Stainless Steel 17-4 PH

The "PH" in 17-4 PH stands for "Precipitation Hardening." Precipitation hardening is a heat treatment process that strengthens and hardens the metal by causing solid particles to form within the alloy. In the case of 17-4 PH stainless steel, the precipitation hardening process involves aging or heat treatment to achieve the desired combination of strength and toughness. It usually consists of 15.5–17.5% chromium and 3–5% nickel. After being heated and quenched at around 1038 °C, it can undergo heat treatment at various temperatures to achieve different mechanical properties.

To CNC machine 17-4 PH stainless steel effectively, we use high-quality carbide or ceramic cutting tools with suitable speeds and feeds. We opt for conservative depth cuts to prevent tool wear and use coolants for heat dissipation. We choose climb milling and efficient machining strategies. We regularly check and replace tools, secure workholding, and ensure a stable CNC machine. 17-4 PH stainless steel is often heat-treated after machining to achieve its full strength properties. We also do trial cuts and adjustments to help fine-tune the process for this stainless steel type.