CNC Machined Steel Parts

CNC machined steel parts in carbon, alloy, stainless and tool steel, from a single prototype to production volumes with no MOQ. DEK takes on jobs that reject a cutting tool: hardened dies by EDM and grinding, shaft-bore fits to ±0.005 mm coaxiality.

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±0.005mm
Tolerance Capability
98.6%+
On-Time Delivery
20+
Years in Machining

ISO 9001:2015 Certified AS9100D and ISO 13485 certified

What Makes CNC Machined Steel the Right Choice?

Steel is fundamentally an iron-carbon alloy, and how much carbon and alloying element a grade carries determines whether it favors machinability, strength, or corrosion resistance. That is why every project starts by narrowing the family down before touching the CAD file.

Carbon steel machines fast and keeps costs down; alloy steel adds chromium, molybdenum, or nickel for strength and hardenability; stainless resists corrosion; tool steel holds a hard, wear-resistant edge. DEK machines all four alongside our other CNC machining metals.

Tolerances to ±0.005 mm on milling and turning
No MOQ, from one prototype to production
ISO 9001, AS9100D and ISO 13485 certified
In-house CMM inspection with full traceability

Steel Grades We Machine

Four steel families cover most projects; the right one balances machinability, strength after machining, and corrosion resistance.

1018 / A36
Fast-machining carbon steel
For brackets, plates, and general-purpose parts that won't see a corrosive environment. See Carbon Steel Machining.
1215
Leaded carbon steel
A leaded carbon grade that machines fast and keeps costs down on general-purpose parts away from corrosive environments.
4130 / 4140
Strength and hardenability
For shafts, gears, and structural fasteners under repeated load, where plain carbon steel falls short. Details on 4140.
4340 / 8620 / A514
Alloy steel under repeated load
Chromium, molybdenum, or nickel additions for strength beyond plain carbon steel. See Alloy Steel Machining.
304 / 316
300-series corrosion resistance
Chromium content resists corrosion for medical, food-contact, and marine parts. See Stainless Steel CNC Machining.
Tool Steel
Hard, wear-resistant edge
For dies, punches, and cutting tooling, often machined by grinding or EDM once the stock is hardened. See Tool Steel.

±0.005mm
Milling and turning tolerance
±0.003mm
Grinding, parts under 10 mm
~1000mm
Turned part size, roughly
58–62 HRC
Hardened stock we machine

Steel CNC Machining Capabilities

Each process is matched to the grade and its hardness, from conventional cutting of annealed stock to grinding and EDM for hardened steel.

1

Multi-Axis Milling

Milling on 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machines holds ±0.005 mm on general features and ±0.01 mm profile control on complex 5-axis contours.
2

CNC & Swiss Turning

CNC and Swiss-type turning holds ±0.005 mm on fit-critical features such as shaft-bore fits and coaxiality, on parts up to roughly 1000 mm.
3

Precision Grinding

Cylindrical grinding reaches ±0.003 mm on micro and precision parts under 10 mm, and removes material from stock hardened to 58–62 HRC.
4

Wire & Sinker EDM

EDM erodes material by spark discharge, reaching hardened tool steel and intricate internal geometry that a cutting edge can't cleanly cut.

Machining Soft vs. Hardened Steel

How hardness, grade, and fit tolerance decide which process our engineers assign to a steel part.

1

Annealed & Normalized Stock

Most carbon and alloy grades as supplied cut cleanly on conventional mills and lathes up to around 30–35 HRC, where cutting forces and tool wear stay manageable.
2

Hardened Stock at 58–62 HRC

Tool steel and shaft stock already hardened to 58–62 HRC moves to grinding and wire/sinker EDM, which do not depend on a cutting edge biting into material that hard.
3

Choose the Family Before CAD

Carbon and alloying content set the trade-off between machinability, post-machining strength, and corrosion resistance, so the family is narrowed down before the CAD file is touched.
4

What Drives Steel Part Cost

Harder alloy, tool, or stainless grades and tighter tolerances add machining time; geometry and order volume also count. See our CNC machining cost guide.

Industries Using CNC Machined Steel Parts

Steel parts machined at DEK serve six sectors where strength, wear resistance, or corrosion resistance decides the material.

Steel Finishing Options for Machined Parts

Every finish is applied after CNC machining, chosen by steel family: conversion coatings for carbon steel, passivation for stainless.

Surface Treatments

As-machined
Black oxide
Passivation
Plating (nickel or zinc)

Need another finish for your steel parts? See all finishes

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from engineers sourcing CNC machined steel parts.

Can you CNC machine steel?

Yes. DEK machines carbon, alloy, stainless, and tool steel on CNC mills, lathes, grinders, and EDM equipment, holding tolerances as tight as ±0.005 mm on milling and turning and ±0.003 mm on micro parts.

How much does it cost to CNC steel?

Cost depends on the grade, part geometry, tolerance requirements, and order volume. Harder alloy, tool, or stainless grades and tighter tolerances add machining time. Upload a CAD file through the quote form for an exact, engineer-reviewed number.

What metals can be CNC machined?

Beyond steel, commonly machined metals include aluminum, titanium, brass, and copper, each suited to different strength, weight, and corrosion needs. DEK machines them alongside carbon, alloy, stainless, and tool steel.