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Screw machining in Steel 1045 (cold drawn)
Steel 1045 (cold drawn) is a proven choice for screw machining: about 40% stronger than 1018 as cold drawn. On a representative turned shaft at 10,000 pieces it estimates at about $1.14 per part plus $1,800 tooling, with a lead time of 4–6 weeks. Typical tolerance is ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) standard; ±0.0002–0.0005 in (±0.005–0.013 mm) on critical diameters.
- Per part
- $1.14
- Tooling
- $1,800
- Lead time
- 4–6 weeks
Price it in 1045
Turned shaft · Screw machining
Order total $14,473
- Tooling
- $1,800
- one-time, spread over the order
- Piece price
- $1.14
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 4–6 weeks
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Major diameter16.016.0 mm
Overall length60.060.0 mm
Step diameter10.010.0 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity1000010000 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
1045 vs other screw machining materials
The same turned shaft at 10,000 pieces, priced in every material the process runs. POM is the lowest all-in cost.
| Material | Per part | All-in | Weight | Tensile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetal (POM) | $0.62 | $0.92 | 14 g | 62 MPa |
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $0.90 | $1.21 | 27 g | 310 MPa |
| Steel 1018 (cold drawn) | $1.11 | $1.42 | 78 g | 440 MPa |
| Steel 1045 (cold drawn) | $1.14 | $1.45 | 78 g | 625 MPa |
| Steel 12L14 (leaded free-machining) | $1.17 | $1.48 | 78 g | 540 MPa |
| Steel 4140 (annealed) | $1.37 | $1.67 | 77 g | 655 MPa |
| Stainless steel 304 | $1.87 | $2.18 | 79 g | 505 MPa |
| Stainless steel 303 | $1.95 | $2.25 | 79 g | 620 MPa |
| Brass C360 (free-cutting) | $2.11 | $2.41 | 84 g | 400 MPa |
| Stainless steel 316 | $2.16 | $2.47 | 79 g | 580 MPa |
| Stainless steel 17-4 PH (H900) | $2.69 | $3.00 | 77 g | 1379 MPa |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | $4.89 | $5.20 | 44 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
Screw machining design rules
12L14, 1215, C360 brass, 303 stainless
Use free-machining alloys
Set the largest OD at a standard bar size, such as 0.500 or 0.750 in
Design to stock bar sizes
Inside corner radius of 0.005–0.015 in (0.13–0.38 mm)
Allow a tool nose radius
No more than about 6× diameter
Limit drilled hole depth
Allow at least 2 thread pitches of relief or runout
Provide thread runout
0.010–0.020 in × 45°
Chamfer edges
Questions
How much does screw machining in 1045 cost?
For a representative part (turned shaft ø16 mm × 60 mm, ø10 mm × 18 mm step, 1 grooves), SSG's estimator gives about $1.14 per part at 10,000 pieces, plus about $1,800 one-time tooling. All-in with tooling and setup that is $1.45 per part. It is budgetary; principals quote firm prices from your drawing.
Is 1045 a good material for screw machining?
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 12 materials run in screw machining, it ranks 4 on all-in cost for the same part.
What finishes work on 1045 screw machining 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 screw machining hold in 1045?
Typical capability is ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) standard; ±0.0002–0.0005 in (±0.005–0.013 mm) on critical diameters. Tighter tolerances are possible on called-out features at added cost; specify them on the drawing rather than as a blanket note.
Quote screw machining in 1045.
Upload your CAD or start from a template. The DFM check applies the rules above to your geometry.