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Forging in Steel 1045 (cold drawn)
Steel 1045 (cold drawn) is a proven choice for forging: about 40% stronger than 1018 as cold drawn. On a representative flanged bushing at 2,500 pieces it estimates at about $1.95 per part plus $9,336 tooling, with a lead time of 8–12 weeks. Typical tolerance is ±0.010–0.030 in (±0.25–0.8 mm), plus die wear and mismatch allowances.
- Per part
- $1.95
- Tooling
- $9,336
- Lead time
- 8–12 weeks
Price it in 1045
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 vs other forging materials
The same flanged bushing at 2,500 pieces, priced in every material the process runs. 6061-T6 is the lowest all-in cost.
| Material | Per part | All-in | Weight | Tensile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $1.74 | $5.76 | 19 g | 310 MPa |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | $1.93 | $5.95 | 19 g | 572 MPa |
| Steel 1018 (cold drawn) | $1.93 | $5.95 | 54 g | 440 MPa |
| Steel 1045 (cold drawn) | $1.95 | $5.96 | 54 g | 625 MPa |
| Steel 4140 (annealed) | $2.01 | $6.03 | 54 g | 655 MPa |
| Stainless steel 304 | $2.26 | $6.27 | 55 g | 505 MPa |
| Stainless steel 316 | $2.43 | $6.44 | 55 g | 580 MPa |
| Stainless steel 17-4 PH (H900) | $2.73 | $6.75 | 54 g | 1379 MPa |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | $3.70 | $7.71 | 31 g | 950 MPa |
1045 at a glance
- 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.
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
Forging design rules
5–7° external and 7–10° internal for steel
Add draft
Fillets at least 0.125 in (3 mm); corners at least 0.060 in (1.5 mm) on small parts
Use generous fillets and corners
Webs at least 0.125–0.250 in (3–6 mm), thicker for large plan areas
Avoid thin webs
Place it on the largest cross section, in one plane if possible
Keep the parting line simple
0.060–0.125 in (1.5–3.2 mm) per machined surface
Allow machining stock
Call out as-forged limits and put datums on machined features
Separate forged and machined tolerances
Questions
How much does forging in 1045 cost?
For a representative part (flanged bushing ø22 mm od × ø12 mm id × 18 mm, ø34 mm × 4 mm flange), SSG's estimator gives about $1.95 per part at 2,500 pieces, plus about $9,336 one-time tooling. All-in with tooling and setup that is $5.96 per part. It is budgetary; principals quote firm prices from your drawing.
Is 1045 a good material for forging?
It is when you need about 40% stronger than 1018 as cold drawn and induction hardens to 55–60 hrc on wear surfaces over a tough core. Watch for welding needs preheat, typically 300–500 °f (150–260 °c), to avoid cracking. Of 9 materials run in forging, it ranks 4 on all-in cost for the same part.
What finishes work on 1045 forging parts?
Common options are bead blasted, vibratory deburr (tumbling), powder coat, wet paint (liquid coating), zinc plating, electroless nickel (en). The builder adds each finish's lot charge, per-part cost and days to the estimate.
What tolerance can forging hold in 1045?
Typical capability is ±0.010–0.030 in (±0.25–0.8 mm), plus die wear and mismatch allowances. Tighter tolerances are possible on called-out features at added cost; specify them on the drawing rather than as a blanket note.
Quote forging in 1045.
Upload your CAD or start from a template. The DFM check applies the rules above to your geometry.