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Helping Precision Machine Shops Be More ProducƟ ve and Profi table
Technical Regulatory
Management
Quality
Technical Regulatory
Management
Quality
Craftsman's Cribsheet
Miles Free – Director of Technology and Industry Research
NUMBER
58
Relative Machinability of Materials
Machinability of different materials is generally expressed as a percentage compared with a known standard.
Carbon and alloy steels are compared with 1212. So are stainless steels. Coppers, brasses and bronzes are
compared with 360 Brass. The benchmark grade for aluminum is 2011 at 100 percent. Generally speaking, shorter
chips equal better machinability.
CARBON & ALLOY STEELS
BETTER MACHINABILITY
WORSE MACHINABILITY
250% 12L14
+Te
12L14
416
430
440F Se
15-5/
17-4 PH
304
316
303
430F
1215
11L17
1144 41L40 ann.
1018 1141
1045
4340 ann.
E52100
4140 ann.
8620
200%
175%
150%
125%
100%
(1212)
100%
(1212)
75%
75%
50%
50%
25%
20%
10%
40%
30%
60%
50%
80%
90%
100%
(360 Brass)
2011
6262
2024
7075
6061
353 Brass
360 Brass
145 Te Copper
464 Unleaded
Naval Brass
110 Copper
624
792 Nickel Silver
485 Leaded Naval
Brass
544 Phosphor
Bronze
70%
40%
60%
50%
80%
90%
100%
(2011)
70%
25%
STAINLESS
STEELS
BRASS, COPPER, BRONZE ALUMINUM
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