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For many applications, cold-finished steel bars are chosen over hot-rolled bars due to their superior surface finish and closer dimensional accuracy. While these qualities alone make them a popular choice, other critical factors often come into play. Below, we’ve outlined key attributes of cold-finished steel bars to help you make the best selection for your project to ensure maximum performance at the lowest overall cost.
Machinability
Cold-drawn bars consistently outperform hot-rolled bars when it comes to machinability. For applications where precision and efficiency are critical, leaded steels offer the best production rates for machined parts, reducing costs per piece.
Reduced Warpage
The cold-drawing process introduces internal stresses to the steel, which can lead to warping during machining unless these stresses are relieved. Turned bars, on the other hand, are a great solution when machining or key seating, as they minimize the risk of warpage.
Strength
Cold-drawn bars deliver a 10–20% increase in strength in areas affected by the cold-drawing process. In contrast, hot-rolled bars that are turned do not see this boost in strength. For applications demanding higher strength, high-carbon steels are often the optimal choice.
Low Carbon Alloy Bars – Case Hardening
The ability to develop a hard case supported by a tough, ductile core is characteristic of case hardening alloys — with the exact properties developed, depending on the type of alloy selected and the manner of heat treatment.
8620 — most widely used of all case hardening alloys — truly general purpose, oil hardening steels with good core properties. Low in cost. Composition is balanced: nominally .55% nickel, .50% chromium, .20% molybdenum. Minimum distortion and growth characteristics.
86L20 — is a case hardening steel. A nickel, chrome, moly steel with excellent free machining characteristics. Develops a uniformly hard case supported by tough, ductile core and has relatively low distortion in heat treatment.
Medium Carbon Alloy Bars – Direct Hardening
The medium carbon and direct hardening steels in this group offer you the right combination of strength, toughness and hardness after oil quenching and tempering — plus machinability. When increased wear resistance is required in localized areas, they can be flame or induction hardened. Hardenability data is developed for each heat of steel and furnished with the heat’s certification document.
4140/4150 — are widely used medium carbon steels — truly general purpose alloys, low in cost. Nominal composition: .95% chromium and .20% molybdenum content. A broad range of strength and toughness is attainable through variations in heat treatment. Good hardenability, strength, wear resistance, toughness and ductility.
41L40 — is a superior free machining direct hardening alloy. A chrome moly alloy with 40% carbon and 15%/35% lead addition can be quenched an tempered to a broad range of strength levels.
Low Carbon – Case Hardening
1018, 1020 — A low carbon steel with a medium manganese content. Has good hardening properties, fair machinability. Readily grazed and welded. Suitable for shafting and for applications that do not require the greater strength of high carbon and alloy steels. Conforms to ASTM A-108 and AMS 5069.
Medium Carbon – Direct Hardening
1040, 1045 — Medium carbon steels used when greater strength and hardness is desired in the as-rolled condition. Can be hammer forged and responds to heat treatment. Suitable for flame and induction hardening. Uses include gears, shafts, axles, bolts and studs, machine parts, etc.
Screw Stock
1215 — Fast cutting steel is the standard screw stock. A resulphurized and rephosphorized steel for typical production runs. Cutting speeds and machining characteristics are greatly enhanced over other steels. Machined finish is smooth and bright. Conforms to ASTM A-108 and QQ-S-637.
12L14 — A lead bearing steel with average machining rates 30% to 40% faster than 1215. This is a steel that offers inherent ductility combined with finer surface quality. Since 12L14 is an extraordinarily fast machining steel, it has become the favorite for automatic screw machine work. Conforms to ASTM A-108 and QQ-S-637.
Cold finishing refers to a series of processes that enhance the properties of steel after it has been rolled, improving its surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and overall performance. These processes are applied to hot-rolled bars, rounds, squares, hexagons, flats, and specialized shapes to refine their characteristics and meet specific application needs. Here’s an overview of the key cold finishing methods and their benefits:
Cold Drawing: The Core of Cold Finishing
Cold drawing is the most widely used process to improve the quality of hot-rolled bars. It effectively reduces surface imperfections, corrects issues with cross-sectional shape, and straightens material. Cold drawing is particularly beneficial because, alongside these improvements, it also enhances the physical properties of the steel, such as tensile strength.
At Taubensee Steel & Wire (TSW), our cold drawing process is applied to a variety of shapes, including rounds up to 1 3/8″ and hexagons or special shapes up to 1″. Cold drawing not only improves surface quality but also provides significant gains in strength and machinability—important attributes for many industrial applications. It’s a cost-effective way to refine material while maintaining strict size tolerances.
Increased Machinability
One of the major advantages of cold drawing is its positive impact on machinability. Cold-drawn bars demonstrate a 15% to 20% increase in machining efficiency compared to their hot-rolled counterparts. This makes cold-drawn steel more suitable for high-precision operations, such as automatic screw machine work, where efficient material removal is critical.
The cold drawing process reduces the need for additional machining and straightening, leading to cost savings and faster production times. It also minimizes the need for extensive heat treatment, reducing energy use and improving overall efficiency.
Cold Turning, Grinding, and Polishing: Refining the Surface
While cold drawing is the primary method for enhancing the properties of steel, additional processes such as cold turning, grinding, and polishing further refine the material. These processes improve surface finish and dimensional accuracy, making cold-turned and polished bars ideal for applications requiring maximum uniformity and tight tolerances.
- Cold Turning: This method improves size tolerance, enhances uniformity of section, and gives the bar a bright, smooth finish. It is often used when surface appearance and consistency are critical.
- Cold Grinding: Building on the benefits of cold turning, cold grinding further refines the surface to ensure the highest level of uniformity and close size tolerance. This process is essential for applications where precision is key, and material performance must meet stringent specifications.
Cold-turned and cold-ground bars are particularly useful in applications that require consistent quality and close dimensional tolerances, such as high-end manufacturing and precision components.
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