An age-hardened stainless steel alloy with excellent tensile strength, wear resistance, and high hardness, frequently used in aerospace components, medical instruments, and valves, as well as hand tools and fasteners.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 1275 MPa
Shear Modulus: 75 GPa
Elongation at Break: 9.8 %
Hardness (Brinell): 420
Density: 0.282 lbs/in³ (7.8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1508°F /820°C
Precipitation-hardened (PH) stainless steel is renowned for its strength and durability. It is more resistant to corrosion and has greater hardness and strength; ideal for use in high-temperatures, moist environments such as gas turbines, chemical processing plants, and industrial machinery.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 1345 MPa
Shear Modulus: 77.4 GPa
Elongation at Break: 6%
Hardness (Brinell): 352
Density: 0.282 lb/in³ (7.70 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 600°F (315°C)
This high-grade alloy, made with 18% chromium and 8% nickel, provides excellent corrosion resistance and durability. It’s highly resistant to rust, oxidation, and other forms of corrosion. Its superior strength makes it popular for food processing equipment, medical devices, and other high-precision stainless-steel-part applications such as pressure tubing and industrial fasteners.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 690 MPa
Shear Modulus: 74 GPa
Elongation at Break: 70%
Hardness (Brinell): 123
Density: 0.286 lb/in³ (7.93 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1400°F (760°C)
Stainless Steel 303 is an austenitic stainless steel alloy that contains sulfur, making it easier to machine than SS304. This grade of stainless steel is ideal for heavy items requiring precision machining, such as gears and shafts, due to its improved machinability.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 415 MPa
Shear Modulus: 77.2 GPa
Elongation at Break: 40%
Hardness (Brinell): 228
Density: 0.289 lb/in³ (8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1400°F (760°C)
Stainless Steel 304 is austenitic stainless steel that offers good corrosion resistance and is used extensively in fasteners. It is a more cost-effective option that also offers excellent strength due to the higher carbon level in the alloy.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 215 MPa
Shear Modulus: 77 GPa
Elongation at Break: 70%
Hardness (Brinell): 123
Density: 0.289 lb/in³ (8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1400°F (760°C)
Stainless Steel 316 is an austenitic grade of stainless steel with excellent corrosion resistance and formability due to its molybdenum content. It’s also highly weldable and ideal for applications in corrosive environments such as boat fittings and chemical tanks.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 290 MPa
Shear Modulus: 74 GPa
Elongation at Break: 50%
Hardness (Brinell): 217
Density: 0.289 lb/in³ (8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1700°F (926°C)
Stainless Steel 416 is highly machinable, making it well-suited for precision CNC machining jobs. Its reduced corrosion resistance (because it’s free-machining stainless steel) means it generally rusts more easily than other types of stainless steel. Motor shafts and gears are popular applications for this material.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 600 MPa
Shear Modulus: 83 GPa
Elongation at Break: 20%
Hardness (Brinell): 237
Density: 0.282 lbs/in³ (7.8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1400°F (760°C)
A martensitic stainless steel with higher carbon and lower chromium content than other steels – this alloy offers only mild corrosion resistance but has much improved mechanical properties in annealed form.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 345 MPa
Shear Modulus: 75 GPa
Elongation at Break: 25%
Hardness (Brinell): 241
Density: 0.282 lbs/in³ (7.8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1202°F (650°C)
A hard, strong alloy composed mainly of carbon – its hardness can be enhanced with heat treatment, making it ideal for various applications. It provides decent mechanical strength while being moderately corrosion-resistant. Widely used for bearing housings, surgical instruments, and other components that require increased hardness, wear resistance, and tensile strength.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 450-1900 MPa
Shear Modulus: 83.9 GPa
Elongation at Break: 14%
Hardness (Brinell): 223
Density: 0.282 lbs/in³ (7.8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1400°F (760°C)
The most widely used martensitic steel thanks to its versatile usage. Its low carbon content makes it more resistant to corrosion, while its hardness offers impressive mechanical strength. Popular applications range from cutlery and fasteners to machinery components.
Tensile Strength, Yield: 290 MPa
Shear Modulus: 73 GPa
Elongation at Break: 14.5%
Hardness (Brinell): 422
Density: 0.282 lbs/in³ (7.8 g/cm³)
Maximum Temp: 1300°F (705°C)
Stainless steel CNC machining is widely used in aerospace manufacturing due to its high strength, corrosion resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. It is suitable for producing safety-critical components such as engine parts, structural assemblies, fuel system components, landing gear parts, and mounting hardware, where precision and reliability are essential.
In mold and tooling applications, stainless steel CNC machining is commonly used to produce mold bases, cavities, cores, and structural components for injection molding, die casting, and stamping processes. High-speed 5-axis machining enables efficient production of complex geometries and deep cavities, significantly reducing lead times compared to traditional EDM processes while maintaining high accuracy and surface quality.
