Stainless Steels

303 stainless is designed for free-machining performance with sulfur additions, providing good corrosion resistance and chip control for higher throughput parts such as fittings and fasteners. Traditional Davenport multi-spindles are highly efficient on 303, and the Hybrid extends capability with CNC fine-tuning and digital size control for even tighter tolerance work.

304 and 304L are general-purpose austenitic stainless steels used throughout aerospace, fluid handling, and industrial hardware; they offer excellent corrosion resistance but tend to form long, stringy chips and work harden under aggressive feeds. Davenport’s “Hybration” chip-breaking cycles on the Hybrid modulate the cut on cross-working tools to consistently break chips in 304/304L, maintaining clear work zones and reducing downtime.

316 and 316L deliver enhanced pitting and crevice-corrosion resistance, making them well suited for aggressive environments and critical fluid systems. The Davenport Hybrid’s high-pressure coolant, rigid spindle platform, and CNC chip-control strategies help manage heat and chip wrap in 316/316L, allowing Gates Albert to hold fine surface finishes and demanding seal face requirements.

321 and 347 are stabilized austenitic stainless steels often specified for elevated-temperature service and weld integrity in aerospace and high-temperature piping. Their machining behavior is similar to 304/316 but with added sensitivity to work hardening, which makes controlled chip formation especially important. Hybrid multi-spindle production with CNC-driven feeds, speeds, and chip-breaking enables stable turning, threading, and cross-drilling of 321 and 347 while preserving tight positional tolerances and surface integrity.

410 stainless is a martensitic grade that provides good strength and moderate corrosion resistance, commonly used for shafts, fasteners, and wear components. It machines better in the annealed or tempered condition, but tool wear and burr formation must still be controlled in production environments. Davenport multi-spindle and Hybrid machines manage 410 effectively by combining rigid support with optimized toolpaths and coolant application to maintain edge quality and dimensional stability.

416 is a free-machining martensitic stainless with sulfur additions that improve chip breaking and surface finish, making it a natural fit for high-volume screw machining. Legacy Davenport equipment can run 416 at very competitive cycle times using traditional cam-driven layouts, while the Hybrid adds CNC-controlled turning and threading to hold extremely tight geometric tolerances without sacrificing throughput.

440C is a high-carbon martensitic stainless used when maximum hardness and wear resistance are required, such as bearing elements and high-load rolling components. Its high hardness makes it tough on tools and sensitive to vibration and deflection. The Davenport Hybrid’s bearing-mounted revolving head and spindles, combined with enhanced rigidity and digital control, give Gates Albert a platform that can consistently hold sub-thousandth form tolerances in 440C without resorting to slower single-spindle CNC machines.

17-4 PH is a precipitation-hardened stainless steel that offers high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent fatigue properties, and is widely used in aerospace hardware. Machining behavior varies by heat-treat condition, but in high-strength states it behaves like a tough alloy steel. The Hybrid’s capability to handle “tougher materials – aerospace alloys, stainless steels, high strength pre-hardened steels” lets Gates Albert efficiently turn, drill, and thread 17-4 PH parts while still meeting stringent aerospace print requirements.