In the production of components the machining processes represent a considerable cost factor. "M-Steel can lower these costs facilitating higher cutting speeds and a non-interrupted production environment. With a cutting speed of up to 30% faster than conventional steel, M-Steel meets market demands for lower processing costs," said a company spokesperson.
In many circumstances tool life can be more than doubled when machining steel that contains inclusions. This not only saves on the actual machining time, but also reduces the true cost per component.
Used extensively for component manufacture in the automotive, energy, petrochemical, mining and general engineering industries, M-Steel is produced in Imatra, Finland, by an automated serial production process, guaranteeing repeatability from cast to cast. As a result, there are no variations in the material, which eliminates the need to keep changing machine set-ups, such as tools, feedrates or cutting fluids.
At every stage of the M-Steel production process the material is optimized to improve machinability, from raw material through melt, to casting, hot rolling and the final heat treatment. A key part is the modification and control of non-metallic inclusions with calcium treatment, important steps in secondary metallurgy that affect the composition and inclusion structure, as well as heat treatment.
Hard, non-metallic inclusions in conventional steel cause considerable wear of the machine tool, but in Ovako M-Steel these are transformed to safer, calcium contained inclusions that are softer. They even create a beneficial lubricating film between the tool and the chip interface during machining. Additionally, the sulphur content is optimized to achieve the best possible machinability and toughness.
"We can tailor material to suit individual customers, while at the same time share our extensive product know-how," said Harri Aakala of Ovako, Imatra. "Our ability to finely control the purity of our steel, its hardenability, its heat treatment and its machinability, is the key to M-Steel products.
"Within our country sales offices experts can advise on specific material selection and capabilities so that the most suitable M-Steel grade can be matched to a specific application. This allows customers to maximize their savings on processing costs."
Central to the company's manufacturing and supply operations is ISO Total Quality Management with full traceability from raw material through to customer supply. In the case of M-Steels, in addition to the full spectrum of material testing, machinability tests are also carried out.
Ovako M-Steel round and square bar is available in a wide range of standard dimensions and can be supplied cut-to-length to best suit customers' machining centers.
For more information contact:
Ovako North America Inc.
1096 Assembly Drive, Suite 312
Fort Mill, SC 29708
803-802-1500
www.ovako.com