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What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless Steel is a type of alloy steel containing at least 10.5% chromium. Its core advantage is excellent corrosion resistance—it can maintain surface stability in humid, acid-alkaline, and other complex environments. It also features high strength, ease of processing, and a clean appearance, making it the preferred material for precision parts in food, medical, and industrial fields.
Its 4 core characteristics determine processing compatibility:
Strong corrosion resistance: Chromium forms an oxide film that isolates external corrosion, eliminating the need for additional rust prevention.
High strength and toughness: Stable mechanical properties at room temperature, with low deformation after processing, suitable for load-bearing and wear-resistant parts.
Good processing compatibility: Can achieve complex cutting via CNC machining and bending/stamping via sheet metal processing, meeting diverse structural needs.
Main Types of Stainless Steel and Their Applications
Different types of stainless steel vary significantly in composition (e.g., nickel, molybdenum content), with distinct properties and applicable scenarios. The table below helps you quickly match your needs:
| Stainless Steel Type | Core Composition (Typical) | Key Characteristics | Typical Application Scenarios |
| 304 Stainless Steel (18-8 Stainless Steel) | 18% Cr, 8% Ni, no Mo | Excellent corrosion resistance (in room-temperature humid environments), moderate cost, easy to process | Food machinery parts (e.g., conveyor accessories), home appliance housings, daily hardware, architectural decorative parts |
| 316 Stainless Steel (Mo-Alloy Stainless Steel) | 16% Cr, 10% Ni, 2%-3% Mo | Stronger corrosion resistance (resistant to acids, alkalis, seawater), high-temperature resistance (≤800℃) | Medical equipment parts (e.g., surgical instruments), marine engineering accessories, chemical pipelines, high-end kitchenware |
| 430 Stainless Steel (Ferritic Stainless Steel) | 17% Cr, no Ni | Low cost, good oxidation resistance (in dry environments), strong magnetism | Home appliance liners (e.g., oven liners), automotive exhaust system parts, decorative parts (scenarios with low rust resistance requirements) |
| 316L Stainless Steel (Low-Carbon 316) | 16% Cr, 10% Ni, 2%-3% Mo, C ≤0.03% | Resistant to intergranular corrosion (no cracks after welding), good biocompatibility | Implantable medical parts (e.g., artificial joint accessories), high-purity chemical equipment, semiconductor industry parts |
How to Choose Between Stainless Steel and Similar Metal Materials?
Customers often hesitate between stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum alloy, and titanium alloy. The table below compares core dimensions to clarify stainless steel’s suitable scenarios:
| Material Type | Corrosion Resistance | Strength | Density (Lightweight) | Machining Difficulty | Cost | Application Differences |
| Stainless Steel | ★★★★☆ (316 reaches ★★★★★) | ★★★★☆ | Medium (7.93g/cm³) | Medium (easy for CNC/sheet metal) | Medium-High | General scenarios, especially rust-resistant and hygienic environments (food/medical) |
| Carbon Steel | ★☆☆☆☆ (prone to rust) | ★★★★★ | Medium (7.85g/cm³) | Low (easy to cut) | Low | Structural parts with no rust requirements (e.g., mechanical brackets), requiring additional painting for rust prevention |
| Aluminum Alloy | ★★★☆☆ (with surface oxide film) | ★★★☆☆ | Excellent (2.7g/cm³, lightweight) | Low (easy to process) | Medium | Lightweight scenarios (e.g., automotive body parts), with lower corrosion resistance than stainless steel |
| Titanium Alloy | ★★★★★ (extremely corrosion-resistant) | ★★★★★ | Excellent (4.5g/cm³) | High (difficult to process) | Very High | High-end scenarios (aerospace, high-end medical), low cost-effectiveness for general use |
Stainless Steel Part-Material-Process Matching Guide
Based on the structure and requirements of stainless steel parts, precisely match machining processes (CNC/sheet metal) to avoid increased costs or performance failures due to process mismatch:
| Part Type | Typical Part Examples | Recommended Stainless Steel Type | Preferred Machining Process | Key Process Parameters | Core Considerations |
| Sheet Parts | Food machinery covers, medical equipment housings, stainless steel clips | 304 (general), 316 (corrosion resistance required) | Laser cutting + CNC bending + stamping (sheet metal processing) | 1. Precision: ±0.02mm 2. Thickness: 0.5mm-12mm 3. Bending angle error: ≤0.5° | 1. Laser cutting uses nitrogen protection (to avoid surface oxidation and blackening); 2. Post-bending wire drawing/polishing available to enhance appearance and hygiene. |
