Free-cutting steels are special steels with high machinability, developed to increase efficiency in machining processes. Elements in their composition such as sulphur (S), lead (Pb) or phosphorus (P) allow cutting, drilling, turning and milling to be carried out faster and more economically. In machining they offer advantages such as high cutting speeds and correspondingly shorter machining times, longer tool life, good surface quality and lower cutting forces.

Key Properties

• Easy chip breaking
• Low tool wear
• High-speed production and efficiency
• Ability to achieve tight tolerances and good surface quality
• Suitability for mass production
• Poor weldability

Applications

Free-cutting steels are widely used in sectors with high-volume production:

• Bolt and nut production
• Fasteners
• Hydraulic and pneumatic parts
• Automotive supplier components
• Fittings and valve parts
• Electrical and electronic equipment components
• Precision machine parts
• Shaft, pin and bushing production

Advantages

Free-cutting steels allow much higher machining speeds than standard structural steels. This shortens production times, reduces tooling costs and increases production efficiency. They perform exceptionally well on CNC lathes and automatic machining centres. Chips break easily.

Free-cutting steels are engineering steels with high machinability, preferred for applications requiring fast, precise and economical production.