Application
Fasteners — Nuts, Bolts & Turned Components
High-volume turned and cold formed fasteners, where cycle time decides the cost per piece.
The requirement
What this application actually demands
Fastener manufacturing is a volume business, and in a volume business the cost of a part is dominated by how long the machine takes to make it. A grade that shaves two seconds off a cycle is worth more than a grade that saves a few rupees per kilogram.
That is why free cutting steels exist and why they account for the largest tonnage moving through our drawing lines. Short broken chips keep an unattended automatic running; long stringy swarf stops it.
The second requirement is dimensional consistency. A bar feeding an automatic through a collet has to be straight and within tolerance for the whole length, every length. Out-of-round or bowed bar causes feed faults, and a feed fault on a night shift costs far more than the bar.
Hex bar deserves specific mention. Nuts, couplings and adaptors are made from hex, and the across-flats dimension and flat quality determine whether the part can be gripped and indexed correctly. We draw hex on the same controlled lines as round.
Grade selection
Recommended grades, and why
EN1A
First choiceEN1A Free Cutting Bright Bar
Machinability 95 · Weld Not recommended
The volume standard. Excellent chip breaking and high permissible cutting speeds for general nuts, bolts, studs and turned parts.
EN1A PB
EN1A PB Leaded Free Cutting Bright Bar
Machinability 145 · Weld Not recommended
For the highest speed multi-spindle automatic work. Lead lubricates the cut, giving the best tool life and the best off-the-tool finish — worth the premium wherever cycle time dominates cost.
EN8M
EN8M Free Cutting Bright Bar
Machinability 80 · Weld Limited
When the fastener has to carry real load. Medium carbon strength with free cutting machinability — the right answer for high tensile studs and machined bolts.
SAE 1018
SAE 1018 Bright Bar
Machinability 70 · Weld Excellent
For cold headed fasteners. Controlled chemistry means predictable ductility, so a header runs without re-setting for incoming material.
Heat number carried through to your gate
Other applications
Also making something else?
Gears & Transmission
Carburised gears and pinions, where case depth consistency and traceability decide whether the batch is accepted.
Shafts & Axles
Torque carrying and fatigue loaded components, where through-section strength and straightness matter.
Auto Components
Tier-1 and Tier-2 automotive parts, where documentation is part of the product.
Hydraulic & Pneumatic
Sealing surfaces and pressure-carrying parts, where surface finish and tolerance are the specification.
General Engineering
The broad base of engineering work — machined parts, fabricated assemblies and everything in between.
Supplying into fasteners?
Send us the grade, size and quantity — or tell us the component and we will recommend the grade.