Carbon, Stainless, Steel Alloys
Components made from carbon, stainless, and alloy steels provide unparalleled versatility, serving critical roles in industries from aerospace and automotive to medical and consumer electronics. This adaptability stems from their wide range of tunable properties, allowing for the creation of components that can be optimized for specific demands like high strength, corrosion resistance, or extreme temperature tolerance.
Common Steels we work with
Some of the most common Steel variants that we work with. Many others exist and we are capable of working with them all for your application. These are most frequently requested.
AISI 303
303SS
303 stainless steel is a free-machining, non-magnetic, austenitic chromium-nickel alloy to which sulfur has been added to dramatically improve its machinability and galling characteristics, making it the ideal choice for high-volume, complex parts at the expense of slightly reduced corrosion resistance compared to 304.
AISI 304/304L
304SS
304 stainless steel is the world's most versatile and widely used austenitic stainless steel, celebrated for its 18% chromium and 8% nickel "18-8" composition which provides excellent corrosion resistance and formability for applications ranging from kitchen sinks to architectural paneling.
AISI 316
316SS
316 stainless steel is a highly corrosion-resistant, austenitic stainless steel that enhances the popular 304 grade with the addition of molybdenum, making it the superior choice for marine applications, medical implants, and chemical processing equipment where it must withstand chlorides and other aggressive elements.
400 Series Stainless Steels
400 series stainless steels are a family of primarily ferritic and martensitic alloys known for their high chromium content, magnetic properties, and notable strength and wear resistance. Because they contain little to no nickel, these steels can be hardened by heat treatment, making them ideal for high-stress applications like cutlery, surgical instruments, and automotive parts where hardness is valued over the superior corrosion resistance found in other series. Typical 400 series steels we work with are 416 SS (free-machining), 410 SS (low-cost, heat-treatable), 430 SS (for bright, polished finishes), 420 SS, and 440C (for applications needing higher hardness)
17-4 SS
AISI 630
Due to its exceptional combination of high strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance, 17-4 stainless steel is a premier choice for manufacturing critical components in demanding aerospace, petrochemical, marine, and medical industries. This versatility makes it indispensable for high-stress applications such as aircraft landing gear, pump shafts, valve components, and surgical instruments that must perform reliably under extreme loads and in harsh environments.
Low Carbon Steels
1018 and 1020 Steels are versatile low-carbon steels prized for their excellent machinability and are commonly used to create general-purpose parts like pins, shafts, and fasteners.
Medium Carbon Steels
Medium carbon steels like 1040, 1045, and 1050 are workhorse materials used to create strong, wear-resistant machinery components such as axles, gears, shafts, and bolts. Other steel types, such as 12L14 and the special-purpose 1144 grade are free-machining steels, prized in high-volume production for their ability to be quickly machined into strong, stress-proof parts without additional heat treatment.
High Carbon Tool Steels
O-1 and A-2 are stable, reliable tool steels used to make precision dies, gauges, and cutting tools where resistance to wear and abrasion is critical. Renowned for its exceptional impact resistance, S-7 is a go-to choice for manufacturing shock-resistant tools such as jackhammer bits, chisels, and molds that must withstand repeated, heavy blows.
Alloy Steels
Typical alloy steels we work with are 4140 "Chromoly", 4340 and 8620 steel. 4140 is a versatile, all-purpose alloy steel used for machinery parts like axles and bolts, while 4340 provides superior toughness for more demanding, high-stress applications such as aircraft landing gear and industrial shafts. In contrast, 8620 is a premier case-hardening steel, specifically designed for components like gears that require an extremely hard, wear-resistant surface while maintaining a softer, tougher core