Which Stainless Steel?

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 January 2013 at 17:41 by Jens Eirik Skogstad 1.

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1 January 2013 at 23:42 #107741
Chris Trice
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@christrice43267
I'm looking for 5/16th round stainless steel bar. I'm after a grade that doesn't rust and easy to machine. Any recommendations as to what grade to look for and sources of supply in the UK? It's for a sprung set of undercarriage legs that have a brass body. I tried aluminium which looked great for about ten minutes then started to stick and bind. Weight is not an issue but they do need to slide freely without wet lubrication.
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1 January 2013 at 23:42 #22388
Chris Trice
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@christrice43267
1 January 2013 at 23:50 #107742
Keith Long
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@keithlong89920
Hi Chris

You want grade 303, and try Macc Models or I'd think any of the usual suspects can supply it. I think Macc Models was where I bought the stainless I used for a job from.

Keith
2 January 2013 at 00:04 #107744
Jens Eirik Skogstad 1
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@jenseirikskogstad1
You can use acidproof stainless steel EN 1.4404. I has used the EN 1.4404 as piston rod for steam engine, It give very nice treads with die, easy to machine with lathe, mill etc. Use cuttingfluid!
2 January 2013 at 14:21 #107780
Chris Trice
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@christrice43267
It doesn't have to be anything exotic. Just easy machine and non rusting. To be honest, it's only getting cut to length and a couple of tapped holes being added. You hear horror stories about work hardening.

Edited By Chris Trice on 02/01/2013 14:22:57
2 January 2013 at 15:35 #107786
Keith Long
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@keithlong89920
Chris

303 isn't exotic – it's a bit less corrosion resistant than knife and fork stainless – literally – and it's a free cutting variety which is what you want, and why I suggested it.

I can't comment on that recommended by Jens as I'm not familiar with the EN specs.

As far as I can see UK suppliers still work to the "303" type designations.

The work I did with 303 involved turning down the ends on 20mm dia bar to take a thread (M10 one end M8 at the other) and cut a key way 6mm wide by 3 mm deep the length of the 20 mm bar (about 150 mm). This was all done easily with HSS tooling on a 85 year old Drummond round bed – so not too difficult.

Keith
2 January 2013 at 15:39 #107787
David Jupp
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@davidjupp51506
All 300 series (1.4404 equivalent to 316L ) will work harden. 400 series have different microstructure, less prone to work hardening, but not as widely available (and could be hardened by heat treatment anyway)

Use tapping drills on the larger side, and use a tapping compound.
2 January 2013 at 17:41 #107794
Jens Eirik Skogstad 1
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@jenseirikskogstad1
When working with EN 1.4404, take small cut each time to prevent work hardening + cutting fluid.

In small diameter to example below 4-5 mm rod, keep revolution between 1000 and 2000 rpm + very light cut each time to preventing the rod is bending and working hardening. It is my experience and recommended by my friend in yard for OffShore about this EN 1.4404 due less difficult to work with lathe tools to example.
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