Machining DataSheet for

General Information:
Material GroupM - Stainless Steel
Sub-GroupAustenitic Stainless Steel
Tensile Strength500-700 [N/mm^2]
Machinability72%

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Machining Stainless Steel 303

303 is a free-machining stainless alloy providing the best machinability among the austenitic stainless alloys. It is primarily used on Swiss-type Machines (Screw Machines) when productivity is a crucial factor. The machinability rating is approximately 75%.

The sulfur addition, which is accountable for the enhanced machinability in 303 stainless, decreases its corrosion resistance and toughness to below that of 304 and 316 alloys.
It has 1.5% carbon (compared to around 0.08% in 304/316); thus, it is less soft, therefore less likely to develop 'build-up edge' , and is more manageable with chip control.

Summery:

  • For general Turning of Stainless Steel 303 at stable conditions use a grade with a Semi Hard substrate and CVD coating.
  • In case you are running at a cutting speed that is lower than 390 SFM (120 m/min), it is better to use a grade with a
    • Semi Hard substrate and PVD coating.
  • For general Milling use a grade with a Semi Hard substrate and PVD coating.
  • For detailed carbide grades recommendations, check the Below Chart, or use the Grades Wizrad.
  • Recommended Cutting speed range for turning at stable conditions is 890 - 1180 [SFM] / 270 - 360 [m/min].
  • Recommended Cutting speed range for milling with stable clamping and short overhang is 560 - 750 [SFM] / 170 - 230 [m/min]
  • For detailed cutting speed recomendations, check the Below Table, or use our Speed and Feed Calculator.

    • Equivalent International Designations for Stainless Steel 303

    Standard Name
    sae303
    wnr1.4305
    dinX8CrNiS18-9
    bs303S21, 58M
    ss2346
    anforZ10CNF18.09
    uniX10CrNiS 18.09
    unfF.3508
    js1SUS303

    Chemical Composition for Stainless Steel 303

    Element Amount
    Chromium (Cr)19.5%
    Nickel (Ni)10.5%
    Silicon (Si)2.00%
    Manganese (Mn)1.50%
    Molybdenum (Mo)0.60%
    Sulfur (S)0.30%
    Carbon (C)0.16%
    Phosphorus (P)0.04%

    Cutting Speeds Recomendations for Stainless Steel 303

    * Click on the speeds below for higher precision in specific conditions!

    ApplicationVc (m/min)Vc (SFM)
    Turning270-360890-1180
    Milling170-230560-750
    Parting105-145340-480
    Grooving160-215520-710
    Drilling75-105250-340

    Important! The speed estimation is given for an ideal situation:

    • Most suitable carbide grade
    • Stable tool clamping
    • Stable workpiece clamping
    • Good quality raw material
    • A short overhang of the cutting tool.
    • Nominal hardness of the material.
    • etc.
    Click on the speeds in the above table to get better precision for specific parameters
    Or use our Speed and Feed Calculator


    Recommended Carbide Grades for Stainless Steel 303

    * If you do nott understand the below table? Read This Explanation to make the most out of it!

    Grade for Turning

    Brand Grade ISO Material app App Coating Apps Range 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
    Sandvik GC2015 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Sandvik GC2220 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Sandvik GC2025 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M15 - M35 M M M M M
    Sandvik GC2035 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M20 - M45 M M M M M M
    Iscar IC807 (IC907) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Iscar IC6015 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Iscar IC6025 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M15 - M35 M M M M M
    Iscar IC830 (IC328) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M20 - M45 M M M M M M
    Kennametal KCU10 (KC5010) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Kennametal KCM15B (KCM15) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M10 - M20 M M M
    Kennametal KCM25B (KCM25) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M15 - M35 M M M M M
    Kennametal KCU25 (KC5025) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Kennametal KCM35B (KCM35) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M30 - M40 M M M
    Walter WSM10S (WSM10) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Walter WMP20S M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Walter WSM20S (WSM20) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Walter WSM30S (WSM30) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Seco TM2000 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M05 - M25 M M M M M
    Seco CP500 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M15 - M40 M M M M M M
    Seco CP600 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M20 - M45 M M M M M M
    Seco TM4000 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Tungaloy T6120 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M10 - M20 M M M
    Tungaloy T6130 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH630 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH645 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M30 - M40 M M M
    Mitsubishi MC7015 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Mitsubishi VP15TF M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Mitsubishi MC7025 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M15 - M35 M M M M M
    Mitsubishi MP7035 M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M30 - M45 M M M M
    Sumitomo AC6020M (AC610M) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M05 - M25 M M M M M
    Sumitomo AC6030M (AC630M) M M - Stainless Steel T Turning CVD M10 - M35 M M M M M M
    Sumitomo AC1030U M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Sumitomo AC6040M M M - Stainless Steel T Turning PVD M25 - M45 M M M M M

    Grade for Milling (Indexable)

    Brand Grade ISO Material app App Coating Apps Range 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
    Sandvik S30T M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Sandvik GC1040 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Sandvik GC2040 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Iscar IC808 (IC908) M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Iscar IC830 (IC328) M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Iscar IC330 (IC328) M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M15 - M40 M M M M M M
    Kennametal KC522M M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Kennametal KCSM40 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M20 - M35 M M M M
    Kennametal KC725M M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M30 - M40 M M M
    Walter WSM35S M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M25 - M45 M M M M M
    Walter WSP45S (WSP45S) M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M35 - M45 M M M
    Seco MP2501 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Seco F40M M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M10 - M40 M M M M M M M
    Seco T350M M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Tungaloy AH725 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH120 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M15 - M25 M M M
    Tungaloy T3225 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M20 - M35 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH3225 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M20 - M35 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH130 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH3135 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M30 - M40 M M M
    Tungaloy AH140 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M30 - M45 M M M M
    Mitsubishi MP7130 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M05 - M35 M M M M M M M
    Mitsubishi MP7140 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M30 - M45 M M M M
    Sumitomo XCU2500 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Sumitomo ACM100 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Sumitomo ACU2500 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Sumitomo ACM200 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling CVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Sumitomo ACM300 M M - Stainless Steel M Milling PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M

    Grade for Parting Off

    Brand Grade ISO Material app App Coating Apps Range 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
    Sandvik GC1125 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Sandvik GC1135 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Iscar IC807 (IC907) M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M05 - M10 M M
    Iscar IC808 (IC908) M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Iscar IC5400 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting CVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Iscar IC830 (IC328) M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Kennametal KCU10 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Kennametal KCU25 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Walter WSM13S M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Walter WSM23S M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Walter WSM33S (WSM33) M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Walter WSM43S M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M30 - M45 M M M M
    Seco CP500 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M40 M M M M M M M
    Seco CP600 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M45 M M M M M M
    Seco T350M M M - Stainless Steel P Parting CVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Tungaloy AH725 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH7025 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M30 M M M
    Tungaloy GH130 M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Mitsubishi VP10RT M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M05 - M10 M M
    Mitsubishi VP20RT M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Mitsubishi VP30RT M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Sumitomo AC1030U (AC530U) M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Sumitomo AC520U M M - Stainless Steel P Parting PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Sumitomo AC830P M M - Stainless Steel P Parting CVD M20 - M40 M M M M M

    Grade for Grooving

    Brand Grade ISO Material app App Coating Apps Range 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
    Sandvik GC1125 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M05 - M35 M M M M M M M
    Iscar IC807 (IC907) M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Iscar IC808 (IC908) M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Iscar IC830 (IC328) M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Kennametal KCU10 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Kennametal KCU25 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Walter WSM13S M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M05 - M20 M M M M
    Walter WSM23S M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M30 M M M M M
    Walter WSM33S (WSM33) M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Walter WSM43S M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M30 - M45 M M M M
    Seco CP500 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Seco CP600 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Tungaloy AH725 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Tungaloy AH7025 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M20 - M30 M M M
    Tungaloy GH130 M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M25 - M40 M M M M
    Mitsubishi VP10RT M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M05 - M15 M M M
    Mitsubishi VP20RT M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Mitsubishi VP30RT M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M20 - M40 M M M M M
    Sumitomo AC1030U (AC530U) M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M10 - M25 M M M M
    Sumitomo AC520U M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving PVD M15 - M30 M M M M
    Sumitomo AC830P M M - Stainless Steel G Grooving CVD M20 - M40 M M M M M

    Recommended Insert Cutting Edge Geometry for Stainless Steel 303

    Honing Size:0.03-0.05 mm / 0.001-0.002"
    Rake Angle:9° -11°
    Land Angle:Positive
    Land Width:0.20-0.30 mm / 0.008-0.012"

    Learn more about carbide inserts Cutting-Edge Geometry Parameters.

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