If you're in the manufacturing game, you know stainless steel gears are everywhere—from automotive to food processing equipment. But machining them, especially from 304 stainless steel, can be tricky. That’s where high-precision CNC lathe turning comes in.
Why Stainless Steel 304 for Gears?
304 stainless steel is a go-to material because of its:
- Corrosion resistance – Perfect for harsh environments.
- Strength & durability – Handles heavy loads without wearing out fast.
- Machinability – Not the easiest, but with the right tools, it’s doable.
The catch? It work-hardens quickly, meaning if your machining process isn’t optimized, you’ll end up with tool wear, poor surface finish, or even part failure.
How CNC Lathe Turning Solves the Problem
CNC lathes bring precision, repeatability, and efficiency to stainless steel gear machining. Here’s how:
1. Tight Tolerances (±0.005mm or Better)
Gears need perfect fits. CNC lathes ensure every tooth, bore, and diameter is machined to exact specs, reducing post-processing.
2. Superior Surface Finish (Ra 0.4μm or Smoother)
Rough finishes cause friction and wear. With the right cutting parameters and tooling, CNC turning delivers mirror-like finishes.
3. Reduced Tool Wear (Thanks to Optimal Speeds & Feeds)
Stainless steel loves to chew up cutting tools. But with CNC programming, you can control:
- Cutting speed (80-120 m/min for 304 SS)
- Feed rate (0.1-0.2 mm/rev)
- Depth of cut (moderate to avoid work hardening)
Using carbide inserts with sharp geometries (like positive rake angles) also extends tool life.
4. Complex Geometries in One Setup
CNC lathes with live tooling can mill slots, drill holes, and cut gear teeth without needing secondary ops. Less handling = fewer errors.
Final Thoughts
High-precision CNC lathe turning is a game-changer for stainless steel 304 gears. By optimizing tooling, speeds, and feeds, you get durable, high-accuracy gears without the headaches of manual machining.
| | CNC Turning, CNC Milling, Laser Cutting, Bending, Spining, Wire Cutting, Stamping, Electric Discharge Machining (EDM), Injection Molding,3D Printing,Rapid Prototype,Moulds etc. |
| | Aluminum: 2000 series, 6000 series, 7075, 5052, etc. |
| Stainlesss steel: SUS303, SUS304, SS316, SS316L, 17-4PH, etc. |
| Steel: 1214L/1215/1045/4140/SCM440/40CrMo, etc. |
| Brass: 260, C360, H59, H60, H62, H63, H65, H68, H70, Bronze, Copper |
| Titanium: Grade F1-F5 |
| Plastic: Acetal/POM/PA/Nylon/PC/PMMA/PVC/PU/Acrylic/ABS/PTFE/PEEK etc. |
| | Anodized, Bead Blasted, Silk Screen, PVD Plating, Zinc/Nickl/Chrome/Titanium Plating, Brushing, Painting, Powder Coated, Passivation, Electrophoresis, Electro Polishing, Knurl, Laser/Etch/Engrave etc. |
| | ±0.002 ~ ±0.005mm |
| | Min Ra 0.1~3.2 |
| CERTIFICATE | ISO9001:2015,AS9100D,ISO13485:2016,ISO45001:2018,IATF16949:2016,ISO14001:2015,ROSH,CE etc. |
FAQ
1. Are you a manufacturer or a trading company?
We are a factory located in Shenzhen, China, with 20 years of rich experience,
covering 6000 square meters. Complete facilities, including 3D quality inspection equipment, ERP system and 40 machines. If necessary, we can provide you with material certificates, sample quality inspection and other reports.
2. How to get a quote?
Detailed drawings (PDF/STEP/IGS/DWG...), including quality, delivery date, materials, quality, quantity, surface treatment and other information.
3. Can I get a quotation without drawings?
Can your engineering team draw for my creativity? Of course, we are also glad to receive your samples, pictures or detailed size drafts for accurate quotation.
4. Can you provide samples before mass production?
Of course, the sample fee is necessary. If possible, it will be returned during mass production.
5. What is the delivery date?
Generally, the sample lasts for 1-2 weeks and the batch production lasts for 3-4 weeks.
6. How do you control quality?
(1) Material Inspection - Check material surfaces and approximate dimensions.
(2) First inspection of production - ensure
critical dimensions in mass production.
(3) Sampling inspection - check the quality before delivery to the warehouse.
(4) Preshipment inspection - 100% inspection by QC assistant before shipment.
7. After sales service team
If you have any problems after receiving the product, you can provide feedback through voice call, video conference, email, etc. within one month. Our team will provide you with solutions within a week.
