One of the first things that experienced OEMs consider when choosing a company for any type of machining is to spend time verifying the machining service’s past projects and their expertise in working with specific types of materials.
For OEMs requiring stainless steel machining, the small amount of time it takes to not only discuss the project with the machining company but to also ask for details of their past experience can make a significant difference.
Not all stainless steel alloys are easy to work with, and this includes some of the specialized types of alloys, which are often known as the superalloys. As these superalloys are designed to be extremely rugged and durable, they can be challenging to work with to create precise parts with high tolerances.
Areas of Potential Issues
Experienced companies offering stainless steel machining focus on choosing the right cutting tools and machine settings for the specific type of stainless steel in the workpiece.
Austenitic stainless steels have a high nickel content in the alloy, leading to a harder material to precisely cut. It is also more likely that edges can develop on the machined surfaces if the correct settings and tools are not used, which results in the need for additional processes, which leads to increased production costs.
Martensitic stainless steel alloys have higher chromium content. This creates a more abrasive material that leads to higher wear on cutting tools. In turn, this results in lower tolerances if the cutting tools are not replaced frequently and the system is not set up to be rigid and control the vibration of the workpiece.
Other factors to consider is the potential heat generated during the stainless steel machining process, which can lead to internal stress and distortion if not properly cooled during the machining process.
