303 Stainless Steel

Applications Machineability_and_Weldability Heat_Treating Tolerances Speedy Metals items

303 is an "18-8" chromium-nickel stainless steel modified by the addition of selenium or sulphur, as well as phosphorus, to improve machinability and non-seizing properties. It is the most readily machinable of all the chromium-nickel stainless grades and has good corrosion resistance, although less than other chromium-nickel grades, such as 304 or 316. It is non-magnetic in the annealed condition and not hardenable by heat treatment. Tensile strength and hardness can be increased by cold working. Slight magnetism can be detected by cold working. 303 has excellent scale resistance at temperatures up to 1600° F in continuous service. It is manufactured by the electric-furnace process and meets the exacting requirements of the aircraft industry. 303 stainless steel is produced in rounds, rectangles, squares, hexagons, and in a BSQ round form; a bearing shaft quality ground and polished round to specific undersize tolerances to fit a bearing on a high quality stainless shaft.

APPLICATIONS

303 is used almost exclusively for parts requiring machining, grinding, or polishing where good corrosion resistance is also required. It’s non-seizing and non-galling properties make it ideal for moving parts. Being an austenitic steel, it is useful where low magnetic permeability is desired. 303 has fairly good forming properties. Used for aircraft parts, as well as shafts, gears, valves, valve trims, all types of screw machine products, bolts, screws, and machine parts, as well as architectural purposes. It is not recommended for vessels containing liquids or gases under high pressure

MACHINEABILITY AND WELDABILITY

Machinability is rated at 78% of B1112. Average cutting speed 130 ft/min. 303 has only low to fair welding properties. 303 can be forged between 2100°-2350° F. Do not forge below 1700° F.

HEAT TREATING

303 is not hardenable by heat treatment. Cold working increases tensile strength and hardness. Annealing range is between 1850° and 2050°F. Cool rapidly. Water should be used for heavier sections; air for lighter sections. The stress relieving range is between 400° and 750°F.

TOLERANCES

ROUND (drawn, smooth turned, or ground)

size (inches) OVER UNDER
.044 to 5/16, incl 0.001 0.001
5/16 to 1/2, excl 0.0015 0.0015
1/2 to 1, excl 0.002 0.002
1 to 1-1/2, excl 0.0025 0.0025
1-1/2 to 4, incl 0.003 0.003
4-1/8 to 4-1/2, incl 0.005 0.005
4-9/16 to 6, incl 0.008 0.008

ROUND (Hot Roll)

size (inches) OVER UNDER Out of RD
over 2 to 2-1/2, incl 0.031 0 0.023
over 2-1/2 to 3-1/2, incl 0.047 0 0.035
over 3-1/2 to 4-1/2, incl 0.063 0 0.046
over 4-1/2 to 5-1/2, incl 0.079 0 0.058
over 5-1/3 to 6-1/2. incl 0.125 0 0.070
over 6-1/2 to 8 incl 0.156 0 0.085

SQUARE AND HEXAGON (cf)

size (inches) OVER UNDER
1/8 to 5/16, excl 0 0.002
5/16 to 1/2, excl 0 0.003
1/2 to 1, incl 0 0.004
over 1 to 2, incl 0 0.006
over 2 to 3, incl 0 0.008
over 3 to 4, incl 0 0.010

FLAT (cf)

        Width Tolerances (+/-) inches
1/4 thk & under over 1/4 thk
width (in) 0.005 0.005
3/8 to 1 incl 0.004 0.004
over 1 to 2 incl 0.006 0.004
over 2 to 3 incl 0.008 0.004
over 3 to 4-1/2 inc 0.01 0.005

 

width (in) Thickness tolerance (+/-) in
over .035 to 1 incl 0.002
over 1 to 2 incl 0.003
over 2 to 3 incl 0.003
over 3 to 4-1/2 incl 0.005

Flat (HR)

  1/8 to 1/2 incl over 1/2 to 1 incl  over 1 to 2 incl over 2 to 4 incl     width (inch)
Width (inches) Over Under Over Under Over Under Over Under Over Under
to 1, incl 0.008 0.008 0.01 0.01         0.015 0.015
over 1 to 2, incl 0.012 0.012 0.015 0.015 0.031 0.031     0.031 0.031
over 2 to 4, incl 0.015 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.031 0.031 0.062 0.062 0.031 0.031
over 4 to 6, incl 0.015 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.031 0.031 0.062 0.062 0.093 0.062
over 6 to 8, incl 0.016 0.016 0.025 0.025 0.031 0.031 0.062 0.062 0.125 0.156


 

SPEEDY METALS ITEMS

1/8" {A} x 1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/8" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/8" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/8" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/8" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/16" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/16" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/16" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/16" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/4" {A} x 1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/4" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/4" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 3-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/4" {A} x 6" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/8" {A} x 1-1/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/8" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 3-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/8" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/8" {A} x 6" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/2" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 1-1/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/2" {A} x 1-3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/2" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/2" {A} x 5" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1/2" {A} x 6" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
5/8" {A} x 1-1/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
5/8" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 5/8" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/4" {A} x 1" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 1-1/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/4" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
3/4" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 5" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 3/4" {A} x 6" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1" {A} x 1-1/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1" {A} x 1-3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1" {A} x 2-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1" {A} x 6" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1-1/4" {A} x 1-1/2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1-1/4" {A} x 1-3/4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1-1/4" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1-1/4" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1-1/4" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1-1/2" {A} x 2" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1-1/2" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle
1-1/2" {A} x 4" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 2" {A} x 3" {B} 303 Stainless Steel Flat, Hot Rolled, Annealed & Pickle 1/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
3/16" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/4" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5/16" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
3/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 7/16" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/2" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
9/16" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3/4" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
7/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-1/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1-1/4" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-1/2" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-5/8" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1-3/4" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2-1/4" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
2-1/2" {A} Hex 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 5/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015
3/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 5/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015
3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1-1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015
1-3/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015
2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Bearing Shaft Quality (- .0005 to -.0015 1/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5/64" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
3/32" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5/32" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
3/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 7/32" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
9/32" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
7/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 9/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
5/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 11/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
13/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 7/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 15/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-1/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-3/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1-1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-5/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-3/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1-7/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-9/16" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1-5/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-7/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2-1/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2-1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
2-3/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 2-5/8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
2-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3-1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
3-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
4-1/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 4-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 4-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
5" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 5-3/4" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
6" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 6-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 7" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
7-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 8" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 8-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
9" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 9-1/2" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 10" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
11" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 12" {A} Rd 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1-1/4" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle
1-1/2" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle 1-3/4" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle 2" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle
2-1/2" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle 3" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Annealed & Pickle 1/4" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
5/16" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3/8" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 1/2" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
5/8" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 3/4" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale 7/8" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale
1" {A} Sq 303 Stainless Steel, Cold Finished, Anneale