| Shaft/Cylinder Parts | Mechanical bearing shafts, stainless steel valve cores, hydraulic cylinders | 304 (general), 316 (acid-alkali resistance) | CNC turning + 3-axis/5-axis milling | 1. Precision: ±0.005mm 2. Diameter: φ5mm-φ300mm 3. Surface roughness: Ra≤0.8μm | 1. Use special tools (e.g., carbide tools) during processing to avoid tool adhesion; 2. For welding, 316 prefers argon arc welding (to ensure corrosion resistance). |
| Irregular Structural Parts | Irregular flanges for chemical equipment, medical instrument brackets | 316 (corrosion resistance), 304 (general) | 5-axis CNC milling + partial sheet metal stamping | 1. Maximum size: 1500×800mm 2. Hole precision: ±0.01mm 3. Surface tolerance: ≤0.02mm | 1. 3D drawings required to optimize structure and reduce machining blind spots; 2. Samples needed before mass production to verify size and assembly compatibility. |
| Precision Small Parts | Medical minimally invasive instrument parts, electronic device connectors | 316L (biocompatible), 304 (precision) | Precision CNC milling + laser micro-cutting | 1. Minimum size: 5×5mm 2. Thickness: 0.3mm-5mm 3. Precision: ±0.003mm | 1. Ultrasonic cleaning after processing (removes oil, meets hygiene standards); 2. Passivation treatment available to enhance corrosion resistance. |
Our Stainless Steel Custom Machining Capabilities
To meet the process requirements of the 4 part types above, we provide one-stop delivery of stainless steel parts from raw materials to finished products through two core processes: CNC machining and sheet metal processing.
Core equipment: 3-axis/5-axis CNC milling centers, high-precision CNC lathes, CNC drilling and tapping machines
Processing advantages:
Precision up to ±0.005mm, meeting dimensional requirements for precision stainless steel parts (e.g., valve cores);
Supports complex structure machining (e.g., multi-hole positions, curved surfaces) without secondary assembly;
Adapts to small-batch customization (starting from 1 piece) and mass production (10,000+ pieces), flexibly responding to needs.
Core equipment: Fiber laser cutting machines (with nitrogen protection), CNC bending machines, precision stamping machines
Processing advantages:
Laser cutting with no burrs or oxidation (nitrogen protection), eliminating the need for secondary surface treatment;
Precise CNC bending angles (error ≤0.5°), ensuring consistent assembly of stainless steel parts;
High efficiency for mass production, capable of completing 800+ sheet parts (e.g., housings) per day.
Our Machining Capability Parameter Table
| Processing Type | Machining Precision | Maximum Processing Size | Suitable Stainless Steel Specifications | Surface Treatment Options |
| CNC Machining | ±0.005mm | Turning: φ500mm; Milling: 1500×800mm | Diameter: φ5mm-φ300mm; Thickness: 5mm-120mm | Polishing, passivation, chromium plating, laser engraving |
| Sheet Metal Processing | ±0.02mm | Laser cutting: 2000×1200mm | Thickness: 0.5mm-12mm | Wire drawing, mirror polishing, sandblasting, painting |
Why Choose Us for Stainless Steel Processing?
√ Integrated material + process customization: We don’t just provide machining; we also recommend stainless steel types based on part scenarios (e.g., 304 for food scenarios, 316L for medical scenarios) to avoid selection errors.
√ End-to-end quality control: From raw material inspection → in-process sampling, → full inspection of finished products.
√ Adaptation to special needs: Supports hygienic polishing (Ra≤0.4μm, meeting food/medical standards), post-welding passivation (enhancing 316’s corrosion resistance), and other customized requirements.
√ Fast delivery: Standard parts delivered in 7-15 days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to choose between 304 and 316 stainless steel?
It depends on the corrosive environment—304 is suitable for general humid/food scenarios (lower cost); 316 is better for acid-alkaline, seawater, or medical scenarios (stronger corrosion resistance). We can recommend freely based on your scenario.
Is it normal for stainless steel to turn black after processing?
No. Our laser cutting uses nitrogen protection, and we promptly clean cutting fluid after CNC machining to avoid surface oxidation and blackening. If needed, we can also perform polishing/wire drawing to ensure a smooth surface.
Can you provide material certificates and testing reports for stainless steel?
Yes. Each batch of stainless steel raw materials comes with a mill material report. After processing, we can provide third-party testing reports (e.g., FDA, GMP certifications) upon request.
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