Steel CNC Machining Service

Steel is an alloy of iron with approximately 1% carbon. Small amounts of other alloying elements like molybdenum and chromium may be added to improve its properties. Steel offers a great balance between cost and functionality since it is easy to machine and weld.  It will, however, oxidize over time and therefore needs surface treatments for protection.

Steel is one of the most widely used manufacturing materials and is used in every major industry from construction to automotive. Its cost-effectiveness coupled with some very useful properties makes it a versatile material. Listed below are some of the mild steel variants and high-strength steel variants Xometry offers in CNC machining.

Generally referred to as mild steel, 1018 is highly weldable and well suited to surface hardening processes such as carburizing. Once carburized, this material is typically used for gears, worms, and mold components.

This type is often known as alloy steel due to its increased levels of alloying elements when compared to normal mild steel. This alloy contains chromium and molybdenum as strengthening elements. These elements significantly improve its mechanical properties. Applications can include taps, drills, and aircraft engine mountings.

Steel 4140 is very similar to 4130 but has an increased carbon content. The bonus carbon improves its strength and allows for better hardening properties. Extra chromium is also added for corrosion resistance. Applications can include thin-walled pressure vessels, spindles, and high-strength bolts.

This grade of steel is a pre-hardened version of standard 4140 steel that exhibits excellent mechanical strength and hardness properties. Its pre-hardening eliminates the need for heat treatment after machining. This is ideal if the heat treatment will cause unacceptable distortion in the finished part. Typical applications include shafts, arbors, and molds.

This grade of steel is inexpensive and easy to weld, so it is a very common grade of low carbon steel. It is generally used in fabrication applications and structural supports.

This grade of steel is considered a free machining steel due to its high sulfur content. However, the weldability of this material is poor. Typical applications can include studs, screws, pins, and, in general, components that require large amounts of machining.

This steel is a high-strength, low-alloy metal. It exhibits impressive toughness and strength and maintains these properties at relatively high temperatures. Typical applications can include gears, shafts, and other structural parts.

A2 steel is a type of air-hardening, cold-working steel. It has good wear resistance and experiences minimal distortion during heat treatment or hardening processes. Compared to other types of tool steel, A2 steel is relatively easy to machine. It is one of the most commonly used steel grades for making tools such as punches, trimming and forming dies, sheering blades, and molds.

O1 steel is an oil-hardening, cold-working steel. It is characterized by it’s strong wear resistance and ability to retain sharp edges. It is used in creating punching, cutting, and stamping tools, as well as in blades and other cutting tools.