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Free-cutting steels for enhanced process reliability

In mass production, free-cutting steels are mainly used for low-load small parts with high metal removal rates: connecting and fastening elements, shafts, hydraulic components, fittings and similar products.

Free-cutting steels are defined in the EN ISO 683-4 standard as unalloyed or low-alloy high-quality steels that have a relatively high sulfur content and that are either lead-free or contain some lead. All free-cutting steels exhibit good machinability as the presence of manganese sulfide and lead inclusions results in the formation of small chips when the material is machined. Machining is therefore one of the main areas in which free-cutting steels are employed. Depending on the requirements that the steel has to meet, we distinguish between soft free-cutting steels, which are not suitable for heat treatment, and quenched and tempered (QT) free-cutting steels.

Soft free-cutting steel

Our soft free-cutting steels are characterized by particularly deep carbon penetration and an enhanced sulfur content. The deep carbon penetration means that this free-cutting steel is more readily machined than other steels while still retaining a significant hardness penetration depth. In addition, our soft free-cutting steels are magnetically soft materials.

Product range

  • Wire rod in coils: D: 5,5 -50,0 mm (round)
  • Wire rod in coils: D: 17,7 -42,5 mm (hexagonal)
  • Bars in bundles: D: 16,0 -66,0 mm (round)
  • Bars in bundles: D: 17,7 -62,0 mm (hexagonal)

You can order your products in the following finishing options of your choice:

Wire rod

  • Untreated
  • Thermomechanically treated

Steel bars

must meet high requirements for straightness and absence of surface or internal defects.

  • Untreated
  • Rolled under normalizing conditions
  • Straightened / cut
  • Crack tested
  • Ultrasonically tested
  • Demagnetised
  • Material identification tested

Systematic checks throughout the production process guarantee a consistently high steel quality.

Examples of steel grades available from Steeltec

  • 11SMnPb30
  • 11SMn30

Quenched and tempered free-cutting steel

QT free-cutting steels are subjected to additional heat treatment. Achieving the desired final hardness and ductility depends on the right choice of material and careful control of the heat treatment parameters. At Steeltec, we can tailor our QT steels to meet the specific demands of a customer’s application.

Product range

  • Wire rod in coils: D: 5,5 -50,0 mm (round)
  • Wire rod in coils: D: 17,7 -42,5 mm (hexagonal)
  • Bars in bundles: D: 16,0 -66,0 mm (round)
  • Bars in bundles: D: 17,7 -62,0 mm (hexagonal)

You can order your products in the following finishing options of your choice:

Wire rod

  • Untreated
  • Thermomechanically treated

Steel bars

must meet high requirements for straightness and absence of surface or internal defects.

  • Untreated
  • Rolled under normalizing conditions
  • Straightened / cut
  • Crack tested
  • Ultrasonically tested
  • Demagnetised
  • Material identification tested

Systematic checks throughout the production process guarantee a consistently high steel quality.

Examples of steel grades available from Steeltec

  • 35S20
  • 46S20
  • 44SMn28
  • 44SMnPb28

SwissCut® – Bright steel for precision components with a high ROI

Our popular SwissCut® steel is a bright steel from our series of special free-cutting steels. One of the most compelling reasons why our customers choose this steel is cost effectiveness. Steeltec developed this high-performance, free-cutting steel as it permits high machining speeds while maintaining long tool lives.

Customers who choose SwissCut® can achieve a significant reduction in their production costs. SwissCut® exhibits impressively high dimensional precision and produces smooth surfaces – an important quality characteristic when producing precision components on CNC machining centers. However, manufacturers also want to keep machining times short and minimize tool wear. If conventional free-cutting steels are used, attempts to boost productivity by increasing the cutting speed to over 100 m/min will typically lead to a large reduction in tool life. Customers who choose SwissCut® benefit from lower parts costs coupled with maximum productivity and profitability.

Tool selection and application areas

Product range

Steeltec designationDIN/EN designationMaterial No.ProcessSize range mmTolerance
SwissCut® SC30~11SMn30~1.0715+C10 – 36h9
SwissCut® SC37~11SMn37~1.0736+C10 – 36
h9
SwissCut® SC30Pb
~11SMnPb30
~1.0718
+C
10 – 36
h9
SwissCut® SC37Pb
~11SMnPb37
~1.0737
+C
10 – 36
h9
SwissCut® SC37Pb+
~11SMnPb37+Bi+Te/Se
~1.0737
+C
4,5 – 40h9
+SL4,5 – 20≥ IT6
+CSW 10 – 36h11
SwissCut® SC620Pb+~60SPb20+Bi~1.0758+C5 – 22h9
+SL5 – 20≥ IT6

Chemical & mechanical properties

Chemical composition

Melt analysis in percentage by mass (EN 100887)

Steeltec designationCSiMnPSPbOther
SwissCut® SC30≤ 0,140,1-0,4*0,90-1,30≤ 0,110,27-0,33
SwissCut® SC37≤ 0,140,1-0,4*1,00-1,50≤ 0,110,34-0,40
SwissCut® SC30Pb≤ 0,140,1-0,4**0,90-1,30≤ 0,110,27-0,330,20-0,35
SwissCut® SC37Pb≤ 0,140,1-0,4**1,00-1,50≤ 0,110,34-0,400,20-0,35
SwissCut® SC37Pb+≤ 0,14≤ 0,051,00-1,50≤ 0,110,34-0,400,20-0,35Bi+Te/Se***
SwissCut® SC620Pb+0,62-0,70≤ 0,10-0,301,20-1,40≤ 0,060,15-0,300,15-0,30Bi

* Special version in compliance with the standard. “If, by metallurgical techniques, the formation of special oxides is guaranteed, then an Si content of between 0.10 and 0.40 % can be agreed on.” (Quote from EN 10087:1998, Page 5, Footnote 2)
** No provision has so far been made in standard EN 10087 for the use of metallurgical techniques to form optimum oxides in the case of lead-alloy steels. This does not give rise to any drawbacks in respect of the mechanical properties and in the event of any downstream heat treatment.
*** Special version in compliance with the standard. “Elements such as Te or Bi may only be added for improving the machinability, if this has been agreed at the time of enquiry and order.” (Quote from EN 10087: 1998, Page 5, Footnote 1)

Mechanical properties

Supplied conditional: cold drawn (EN 10277-3)

Steeltec designationSize range [mm]Rp0,2 [N/mm2]Rm [N/mm2]A5 [%]
SwissCut® SC30> 10 – ≤ 16≥ 410490 – 7607
SwissCut® SC37> 16 – ≤ 40≥ 375460 – 7108
SwissCut® SC30Pb
SwissCut® SC37Pb
SwissCut® SC37Pb+> 5 – ≤ 10≥ 440510 – 810

6

> 10 – ≤ 16≥ 410490 – 7607
> 16 – ≤ 40≥ 375460 – 7108
SwissCut® SC620Pb+≥ 5 – ≤ 10≥ 645830 – 10805
> 10 – ≤ 16≥ 540780 – 10306
> 16 – ≤ 40≥ 43040 – 9307

Downloads

Data sheet Swisscut®
Download
Brochure Swiss Cut®
Download
Technical article Swisscut®
Download

Shorten your processing times by using Steeltec’s standard free-cutting steels

Our standard free-cutting steels are the materials of choice for manufacturers who demand extremely reliable production processes, good machinability, shorter processing times and excellent reproducibility.

Productivity is the critical performance indicator for machine tool operators. We supply our customers with free-cutting steels whose properties have been selected to deliver maximum productivity for their manufacturing processes.

Get in touch with Steeltec to learn more. Tell us your desired product properties and we’ll advise you on the best type of steel for your proposed application.

Product range

Steeltec designation

DIN/EN designationMaterial No.ProcessSize range mmTolerance
11SMn30
11SMn30
1.0715
+C
4 – 80
h9



+SL
4 – 80
IT6
(6-kant)

+C
SW 10 – 65
h11
11SMnPb30
11SMnPb37
1.0718
+C
4 – 80
h9


+SL
4 – 80
≥ IT6
(6-kant)

+C
SW 10 – 65
h11
11SMnPb3711SMnPb371.0737+C
4 – 80
h9


+SL
4 – 80

≥ IT6

(6-kant)

+C
SW 10 – 65
h11

Additional standard free-cutting steels in the product range:
C15Pb, C35Pb, C45Pb, 35S20, 46S20, 46S20Pb

Chemical & mechanical properties

Chemical composition

Melt analysis in percentage by mass (EN 100887)

Steeltec designationCSiMnPSPb
11SMn30
≤ 0,14
≤ 0,05
0,90-1,30
≤ 0,11
0,27-0,33

11SMnPb30
≤ 0,14
≤ 0,05
0,90-1,30
≤ 0,11
0,27-0,33
0,20-0,35
11SMnPb37
≤ 0,14
≤ 0,05
1,00-1,50
≤ 0,11
0,34-0,40
0,20-0,35

Mechanical properties

Supplied conditional: cold drawn (EN 10277-3)

Steeltec designation
Size range [mm]
Rp0,2 [N/mm2]
Rm [N/mm2]
A5 [%]
11SMn30
≥ 5 – ≤ 10
≥ 440
510 – 810
6
11SMnPb30
> 10 – ≤ 16
≥ 410
490 – 760
7
11SMnPb37
> 16 – ≤ 40
≥ 375
460 – 710
8

> 63 – ≤ 80
≥ 245
360 – 630
9

Download

Data sheet Swisscut®
Download

We’re here for you.

Paolo Berti - Head of Customer Service Rolled Steel

paolo.berti@steeltec-group.com

Dirk Ochmann - Head of Customer Service Bright Steel

dirk.ochmann@steeltec-group.com

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Emmenweidstrasse 90

CH-6020 Emmenbrücke

+41 41 209 5151

info@steeltec-group.com

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www.swisssteel-group.com

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