Machining Studies of PM-Forged Materials

Three typical PM-forged steels made from Höganäs powders have been studied with regard to their machining behaviour, utilizing a special machinability test developed and utilized since 1960 by Volvo AB in Sweden. This test permits to rate steels relative to a standardized free-machining steel. Guided by the results from this test, recommendable cutting data for turning, milling, drilling, tapping and reaming of the three PM-forged materials have been established empirically. It is concluded that all three materials machine notably better than a common tough-hardening steel, two of them as good and one of them better than a common constructional steel. Measured cutting and machine parameters for the PM-forged materials scattered notably less than those for comparable wrought steels.