5 ways to Reduce Costs Through Material Changes for Lathe Turning and Machining 

1. Cost Reduction by Changing the Material from JIS SUS303 to SUS303Cu for Lathe Turning and Machining 

JIS SUS303 (AISI 303 / EN 1.4305 / X8CrNiS18-9 / ISO X10CrNiS18-9), which is commonly used for precision shafts, is a free-machining stainless steel. However, compared with ferrous materials and similar materials, its machinability is inferior, making it difficult to achieve a superior surface finish. Burrs also tend to occur during shaft machining, requiring an additional deburring process and increasing costs. 

JIS SUS303Cu (AISI 303Cu / EN 1.4570 / X6CrNiCuS18-9-2 / UNS S30330) is a free-machining material produced by adding copper to SUS303. Therefore, changing the material to SUS303Cu can significantly improve machinability. This change improves the surface finish and suppresses burr formation, thereby shortening the shaft-machining cycle time, eliminating the need for a deburring process, and reducing costs. 

SUS303 is a free-machining stainless steel characterized by good machinability. However, it tends to generate burrs and makes it difficult to achieve a superior surface finish, which increases the workload when mass-machining precision shafts and similar parts. In such cases, using SUS303Cu instead of SUS303 can limit the increase in shaft-machining work and reduce costs. 

2. Cost Reduction by Changing to Pre-Annealed Material for Lathe Turning and Machining 

When magnetic stainless steel was used for precision shafts, pistons, and similar parts, annealing (magnetic annealing) was performed after machining to stabilize the magnetic properties. Finishing was then required after annealing, which increased both the number of processes and the lead time. 

When magnetic stainless steel is selected for precision shafts, pistons, and similar parts, using pre-annealed material eliminates the need for annealing after machining. Although pre-annealed material costs more than standard material, it lowers the total cost compared with annealing the shaft after machining, resulting in overall cost savings. 

When magnetic stainless steel is used for functional components such as precision shafts and pistons, annealing and finishing are generally required after machining. For mass-produced machined parts in particular, changing from standard stainless steel to pre-annealed material at the material-selection stage eliminates annealing and finishing, thereby reducing costs. 

3. Cost Reduction by Changing the Material from JIS S10C to SUM series for Lathe Turning and Machining 

When JIS S10C (AISI/SAE 1010 / EN C10E / 1.1121 / ISO C10) is used as the material for mass-produced parts such as precision shafts, it has poor machinability and produces chips that are difficult to break. Continuous chips may contact and scratch the workpiece or become caught in the chuck, disrupting continuous automatic-lathe operation. This worsens cycle time and yield, resulting in higher costs. 

If the part specifications allow, changing from S10C to SUM series steel such as JIS SUM23 (AISI/SAE 1215 / EN 11SMn30 / 1.0715 / ISO 11SMn30)  improves machinability in shaft production. SUM series steel produces chips that break into small pieces more easily, preventing problems such as chip contact with the workpiece and chips becoming caught in the chuck. The resulting improvements in cycle time and yield reduce costs. 

When S10C is used for mass-produced machined parts such as precision shafts, chips tend to remain continuous, causing scratches on the workpiece and interfering with continuous automatic-lathe operation. If the specifications permit a material change, replacing S10C with SUM series steel prevents scratches and enables stable machine operation, improving both shaft-machining cycle time and yield. 

4. Cost Reduction by Eliminating Processes Through a Change from Solid Bar to Tubing for Lathe Turning and Machining 

When a hollow through-hole is specified for a mass-produced part such as a precision shaft, the through-hole must be drilled into the raw material. The increased machining time and lower material yield raise the part cost. 

For mass-produced parts with a hollow through-hole, such as precision shafts, specifying tubing (such as seamless or welded tubing) where permitted by the specifications shortens shaft-machining time and improves material yield, thereby reducing costs. 

Machining mass-produced parts with hollow through-holes, such as precision shafts and sleeves, from solid bar significantly increases machining time and material cost. Using tubing instead of solid bars both shortens hole-machining time and improves material yield. Therefore, changing from solid bar to tubing, where possible, is an effective way to reduce costs. 

5. Reducing Material Procurement Costs Through Overseas Processing for Lathe Turning and Machining 

When Japanese- or European-made raw material is drawn or otherwise processed for use as stock for mass-produced parts such as precision shafts and pistons intended for automatic-lathe machining, performing the drawing operation in the material’s country of origin results in high procurement costs. 

For raw material used in mass-produced parts such as precision shafts and pistons, material costs can be significantly reduced by importing the material and having it processed by drawing companies in countries such as Vietnam or Thailand. 

When Japanese- or European-made raw material is drawn or otherwise processed for use as stock for mass-produced parts such as precision shafts, performing the drawing operation in the material’s country of origin results in high procurement costs. In such cases, material costs can be significantly reduced by importing the raw material and using drawing companies in countries such as Vietnam or Thailand before the subsequent shaft-machining process. 

We, E&H Precision, Asia’s Largest CNC Machining Metal Lathe Turned Parts Manufacturer has more than 1,000 automatic lathe turning machines in Japan, Thailand & India, delivering to Asia, Europe, North America and South America. 

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About the Author: This article was created based on the expertise of E&H Precision’s manufacturing engineers, quality control staff, and sales engineers, and shares information on actual machining case studies, quality improvement initiatives, machining techniques, material properties, drawings, and standards, all based on experience from the manufacturing shop floor. Prior to publication, the information presented here is reviewed by our in-house engineers to ensure accuracy and practicality. 

** The images on this blog are for illustrative purposes only. Some were created using AI and They may differ from the actual situation.