Sandblasting (unified texture/deburring look and feel)
Used to achieve a more uniform matte finish with a clean appearance while improving surface consistency prior to painting/plating.
45# Carbon Steel
Carbon steel 45# is a commonly used medium carbon steel, characterized by "high strength, good heat treatment performance, and wide application."
Quote checklist: Upload your 3D model and, when available, a 2D drawing. Identify the required process, material, quantity, critical dimensions, finish, appearance standard, and target delivery date.
Key Material and Manufacturing Parameters
Engineering note: Values below are typical reference ranges. Final manufacturability, tolerances, material condition, surface finish, cost, and lead time depend on the drawing, geometry, quantity, and selected process.
Upload CAD files and mark critical features for an engineering review before production.
| Process | CNC precision machining (carbon steel/medium carbon steel) |
|---|---|
| Material | Carbon steel 45# (45 steel / 45 steel, medium carbon steel) |
| Machining tolerance (reference) | ±0.2 mm (common reference; for key coordination, please follow the drawing tolerances and benchmarks) |
| Minimum wall thickness (reference) | 1.0 mm (partially thin-walled/slender structures need to be evaluated based on size, tooling and clamping) |
| Temperature resistance (reference) | 300–600℃ (related to working conditions, surface condition and heat treatment requirements) |
| Tensile strength (reference) | 450–1100 MPa (depending on material condition/heat treatment requirements; please refer to drawings or requirements) |
| Density (reference) | 7.7–8.5 g/cm³ |
| Surface roughness (reference) | It is related to the tool, tool path and process route; if you need Ra index, please mark and explain the appearance surface in the drawing. |
| Rust Prevention Recommendation | 45# is easy to rust. It is recommended to choose blackening/oxidation/galvanizing/powder coating/painting based on the environment. |
| Finishing | Sand blasting, blackening, oxidation, galvanizing, nickel plating, powder coating, painting |
| Typical lead time | Relevant to size, quantity, processing difficulty and surface finishing; clear delivery and expedited options will be given after uploading the file |
Finishing
Blackening (Common Rust Prevention / Appearance Darkening)
Suitable for structural parts that require appearance and light rust resistance; if the environment is humid or used outdoors, it is recommended to use a stronger protection solution.
Oxidation (surface protective layer)
It is used to improve surface stability and certain protective capabilities; the specific effect is related to the process route, part geometry and pre-treatment.
Galvanized (enhanced rust resistance)
Suitable for parts in humid environments or requiring stronger rust resistance; if there are matching dimensions, please pay attention to the impact of coating thickness.
Nickel plating (corrosion resistance/decorative improvement)
It can improve the appearance and corrosion resistance; for size-sensitive areas, it is recommended to communicate the coating requirements and masking plan in advance.
Powder coating (wear-resistant and scratch-resistant/strong coverage)
Suitable for parts that have higher requirements for wear resistance, scratch resistance and appearance consistency; the corners/hole locations need to be evaluated in combination with the structure to evaluate the masking and thickness.
Spray painting (color and appearance controllable)
Color, gloss (matte/high gloss) and appearance standard control can be achieved; it is recommended to provide reference pictures or clarify the appearance.
Why choose carbon steel 45# (CNC machining)
Strength and cost are more balanced
Suitable for structural parts, fixtures and industrial parts, taking into account load-load-bearing capacity and cost control.
Performance can be further improved through heat treatment
When you need higher strength/wear resistance, heat treatment and finishing routes can be used as required to achieve performance goals.
Wide range of processing adaptability
It has strong adaptability to common processes such as turning, milling, drilling, and tapping, and is suitable for low- to medium-volume production and repeated parts delivery.
Post-treatment improves rust protection and appearance consistency
Supports sandblasting, blackening, galvanizing, powder coating, painting and other solutions to facilitate matching of different usage environments and appearance standards.
Recommended Applications
- Structural load-bearing member: Brackets, connectors, transmission structures, fixtures and fixtures
- cost sensitive: Projects with clear strength requirements but budget needs to be controlled
- Surface anti-rust option required: Blackening/galvanizing/spray coating/powder coating can be selected according to the environment
- Small and medium batches/repeated parts: The processing route is mature, which facilitates repurchase and consistent delivery.
Consider Another Material or Process
- Strongly corrosive environment: Prioritize stainless steel or stronger protection system
- Cosmetic parts and long-term rust prevention requirements are extremely high: It is recommended to clarify the appearance standards and evaluate the plating/coating scheme, or change to corrosion-resistant materials
- Extremely lightweight first: Can evaluate lightweight material systems such as aluminum alloy/magnesium alloy
- Extremely strict geometric tolerances: It is recommended to make an overall assessment from the basis of clamping, heat treatment deformation and finishing process.
Design and DFM Guidelines
- Write down the datum and tolerance clearly: For key requirements such as hole systems, mating surfaces, coaxiality/flatness, etc., it is recommended to provide 2D annotations and specify datums to avoid assembly deviations caused by "default processing".
- Be careful with thin walls and deep cavities: Thin walls, deep cavities and long and slender structures are prone to tool vibration/deformation; it is recommended to add ribs, optimize transition fillets, and leave a reasonable machining allowance.
- Thread and hole location strategy: It is recommended to distinguish between "through holes/blind holes/countersunk holes/countersunk heads" and indicate the thread specifications and effective thread depth; reaming/finishing processes can be considered for assembly holes.
- Heat treatment and dimensional changes: If heat treatment/hardness requirements are required, it is recommended to reserve a finishing allowance after heat treatment and arrange final finishing for the key mating surfaces.
- Definition of Rust Prevention and Appearance Surfaces: 45# is easy to rust, so it is recommended to clarify the use environment and appearance; areas with matching dimensions need to communicate in advance about the impact of masking and plating/coating thickness.