AUTOMATON STEEL

Among the properties required from steel material, machinability capability is important. In the manufacturing stage, criteria such as high cutting speeds and consequently processing time, tool life, good surface quality, energy saving by using lower cutting forces are directly related to material quality along with other factors. Automaton steels have been developed to provide this quality.

Automaton steels are steels with a carbon content ranging between 0.07 % - 0.60 %, sulphur content between 0.15 % and 0.40 % and phosphorus content between 0.07 % - 0.10 %. Although sulphur and phosphorus are tried to be reduced in all other grades, they are especially added to automaton steels because they increase machining capability. These added elements provide metallic brittleness in the material and provide short brittle chip formation. In addition, the addition of sulphur and phosphorus has a lubricating effect, increasing the strength of the part and allowing a clean surface to be obtained.

Automaton steels can also be alloyed with lead. Although the added lead does not change the mechanical properties of the steel, it increases the lubrication feature.

Automaton steels also have the ability to be treated and cemented.

Automaton steels cover many different steel classes containing various chemical components. In general, automaton steels are highly alloyed steels and often contain high amounts of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and nickel. They may also contain other elements such as carbon, manganese, silicon, sulphur and phosphorus. Chemical analyses of automaton steels may vary depending on the particular steel grade and intended use. However, in general, automaton steels contain a combination of the following elements:

Carbon (C): 0.07 per cent to 0.45 per cent

Chromium (Cr): 0.15 to 1.5

Molybdenum (Mo): 0.1% to 0.6

Vanadium (V): 0.1 to 0.4 per cent

Nickel (Ni): 0.25 to 1.5 per cent

Manganese (Mn): 0.15 to 1.0

Silicon (Si): 0.1% to 0.4

Phosphorus (P): maximum 0.04

Sulphur (S): maximum 0.35

Although sulphur and phosphorus are tried to be reduced in all other grades, they are especially added to automaton steels because they increase machining capability. These added elements provide metallic brittleness in the material, resulting in the formation of short brittle chips. In addition, the addition of sulphur and phosphorus has a lubricating effect, increasing the strength of the part and allowing a clean surface to be obtained.

Automaton steels can also be alloyed with lead. Although the added lead does not change the mechanical properties of the steel, it increases the lubrication feature.

Automaton steels also have the ability to be treated and cemented.

The above values may vary according to the steel grade and manufacturer's specifications. Therefore, to determine the chemical analyses of automaton steels, it is important to refer to the specifications provided by the manufacturer.