Steel Machining Birmingham, AL
Steel machining Birmingham, AL. Steel is among the frequent used metals for machining in Birmingham, AL, across the country, and around the world. Things are no different here at Roberson Machine Company, where we manufacture parts, products, and equipment for every industry out there. CNC steel machined parts are one of the most popular for custom made components and prototypes among our large network of industry-leading clients.
With its exceptionally high levels of hardness and tensile strength, steel is not simple to work with. Machining steel calls for a complete understanding of the techniques that work well on this material, and the different types of steel that work better on a diverse set of CNC machined parts and components. Your Birmingham, AL company needs the skilled professionals at Roberson Machine Company.
Give us a call right now at 573-646-3996 or reach out to us online and get a free quote for your next CNC steel machining project in Birmingham, AL.
What Kinds of Steel are Used in the Roberson Machine Company Birmingham, AL CNC Machining Process?
Steel is distinctive in the sense that it is extremely versatile, meaning it can be transformed into a variety of dimensions and forms for Birmingham, AL parts. As an alloy made up of several elements, steel has a broad range of uses that vary depending on the kind of steel being used. One of the main aspects to consider when machining steel is that it is naturally strong, even at the highest temperatures. The four primary kinds of steel used at Roberson Machine Company are:
- Carbon Steel
- Automotive body panels
- Bolts
- Fixtures
- Seamless tubes
- Steel plates
- Stainless Steel
- Nickel
- Carbon
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Nitrogen
- Sulfur
- Copper
- Silicon
- Alloy Steel
- Pipes
- Tubes
- Plates
- Sheets
- Coils
- Bars
- Rods
- Wires
- Forged fittings
- Buttweld fittings
- Flanges
- Fasteners
- Tool Steel
Accounting for the bulk of steel applications in Birmingham, AL and throughout the country, carbon steels are made up of a series of alloys of carbon and iron containing a range of 0.12 to 2 percent carbon, with elements added in specific quantities for detoxification and residual quantities of other elements. The greater the carbon content, the more firm the steel is – resisting deformities and keeping its shape. Yet, low carbon steels are more common, likely due to greater ductility, lower production costs, and ease of use throughout our manufacturing processes. Carbon steels are often utilized in:
Due to its eye-catching appearance, immense strength, and outstanding resistance to corrosion, stainless steel sees a wide range of applications across industrial and consumer markets. Stainless steel is used in a wide array of parts and products, from automotive and aerospace components to sculptures and bridges to kitchen applications and cutlery. While stainless must have at least 10.5% chromium, the exact ratios and components will differ depending on the application in the Birmingham, AL area. The following additives are common:
An alloy steel is a type of steel combined with more than one element. By alloying elements you can boost wear resistance, hardness, and overall strength, establishing a more robust and substantive steel. The additional elements on top of the base iron and carbon normally total no more than 5% of the alloy steel’s material composition. Steel alloys can be forged into various shapes for a wide range of parts for Birmingham, AL projects, such as:
Tool steels are manufactured under meticulously controlled conditions with carbon content between 0.7% and 1.5% and low manganese content to reduce the possibility of cracking during water quenching. Proper heat treating of these steels is vital for reaching optimal performance. W-type is our most commonly used tool steel due to its low costs. Tool steels are used in the shearing, forming, cutting, and stamping of metals and plastics; the extrusion of plastic parts, like pipes and vinyl window frames; and the manufacturing of dies for pressing metal powder into custom forms.
Give our experienced machinists a call today at 573-646-3996 or reach out to us online.
Along with steel machining for companies in Birmingham, AL and throughout the country, Roberson Machine Company also provides Birmingham, AL customers with:
- CNC Milling Aluminum
- Plastic Parts Manufacturer
- Precision Manufacturing
- Aerospace Machining
- Machined Plastic Parts
- CNC Companies
- Aluminum Fabrication
- Machined Parts
- Machine Shop
Surface Finishes and Post-Processing Options for Birmingham, AL CNC Steel Machined Parts at Roberson Machine Company
For more than 20 years, Roberson Machine Company has been providing Birmingham, AL customers with value added services – including surface finishes and post-processing options. These services aim to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of your parts and components. For steel components, these are some of our common finishes:
- Powder Coating – Fundamentally, our powder coat finishes involves depositing dry powder on the steel’s surface. The finish is fairly thin, normally between 0.15 and 0.3 millimeters, although it does enhance the component’s corrosion resistance.
- Bead Blasting – A bead blast finish cleans corroded metal, removes cosmetic defects like textures and contaminants, as well as prepares a steel component for paint and/or other coating.
- Passivation – This is the process of treating or coating a metal in order to decrease the chemical reactivity of its surface. In stainless steel, passivation occurs by removing the free iron from the surface of the metal using an acid solution to avoid rust. The procedure additionally:
- Eliminates surface contamination
- Reduces the risk of product corruption
- Allows you to extend system maintenance intervals
- Black oxide – Also called blackening, a black oxide surface finish involves dipping machined steel components into an alkaline solution. The solution then transforms the iron on the metal’s surface into a compound known as magnetite.
- Zinc coating – A zinc coating protects steel from corrosion due to its anodic properties where it will sacrificially corrode prior to the underlying steel. The coatings offer good protection for steel in harsh waters, as well as in severe weather. This value added surface is one of the most affordable and most widely accessible.
Is There Anything to Be Concerned With Regarding Steel Machining For My Company in Birmingham, AL?
With Roberson Machine Company as your partner for the entirety of your Birmingham, AL company’s CNC steel machining project, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Call us today at 573-646-3996 or connect with us online. We abide by our stringent standards when it comes to machining steel, including:
- Choosing Appropriate Tooling: While this may seem apparent, selecting the best tool for the job isn’t always evident. It depends on the material itself, but also on the operation at hand, the environment, and the machine. With a multitude of variables impacting tool options for your Birmingham, AL project, our well-informed machinists will guide you through the options and help you pick the most effective and suitable process.
- Managing Temperatures: Machining brings about increased temperatures at the cutting point due to steel being such a durable material. So, we reduce that in our shop with cooling fluids to reduce friction and aid in chip evacuation while diminishing tool wear. The cutting data can also be adjusted via our CAD and CAM software to reduce heat accumulation.
- Diminishing Vibrations: The strength of steel also means that CNC machining procedures require high speeds, potentially creating high levels of vibration. This can severely impact accuracy and finish, as well as harming the tool. We constantly observe:
- Tool choice
- RPM
- Workholding
- Toolholding
- Insert geometry
- Balance
Reach Out To a Leader in Steel Machining For Companies in Birmingham, AL | Roberson Machine Company
Roberson Machine Company is the place to turn for all of your steel machining needs in Birmingham, AL. We have customers and partners in every industry, both near Birmingham, AL and across the country, who recognize our dedication to meeting or surpassing deadlines, our convenient, central location, and our affordable costs.
Give us a call now at 573-646-3996 or reach out to us online so that we can get started on your CNC steel machining.