Claude Brandon Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Good day to all. What would be the best process for heat treating 316 Stainless Steel ? I am going to make a punch out of the 316 using a 20mm round bar. Many thanks in advance. Please do not post everything in one thread. we have sections for topics , start by reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 The best way would be to carefully throw it out as 316 stainless is not a good alloy for punches (nor for drifts...) Simple web search on hardening 316 stainless turns up: "The 300 series stainless steel can be "hardened" BUT only by "work hardening." That is by cold working the material," And of course any work hardening will disappear when heated above the dislocation climb temperature. Perhaps you can tell us what you are trying to accomplish and we can make suggestions on better ways to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 316 is a good alloy for acidic applications like tomato processing. If you are hot punching don't worry about heart treating, just try it as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 The only reasons I could think of using 316 would be the "all stainless when working stainless"; BUT I would expect a punched hole to need cleanup and the piece to require treatment to prevent rusting anyway...(and so the rule is not needed) (The other reason would be that the OP had access to 316 scrap and wanted to use it even if the use was not suited to the alloy.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I'd save any 300 series SS I had for food safe forgings and find an old coil spring to make my punches and drifts. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Brandon Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Hi Thomas, the punch mark is to be used on 316 Stainless Steel Cylinders so my thinking was to use the same material which when heat treated should provide adequate strength to provide a fairly descent mark, else what steel would you recommend to make a mark punch to punch on the 316 stainless steel which is about 4-5 mm thick ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 What about one of the 400 series stainless? As you CAN NOT "heat treat" 316 and get it harder how would heat treating provide adequate strength? (In fact heating and quenching may make it softer...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 If these are pressure cylinders you use a rounded punch to avoid stress risers. There are companies that sell number and letter punches just for that application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Brandon Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Thank you for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 they are called low stress stamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Brandon Posted April 9, 2018 Author Share Posted April 9, 2018 Hi BGDoc , unfortunately the customer wants a punch made of their company mark ,else it would have been a simple solution. The one they have had made looks like it has been machined but does not perform very well on the stainless steel cylinders they are punching on as the cylinders are small and round so with a square punch the marks do not look very nice and is not easy to punch. Many thanks for your effort though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 talk them into electro-etch! less problems with stress risers and you can do great marks---a lot of knifemakers use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 May need to look at roll dies instead if they want a stamping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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