Wexmar provides 1045 steel CNC machining for industrial OEMs that need a medium carbon grade with more strength than 1018 and a lower price than alloy steel. We turn, mill and inspect 1045 shafts, pins, hubs and gear blanks at our shop in Canastota, New York, and ship finished parts nationwide. 1045 carries roughly 0.45 percent carbon, which gives it higher tensile strength in the cold drawn condition and lets it respond to induction or flame hardening for wear surfaces.
1045 steel machinability
Cold drawn 1045 has an approximate machinability rating of 57 against AISI 1212 at 100. That puts it below 1018 cold drawn (about 78) and in the same range as annealed 4340. In practice it cuts cleanly with coated carbide, but it runs at lower surface speeds than low carbon steel and is harder on insert edges. Hot rolled and annealed 1045 bar machines a little more easily than cold drawn stock, at the cost of a scaled surface that has to be cleaned up.
Tolerances and surface finish
On our CNC lathes, typical turned diameters on 1045 are held to plus or minus 0.001 in, and tighter on critical bearing journals when the process is set up for it. Milled features on the horizontal machining centers typically hold plus or minus 0.001 to 0.002 in on position. A typical as-machined finish is 63 Ra, with 32 Ra achievable on turned diameters using a wiper insert and a stable setup. When a print calls for a finer finish or a ground fit, we run centerless and surface grinding in-house. These are typical values, not guarantees; the drawing and part geometry govern what we quote.
Machining gotchas specific to 1045
- Residual stress in cold drawn bar. Long shafts can bow after a keyway or flat is milled on one side. For slender parts we rough, let the part relax, then finish, or specify stress relieved bar.
- Stringy chips on finishing passes. Light depth of cut on 1045 produces long curls that wrap the part. A chip breaker designed for low depth of cut and steady high pressure coolant keep chips short.
- Built-up edge at low speed. Running too slowly on small diameters smears material onto the insert. Keeping surface speed up and using a sharp, positive geometry prevents torn finishes.
- Planning for hardening. If the part will be induction hardened after machining, we leave grind stock on hardened journals and avoid sharp corners and thin sections that invite cracking.
- Burrs at cross holes. Medium carbon steel throws a firm burr where drilled holes break into bores, so we deburr with live tools in the same setup where possible.
Heat treat and finish options
Heat treatment and coatings for 1045 are completed through qualified outside processors. Common options include induction hardening of journals and gear teeth (typically in the 50 to 60 HRC surface range), flame hardening, through hardening with quench and temper, and stress relieving. Protective finishes include black oxide, zinc plating, manganese or zinc phosphate with oil, and electroless nickel. We coordinate the sequence so that post-treatment grinding or finish turning happens in our shop before final inspection.
Common 1045 parts and the Wexmar process that fits
- Drive shafts, axles and spindles with keyways and cross holes, turned on live tool lathes
- Pins, bushings and small studs under 32 mm diameter, run on our Swiss-type machines
- Gear blanks, sprocket hubs and couplings, turned and then broached or milled
- Brackets, clamp blocks and mounting plates, machined on horizontal mills with pallet changers
- Rolls and wear sleeves that are induction hardened and ground
Round parts with milled details usually run complete on one of our CNC turning centers with live tooling and Y-axis, which avoids a second operation and holds concentricity between turned and milled features.
Cost index: 1045 vs other common materials
| Material | Approx. machinability (1212 = 100) | Cost index vs 6061 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6 aluminum | ~180 | 1.0 | Baseline for comparison |
| 1018 cold drawn | ~78 | 1.1 | Low carbon, carburizing grade |
| 1045 cold drawn | ~57 | 1.3 | Medium carbon, induction hardenable |
| 4140 annealed | ~66 | 1.6 | Chrome moly alloy, through hardens |
| 4340 annealed | ~57 | 2.0 | Nickel chrome moly, high toughness |
| 303 stainless | ~78 | 1.8 | Free machining stainless |
These values are typical and illustrative for a comparable part; actual quotes depend on geometry, quantity, tolerances and mill pricing.
Applications and industries
1045 steel machining services are a staple for power transmission, pump and fluid power equipment, material handling, agricultural machinery and general industrial OEMs. Customers choose 1045 when a part needs moderate strength and a hardenable wear surface without the added cost of 4140. For more on the sectors we serve, see our industries page, or compare the step up to an alloy grade on our 4140 steel machining page. Material certs and heat-lot traceability are available on request.
Getting a quote
To price 1045 parts, upload a drawing for an instant estimate as a PDF or STEP file, or call (315) 400-2654 during shop hours. A human estimator reviews and confirms every quote before it goes out.