You are designing a steel mounting plate which will have a n

You are designing a steel mounting plate which will have a number of machined features. You are given a choice of selecting AISI 1018 or AISI 1080 steel. Which would be the easier to machine?

Solution

AISI 1018 is a free machining grade which is commonly employed in shafts, spindles, pins assemblies and an incredibly wide variety of component parts. 1018 is rated at 62% of 1112 carbon steel in terms of machinability The alloy can be easily got to a fine finish, with continuous and hard chips Machining is possible in all conditions.

But. AISI 1080 is a high carbon stel grade with machinability of 45 % of 1112 carbon steel. So, its machining is often tougher. Its Brinell hardness is also 229 whereas for 1018 steel it is 118.

so, AISI 1018 is better to machine.