other. This allows us to ensure that the process is streamlined and specialized for the alloy, cutting down on waste and providing the precision work that is expected.

The Chatter Issue

The actual physical structure of stainless steel causes a problem with machining. When the equipment is not set to the correct speed for the alloy, it is possible for chattering to occur. This is a really a mismatch between the speed of the cutting tool and the angle to the stainless steel workpiece. A vibration occurs that creates irregularities in the cutting performance, which is a sign of poor quality stainless steel machining.

At JBC Machine, we have the experience and the equipment to ensure that all machining is completed to exact specifications for the stainless steel alloy. To find out more, call us at 920-779-4075 to discuss your machining requirements.