Grade Introduction:

EN1A is a very popular grade of low carbon-manganese free cutting steel, which is most suitable for the manufacture of repetition turned components, such as nuts, bolts, hydraulic fittings, and studs, particularly where intricate drilling and machining operations are involved.

Grade Application:

En1a steels are suitable for applications where good machinability is the prime consideration. Because of this, they are used for the rapid production on single or multiple spindle automatic lathes and capstan lathes of finely finished components that will not be subjected to high stresses in service, e.g. light duty studs, cycle components, and many intricate parts for textile and printing machinery. This type of steel cannot be relied upon to possess good transverse properties and should not be used for hollow parts which might be subjected to an internal pressure that would set up wall stresses dangerously near to the transverse yield stress. Case hardening can be carried out but this steel Is not recommended for general case hardening work and it is not intended for use where the hardened case is subject to severe impact in service.

Typical applications are:

• Brake hose end,
• Hydraulic parts,
• Pulleys,
• Disc brake pistons,
• Wheel nuts and inserts,
• Control linkages,
• Hear box components (case hardened),
• Domestic garbage bin axles,
• Concrete anchors,
• Padlock shackles,
• Hydraulic fittings,
• Vice jaws.

En1a steel bars are used mostly in bright form.

Chemical composition:

The following table shows the chemical composition of EN1A steel:

Hardness:

300

Heat Treatment :

• Carbonization of EN1A bright mild steel takes place at 900-950 o C then it is a furnace or air-cooled.
• En1A can be tempered at 180-210 o C then should be left to cool in the air.
• The mild steel can be hardened at 780-800 o C then quenched in oil or water. However, this is difficult to do with EN1A and is not recommended.