Free-cutting steels

In mass production, free-cutting steels are indispensable materials for a large number of small parts that are subject to low loads and require a high machining rate. These versatile steels are used in various industries, for example in the manufacture of connecting and fastening elements, shafts, hydraulic components and fittings. Their contribution to the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing processes is undeniable.

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40CrMnMo7
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Plastic Moulding
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1.2311
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Formadur 2316 /Superclean
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Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
Portfolio
Tool Steels
Material Classifictation
40CrMnMo7
Family
Plastic Moulding
Material Number
1.2311
Brand
Formadur 2316 /Superclean
Characteristics
Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
Portfolio
Tool Steels
Material Classifictation
40CrMnMo7
Family
Plastic Moulding
Material Number
1.2311
Brand
Formadur 2316 /Superclean
Characteristics
Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
Portfolio
Tool Steels
Material Classifictation
40CrMnMo7
Family
Plastic Moulding
Material Number
1.2311
Brand
Formadur 2316 /Superclean
Characteristics
Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
Portfolio
Tool Steels
Material Classifictation
40CrMnMo7
Family
Plastic Moulding
Material Number
1.2311
Brand
Formadur 2316 /Superclean
Characteristics
Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
Portfolio
Tool Steels
Material Classifictation
40CrMnMo7
Family
Plastic Moulding
Material Number
1.2311
Brand
Formadur 2316 /Superclean
Characteristics
Standard steel for Moulds
This is a Bar (Product) forged (Forming) quenched and tempered (Melting). You can get it in round (Shape) and processed (Finish).
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There are two main types of free-cutting steels - free-cutting mild steels, which are easy to machine due to their low carbon content but have less strength and soft magnetic properties, and heat-treatable free-cutting steels, which have been developed for subsequent heat treatments to specifically adjust hardness and ductility.

Properties

Free-cutting steels are unalloyed or low-alloy quality steels that are known for their excellent machinability. They have an increased sulphur content and may also contain lead. These elements lead to manganese sulphide and lead inclusions in the steel, which improve the chip-breaking properties and thus facilitate machining.

Intended use

Free-cutting steels are designed and adapted so that they are precisely tailored to the intended use. While free-cutting mild steels can be used directly without heat treatment, heat-treatable free-cutting steels can be optimized for specific customer requirements and areas of application by selecting the material and heat treatment parameters.

Free cutting steel lead free

Optimum Performance and respect of the environment - Te, Se, Bi & Pb-free

With 11SMn30+BX, we offer a "new" material that offers exceptionally good machining properties.

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Enhanced performance

Advanced machining performance without environmentally relevant alloying elements

  • Extraordinary increase in productivity thanks to very good cutting properties
  • Optimised part costs
  • Wide cutting speed range
  • Short cycle times / Long tool life / Short breaking chips
  • High uniformity across batches
  • Process-capable bar straightness
  • Te, Se, Bi, Pb-free

High-Performance & Eco-Friendly

1SMn30+BX: The free-cutting steel that combines optimum performance and respect of the environment.

As the demands on steel evolve, our unwavering commitment to optimizing our processes persists, fueled by a passion that extends from the past through the present and into the future, driven not only by performance but also by environmental considerations. The Swiss Steel Group is now able to offer you free cutting steel without Pb for your future projects.

Conformity to standards and international designation: 

The material 11SMn30+BX can be assigned to material number 1.0715 and conforms to the standards DIN EN ISO 683-4:2018 and DIN EN 10277:2018. Boron is added by Steeltec AG in accordance with the agreement to improve machinability and is specified on the test certificate.

Material NummerEN ISO 683-4 / DIN EN 10277ASTMJISGB/ISC
1.071511SMn30~SAE1215~SUM22~Y15

11SMn30+BX: The free-cutting steel Swiss Steel Group portfolio has been enriched with the lead free 11SMn30+BX – the most machinable free-cutting steel without Te, Se, Bi and Pb. Materials and areas of applications

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Various solutions for different applications

According to the EN ISO 683-4 standard, free-cutting steels fall into the category of unalloyed or low-alloy quality steels with an increased sulphur content, although some variants may also contain lead. This special composition gives free-cutting steels their outstanding properties. The exceptional machinability of these steels is due to the presence of manganese sulphide and lead inclusions. These inclusions contribute to the excellent chip-breaking properties that make machining one of the main areas of application for free-cutting steels.

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Soft free-cutting steels and quenched and tempered free-cutting steels

Focus on properties

Depending on the requirements of the workpiece material, free-cutting steels are divided into two main categories: Soft free-cutting steels, which do not require heat treatment, and quenched and tempered free-cutting steels, which are intended for subsequent heat treatment. Here it is important to match the properties of the material precisely to the intended use.

Our soft free-cutting steels are characterized by a particularly low carbon content and increased sulphur content. The low carbon content means that this free-cutting steel is easier to machine than other steels, but has a low strength. In addition, the free-cutting mild steel is soft magnetic.

The quenched and tempered free-cutting steel is intended for heat treatment. The achievable hardness and ductility can be specifically adjusted by selecting the appropriate material and heat treatment parameters. We can therefore tailor our heat-treatable steels individually to the intended use and the associated requirements of our customers.

SwissCut® special free-cutting steel

SwissCut® is a bright steel from the range of special free-cutting steels. A decisive feature in favor of this steel is its profitability. The high-performance free-cutting steels have been specially developed for high cutting speeds combined with long tool life.

The SwissCut® special free-cutting steels SC30, SC37, SC30Pb and SC37Pb have been specifically developed to maximize wear reduction and optimize cutting processes. This effect is particularly evident at cutting speeds above 100 m/min, while the SwissCut® special free-cutting steels SC37Pbplus and SC620Pbplus have an optimum chemical analysis to reduce the tendency to stick to the tool surfaces.

SwissCut_werkstoffauswahl-anwendungsbereiche_EN

The advantages of SwissCut® at a glance

  • Higher cutting speeds: The specific material modifications in SwissCut® enable higher cutting speeds, resulting in faster machining times.
  • Longer tool life: An ingenious design of oxide inclusions suppresses tool wear, resulting in longer tool life.
  • Very good chip formation: The precise design of the materials in SwissCut® enables optimal chip formation, resulting in smooth machining processes.
  • High uniformity across batches: SwissCut® is characterized by remarkable consistency and uniformity across different batches.
  • Marked increase in productivity: Thanks to the improved properties of SwissCut®, manufacturing companies can see an impressive increase in their productivity.
  • High surface quality: The use of SwissCut® ensures outstanding surface quality of machined parts.
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