1045 Carbon Steel (UNS G10450) is a moderate-to-machine material that we run regularly for export customers. It has a density of 7.85 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 585 MPa and a typical hardness of HB 170. Those numbers make it the right choice for gears and shafts, and a poor choice when cost or corrosion resistance matters more than mechanical performance.
On our machines we hold +/-0.02 mm on turned and milled features and reach Ra 0.8 um where the drawing calls for it. Standard lead time for 1045 Carbon Steel parts is 3-7 working days, including material procurement, machining and any finishing operation you specify.
1045 Carbon Steel: key properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| UNS / designation | G10450 |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm3 |
| Tensile strength | 585 MPa |
| Hardness | HB 170 |
| Machinability | Moderate |
| Suggested cutting speed (carbide) | 120-180 m/min |
| Relative material cost | 1 of 5 |
Machining 1045 Carbon Steel: what to plan for
- Rusts without coating
- Warping after hardening
- Hard to get fine finish
Cutting speed for 1045 Carbon Steel with carbide tooling sits around 120-180 m/min. Going faster burns the edge; going much slower causes rubbing and a poor surface. Air blast or flood coolant both work, but chip evacuation must be positive. If your part has thin walls or a lot of stock to remove, say so in the RFQ — we plan roughing, stress relief and finishing as separate operations when the geometry demands it.
Parts we machine in 1045 Carbon Steel
- Gears
- Shafts
- Axles
- Sprockets
- Pins
Most 1045 Carbon Steel work arrives as 2D drawings with a mix of critical and non-critical features. Loosening tolerance on the non-critical ones is the fastest way to cut cost, and we will tell you which features those are before we quote.
Tolerances, finish and lead time
| Item | Capability |
|---|---|
| General tolerance | +/-0.02 mm |
| Achievable surface finish | Ra 0.8 um |
| Minimum wall thickness | 0.8 mm (aluminium) / 1.0 mm (steel and stainless) |
| Typical lead time | 3-7 working days |
| Prototype quantity | 1 piece |
| Production quantity | 10 to 50,000 pieces |
Frequently asked questions
What is the lead time for 1045 Carbon Steel parts?
Standard is 3-7 working days from drawing release, assuming the material is in stock. Exotic grades and cast forms can add 5 to 10 days. Finishing such as anodizing or plating adds 3 to 5 days.
What tolerance can you hold in 1045 Carbon Steel?
+/-0.02 mm is routine on turned and milled features. Tighter than that is possible on specific features by grinding or lapping, but it is quoted separately because it changes the process.
Do you keep 1045 Carbon Steel in stock?
We hold common sizes of 1045 Carbon Steel and buy mill-certified stock for everything else. Material certificates are supplied with the parts on request.
Can you supply 1045 Carbon Steel parts with a certificate of conformity?
Yes. We issue a dimensional report, a material certificate and a certificate of conformity as standard for production orders, and full PPAP or AS9102 paperwork when the programme requires it.
Related pages
- Materials — the full index for this section.
- 4140 Alloy Steel CNC Machining: Pre-Hard and Q&T
- A2 Tool Steel CNC Machining for Blanking Dies
- 1144 Stressproof Steel CNC Machining: No Heat Treat Needed
- M2 High-Speed Steel CNC Machining
- Instant CNC quote
- Tolerance quick reference
- Frequently asked questions
Get a price for your part
Send a STEP file and a drawing with tolerances, material and quantity. We quote within one working day and machine in our own facility in Shenzhen — milling, turning, EDM, grinding and finishing under one roof, no trading middleman.
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