English
Sign in
| Price | $0.15 |
| MOQ | 1pcs |
| Delivery Time | 5-8day |
| Certification | ISO9001:2015,AS9100D,ISO13485:2016,ISO45001:2018,IATF16949:2016,ISO14001:2015,RoSH,CE etc. |
| Payment Terms | L/C,D/A,D/P,T/T,Western Union,MoneyGram |
| Sample | Need to pay sample fee | Qc Control | Critical Dime |
| Roughness | Ra0.2~Ra3.2 | Service | OEM ODM,OEM/ODM |
| Method | CNC milling | Feature | durable and high precision |
| Certification | ISO9001:2015,AS9100D,ISO13485:2016,ISO45001:2018,IATF16949:2016,ISO14001:2015,RoSH,CE etc. | Drawings | 2D/3D |
| Payment Terms | L/C,D/A,D/P,T/T,Western Union,MoneyGram | Heattreatment | Available on request |
| Accuracy | 0.01mm | Heat Treatment | Annealing, Quenching, Tempering, Etc. |
| Price | $0.15 | Delivery Time | 5-8day |
| Oem | Available,Offered,Accept | Drawing Needed | PDF/DWG/DXF/IGS/STP/ X-Tetc. |
| Minimum Order Quantity | 1pcs | Tolerane | 0.01mm |
| Finishing | Nickel plating | Quality Control | 100% Full Inspection |
304
stainless
steel
is
one
of
the
most
requested
materials
in
custom
machining
because
it
offers
exceptional
corrosion
resistance
and
durability.
But
from
a
manufacturing
standpoint,
304
is
notoriously
gum-like
during
cutting.
It
work-hardens
quickly,
overheats
easily,
and
dulls
tooling
almost
twice
as
fast
as
carbon
steel.
During actual factory production, we often observe:
Tool wear increases 25–40% when feed rates are not optimized.
Uncooled drilling can raise cutting-edge temperature beyond 700°C, causing chatter and tearing.
Laser-cut edges often form oxide layers that must be removed before precision milling.
These details drastically impact part tolerance, finishing quality, and delivery time.
This article provides a full, practical workflow—from laser cutting → CNC milling → grinding → passivation—based on real shop experience.
Laser cutting is ideal for preparing blanks before CNC milling, especially for plate-based components.
Laser type: 1.5–3 kW fiber laser
Sheet thickness: 1.5 mm – 10 mm
Cutting speed for 2 mm 304 SS: 20–28 mm/s
Typical tolerance: ±0.10–0.20 mm
Reduces CNC machining time by 30–50%
Minimizes waste from roughing
Ideal for complex outer profiles or slot features
Pro
Tip:
Avoid
high-speed
cutting
on
304;
excessive
heat
causes
oxide
buildup
that
later
interferes
with
passivation.
Once the blank is laser-cut, CNC milling handles the precision features.
Tooling: TiAlN-coated carbide end mills
Coolant: High-pressure flood coolant, 8–10% emulsion
Chip evacuation: Compulsory to prevent work-hardening
| Operation | Spindle Speed | Feed Rate | Depth of Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side Milling (Ø8 mm) | 1800–2200 RPM | 220–280 mm/min | 0.15–0.25 mm |
| Slot Milling | 1500–1800 RPM | 160–200 mm/min | 0.1 mm |
| Drilling (Ø6 mm) | 1200–1500 RPM | 0.08–0.12 mm/rev | — |
These numbers were tested on Haas VF-2 and DMG 3-axis machines using 304-2B sheet.
Most
failures
occur
when
feed
is
too
low.
Rule
of
thumb:
If
you
see
blue
chips
→
the
tool
is
rubbing,
not
cutting.
Increase
feed
immediately.
Grinding is essential for 304 parts requiring tight tolerances or aesthetic finishes, especially for:
Precision brackets
Sliding mechanisms
Seal-contact surfaces
Medical hardware components
| Grinding Type | Achievable Tolerance | Surface Roughness |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Grinding | ±0.01 mm | Ra 0.8–1.2 μm |
| Cylindrical Grinding | ±0.005 mm | Ra 0.4–0.8 μm |
Overheating → discoloration
Micro-scratches due to incorrect grit size
Distortion on thin 304 plates
Solution:
Use
coolant-rich
grinding
with
incremental
passes
of
0.005–0.01
mm.
Passivation removes iron contamination and restores the chromium oxide protective layer.
Degreasing & ultrasonic cleaning
Acid bath treatment
Nitric acid 20–25% at 50°C
OR Citric acid 6–10% at 30–40°C
Rinse in DI water
Hot-air drying
After citric passivation, 304 parts showed:
Salt spray resistance: 48–96 hours
Surface chromium concentration increased by 35–55% (XPS verified)
Many
buyers
worry
their
stainless
steel
parts
rust
after
only
weeks
of
use.
This
is
usually
caused
by
laser
oxide
+
machining
debris,
not
material
quality.
A
proper
grinding
+
passivation
process
eliminates
this
completely.
Food-processing components
Medical fixtures
Marine hardware brackets
Industrial automation parts
Battery housings
Instrument panels & enclosures
These industries choose 304 due to its balance of strength, formability, and resistance to corrosion.
Thickness of the 304 plate
Complexity of CNC features
Required tolerances
Surface finishing level
Batch quantity
For reference, a typical 304 bracket (2–4 mm thick) including laser cutting, CNC milling, grinding & passivation:
Unit price (small batch 10–20 pcs): USD $9–$18
Mass production (500+ pcs): USD $3.80–$7.20
Yes, but it requires precise feeds and coolant management to prevent work-hardening.
Yes. Oxide edges should be removed before CNC milling or passivation.
No, passivation is a non-coating chemical process and does not add thickness.
1. Are you a manufacturer or a trading company?
