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Steel 1045 (cold drawn)
1045 is a medium-carbon steel with 0.43–0.50% carbon. As cold drawn bar it runs about 91 ksi (625 MPa) tensile, 40% stronger than 1018. It forges well and responds to flame, induction and through hardening, reaching 55 HRC or more at the surface. It is the standard choice for shafts, axles, pins and forged levers where 4140 is more than needed.
- UNS
- G10450
- ASTM
- A29 / A108 1045
- EN 10083-2
- C45 (1.0503)
- JIS
- S45C
How does it compare?
Typical room-temperature values for 1045, against all 48 materials in the library.
- Tensile strength
- 625 MPa87th pct
- Yield strength
- 530 MPa90th pct
- Density
- 7.87 g/cm³79th pct
- Elongation
- 12 %22th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
- Density
- 7.87 g/cm³ · 0.2843 lb/in³
- Tensile strength
- 625 MPa · 90.6 ksi
- Yield strength
- 530 MPa · 76.9 ksi
- Elongation
- 12%
- Elastic modulus
- 205 GPa · 29.7 Msi
- Hardness
- 179 HB
- Melting point
- 1460 °C · 2660 °F
- Thermal conductivity
- 49.8 W/m·K
- Machinability
- 55% of 1212 steel
When should you use 1045?
Strengths
- About 40% stronger than 1018 as cold drawn
- Induction hardens to 55–60 HRC on wear surfaces over a tough core
- Forges well; common for hammer and press forgings
- Low cost and widely stocked, including turned, ground and polished shafting
- Base steel for induction-hardened, chrome-plated hydraulic rod
Watch for
- Welding needs preheat, typically 300–500 °F (150–260 °C), to avoid cracking
- Limited hardenability; sections over about 1 in (25 mm) will not harden fully to the core
- Machines slower than low-carbon steels
- Rusts bare
Typical parts
- Shafts, axles and spindles
- Forged levers and connecting links
- Gears and sprockets with induction-hardened teeth
- Hydraulic cylinder rods
- Pins, bolts and studs
- Agricultural implement parts
How 1045 is made into parts
Cost, finishes and design rules for each process in this material.
Forging in 1045Closed-die and open-die forgings in carbon, alloy, and stainless steel and aluminum, with grain flow for strength.
CNC machining in 1045CNC milling, turning, and production sawing from bar, plate, castings, and forgings, from prototype to production.
Screw machining in 1045Turned pins, fittings, shafts, and bushings made from bar stock on multi-spindle and Swiss screw machines at volume.
Offshore sourcing in 1045Parts made by vetted overseas manufacturers, with landed-cost analysis, quality control, and logistics managed.
What does a part in 1045 cost?
A representative part, forging. Raw material at about $2.40/kg is one line of it; process time and tooling usually matter more.
Flanged bushing · Forging
Order total $14,908
- Tooling
- $9,336
- one-time, spread over the order
- Piece price
- $1.95
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 8–12 weeks
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Body OD22.022.0 mm
Overall height18.018.0 mm
Flange OD34.034.0 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity25002500 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
1045 questions
Can 1045 steel be hardened?
Yes. Water or polymer quench and temper through-hardens thin sections, and induction or flame hardening gives a 55–60 HRC surface on shafts and gear teeth. Hardenability is limited, so sections over about 1 in (25 mm) will not harden fully to the core.
1045 vs 4140?
4140 adds chromium and molybdenum for much deeper hardenability and higher toughness after heat treat. 1045 is cheaper and fine for induction-hardened or moderately stressed parts. Pick 4140 for thick sections, high fatigue loads, or 28–32 HRC pre-hard stock.
Is 1045 steel weldable?
With care. Preheat to 300–500 °F (150–260 °C), use low-hydrogen filler, and cool slowly or post-heat. Without preheat the heat-affected zone can form brittle martensite and crack.
Is 1045 good for forging?
Yes. It forges readily at about 2,100–2,250 °F (1,150–1,230 °C) and is one of the most common carbon steels for closed-die forgings, typically normalized or quenched and tempered afterward.
Similar materials
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