Kram
Member
- Messages
- 6,227
- Location
- Sussex
I've not used free cutting before. I know of En1A which is leaded, I know it is no good for welding and has poor strength, so I have no use for it.
I did not know about en16m, or Acenta Usacut55, which is modified with sulphur to make it free cutting and can be welded as normal. I saw it on ebay and bought a meter bundle of off cuts, 16mm diameter.
Google doesnt have much info, but it appears it always comes soft, but can be hardened almost to the same as En16/605m36.
I tried turning a small piece last night and it is completely different to any other steel. Cut had a good finish, beating plain en16t. I can take a massive depth of cut with no chatter and it will peel off in little 1-2mm long chips. It will only curl with light cuts. I know little C chips are the ideal but I prefer inch long worms as they are less painful and easier to clean up!
The bars arrived with mirror parted ends but I couldnt get anything close in normal turning. I guess they parted it hard enough for it to surface harden?
Anyone used it? I'd like to know how it turns in the hardened condition. I might try hardening a length and turning it later - I assume same as normal, get it hot, quench in oil, temper around 200c?
I did not know about en16m, or Acenta Usacut55, which is modified with sulphur to make it free cutting and can be welded as normal. I saw it on ebay and bought a meter bundle of off cuts, 16mm diameter.
Google doesnt have much info, but it appears it always comes soft, but can be hardened almost to the same as En16/605m36.
I tried turning a small piece last night and it is completely different to any other steel. Cut had a good finish, beating plain en16t. I can take a massive depth of cut with no chatter and it will peel off in little 1-2mm long chips. It will only curl with light cuts. I know little C chips are the ideal but I prefer inch long worms as they are less painful and easier to clean up!
The bars arrived with mirror parted ends but I couldnt get anything close in normal turning. I guess they parted it hard enough for it to surface harden?
Anyone used it? I'd like to know how it turns in the hardened condition. I might try hardening a length and turning it later - I assume same as normal, get it hot, quench in oil, temper around 200c?