Carbon Steel Guide

Freemax 15 DCF Plate

Freemax 15 is a low carbon, free machining steel plate. These plates were developed for enhanced machinability to reduce machining time and increase productivity while also reducing wear and breakage of machining tools. Freemax contains higher levels of sulfur which makes it not only free machining but also improves surface finish characteristics. It contains carbon levels comparable to other low carbon grades such as 1018 so it will respond to similar hardening methods such as carburizing. Surface hardening methods can be applied such as flame hardening to improve surface properties. These plates are ground top and bottom to a decarb free, oversize finish and sawcut on the widths and lengths. Other comparable trade names include J20, Clean Cut 20 (CC20), LFM 20, FM15, 1119 Modified, and C1119 steel. Typical uses include base plates, jigs, molds, die holders, machinery bases, threaded parts, manifold blocks, dies, cams, machineways, gears and sprockets.

C1119 is a registered trademark of ArcelorMittal
Fremax is a registered trademark of United States Steel Corp

1018 CF Steel

1018 cold finish carbon steel is a general purpose, low carbon steel with a higher manganese content that other low carbon grades. The higher manganese content allows 1018 to achieve a harder and more uniform case. It also possesses greater mechanical properties and machining than similar low carbon grades. Typical uses include: parts requiring cold forming, bending, or swaging, carburized parts such as pinions, gears, pins, ratchets, and worms. Commonly used in non critical components of tool and die sets such as mounting plates, fixtures, parallels, risers and spacers where the greater strength of higher carbon and alloy steels is not required. It has great workability for drilling, tapping, threading, punching and machining.

Chemical Composition:

12L14 CF Steel

12L14 carbon steel is a resulfurized and rephosphorized low carbon steel with lead added resulting in one of the fastest machining grades available. 12L14 possesses very low friction resulting in a smooth machined surface and increased life. The lead allows the material to break up into smaller chips during machining reducing entanglement and friction, allowing higher machining speeds - perfect for automatic screw machine parts. Due to high sulphur content it is not considered weldable. 12L14 will respond to conventional heat treating but are not considered case hardening. Better results can be obtained by using 1018 in that case. Applications include: screw machine products, bushings, couplings, inserts and parts involving bending and crimping.

Chemical Composition:

1144 G&P Stressproof Steel

Stressproof 1144 ground and polished shaft is a medium carbon, resulfurized steel with added sulfur to achieve a free machining grade with high strength. Stressproof has been cold worked to result in higher tensile properties. Further heat treatment, case hardening etc is not necessary as Stressproof has a hardness similar to that of a heat treated grade. These bars are stress relieved to reduce warpage during machining. The result is a product that extends tool life, resists stress, warpage and distortion, with exceptional surface finish. Uses include: pinions, gears, shafts, mandrels, racks, boring bars, bushings, collets, pins, arbors, and spindles.

Stressproof is a registered trademark of LaSalle Steel Co.

A36 Structural Steel

A36 carbon hot rolled mild steel angles are used in most general purpose applications. Low carbon content relatively good mechanical properties along with high quality weldability make it a common choice in fabrication and structural applications. Uses include: general machinery where suface imperfections may be tolerated.

Chemical Composition:

A500 Grade B Structural Steel Tubing

A500 carbon mild steel tubing is used in most general purpose applications. Low carbon content relatively good mechanical properties along with high quality weldability make it a common choice in fabrication and structural applications. Uses include: general machinery where suface imperfections may be tolerated.

Chemical Composition: