Superior Machinability

En1a steel contains higher levels of sulphur and manganese compared to plain carbon steels like 1018. The sulphur acts as a built-in lubricant during machining, reducing friction and heat generation. This allows En1a to be machined at faster speeds and feed rates without compromising quality. The excellent machinability makes En1a ideal for high volume production of precision turned components.

Longer Tool Life

The reduced friction and heat during machining of En1a results in less wear on the cutting tools. Cutting tools can last significantly longer before needing to be replaced or resharpened when machining En1a vs plain carbon steel. Longer tool life means lower tooling costs and less machine downtime for tool changes. This is a major cost advantage, especially in high volume production.

Improved Surface Finish

En1a produces small, brittle chips that easily break away during machining, resulting in a very smooth surface finish . Many components made from En1a require no additional finishing operations. With plain carbon steel, additional grinding, polishing, etc. is often needed after machining to get an acceptable surface finish. Eliminating secondary finishing provides significant cost savings.

Faster Production Rates

The combination of faster machining speeds, longer tool life, and reduced finishing requirements allows En1a components to be produced more rapidly than those made from plain carbon steel. Shorter cycle times mean more parts can be produced per hour, driving down the cost per part. This is very advantageous for high volume production runs.In summary, while the raw material cost of En1a may be slightly higher than plain carbon steel, the total cost of producing the finished machined components is often lower with En1a due to its superior machinability properties. The longer tool life, better surface finish, and faster production rates can provide significant cost savings, making En1a an economical choice for many machined parts.