Stainless Steel Custom Parts Manufacturing
Stainless steel is a high-performance iron alloy that combines exceptional strength with superior corrosion resistance. The addition of chromium (minimum 10.5%) and other elements like nickel and molybdenum creates a self-healing protective oxide layer, giving stainless steel its signature corrosion-resistant properties.
This versatile material maintains excellent mechanical properties under extreme conditions, from cryogenic temperatures to high-heat environments. Its high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional durability make it ideal for demanding applications where reliability is crucial. The material's inherent resistance to oxidation and chemical corrosion ensures long-term performance in aggressive environments.
While stainless steel requires more specialized machining techniques than some metals, its outstanding material properties make it worth the investment. When properly machined, stainless steel produces components with excellent surface finishes and precise geometries. The material's high tensile strength and hardness result in components that maintain dimensional stability and resist deformation under load. These characteristics, combined with its natural resistance to corrosion, make it particularly valuable for applications in challenging environments where component failure isn't an option.
There are two common series of stainless steel alloys: 3xx and 4xx.
The main difference between 300 and 400 series stainless steels lies in their composition and structure. 300 series (austenitic) stainless steels contain high nickel content, making them non-magnetic with superior corrosion resistance but unable to be hardened through heat treatment.
In contrast, 400 series (martensitic/ferritic) stainless steels contain little to no nickel, making them magnetic and heat-treatable but with lower corrosion resistance. While 300 series excels in corrosive environments and welding applications, 400 series provides better hardness and wear resistance at a lower cost, making each series optimal for different applications.
A free-machining austenitic stainless steel modified with sulfur for improved machinability. While offering good mechanical properties and moderate corrosion resistance, it's optimized for high-volume production where machining efficiency is crucial.
Material Cost: 7
Machining Cost: 5
Durability: 7
Corrosion Resistance: 6
Temperature Resistance: 7
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
The most versatile and widely used austenitic stainless steel. It offers excellent corrosion resistance, good formability, and strong welding characteristics. This general-purpose grade provides outstanding performance in mild to moderate corrosive environments.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 7
Machining Cost: 7
Durability: 8
Corrosion Resistance: 8
Temperature Resistance: 8
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
A premium austenitic stainless steel containing molybdenum for enhanced corrosion resistance. Its superior performance in aggressive environments, particularly against chlorides and industrial chemicals, makes it ideal for marine and chemical processing applications.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 8
Machining Cost: 8
Durability: 9
Corrosion Resistance: 9
Temperature Resistance: 8
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
A low-carbon variant of 316 that offers superior welding characteristics by preventing carbide precipitation at weld boundaries. It maintains the same excellent corrosion resistance as standard 316 while providing better intergranular corrosion resistance in welded structures.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 8
Machining Cost: 8
Durability: 9
Corrosion Resistance: 9
Temperature Resistance: 8
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
A titanium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel designed for high-temperature applications. The titanium addition prevents chromium carbide formation at grain boundaries, making it ideal for applications requiring extended exposure to temperatures between 800-1500°F.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 8
Machining Cost: 8
Durability: 8
Corrosion Resistance: 8
Temperature Resistance: 9
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 6
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
A free-machining martensitic stainless steel designed for high-speed machining. While offering moderate corrosion resistance, its excellent machinability makes it ideal for high-volume production of parts requiring good mechanical properties.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 6
Machining Cost: 5
Durability: 8
Corrosion Resistance: 5
Temperature Resistance: 6
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 7
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.005"
A high-carbon martensitic stainless steel capable of high hardness through heat treatment. It combines good corrosion resistance with excellent wear resistance, making it suitable for applications requiring both hardness and moderate corrosion resistance.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 6
Machining Cost: 7
Durability: 9
Corrosion Resistance: 6
Temperature Resistance: 6
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 8
Typical Tolerances: ±0.001" to ±0.003"
A high-carbon martensitic stainless steel offering maximum hardness in the 400 series. Its combination of high strength, hardness, and moderate corrosion resistance makes it ideal for bearings, valve components, and other wear-resistant applications.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 7
Machining Cost: 8
Durability: 9
Corrosion Resistance: 6
Temperature Resistance: 6
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 9
Typical Tolerances: ±0.001" to ±0.005"
A precipitation-hardening stainless steel that combines high strength with good corrosion resistance. Its ability to achieve high strength through relatively simple heat treatment while maintaining good machinability makes it valuable for critical components requiring both strength and corrosion resistance.
Material Properties (Scale 1-10)
Material Cost: 8
Machining Cost: 7
Durability: 9
Corrosion Resistance: 8
Temperature Resistance: 7
Strength-To-Weight Ratio: 9
Typical Tolerances: ±0.002" to ±0.010"
Stainless steel excels in fluid and gas control applications due to its exceptional chemical resistance and ability to maintain integrity under high pressures. The material's outstanding corrosion resistance protects against aggressive media and harsh cleaning processes, while its high strength enables reliable performance in pressurized systems. Stainless steel's ability to maintain precise geometries in internal flow paths, combined with its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, makes it ideal for long-term reliability in critical flow control applications.
Common Applications:
• Valve bodies and components
• Pressure regulator parts
• Flow meter housings
• High-pressure fittings
• Manifold blocks
• Control system components
• Sample system components
In precision measurement applications, stainless steel provides the dimensional stability and long-term reliability essential for accurate readings. Its resistance to environmental factors ensures measurement components maintain their critical dimensions and calibration over time. The material's high strength-to-weight ratio allows for robust yet precise instrument components, while its excellent corrosion resistance prevents degradation that could affect measurement accuracy. This combination makes stainless steel particularly valuable in applications where measurement integrity is crucial.
Common Applications:
• Pressure gauge components
• Sensor housings
• Calibration equipment parts
• Test point adapters
• Instrument fittings
• Temperature probe housings
• High-accuracy gauge parts
Stainless steel's combination of high strength and corrosion resistance makes it ideal for precision hardware applications. The material maintains its mechanical properties across a wide temperature range and resists galling in threaded applications. Its ability to be heat treated for enhanced hardness, particularly in 400 series grades, provides excellent wear resistance for load-bearing components. The material's inherent durability ensures fasteners and precision components maintain their integrity even in demanding environments where component failure isn't an option.
Common Applications:
• Specialty fasteners
• Threaded inserts
• Guide pins and bushings
• Mounting brackets
• Alignment components
• Structural connectors
• High-strength assembly hardware
With over 75 years of precision machining excellence, we deliver custom stainless steel components that meet the most demanding specifications. From prototype development to multi-million piece orders, our ISO:9001 certified facility specializes in handling complex, high-difficulty work across all stainless steel grades.
Our commitment to quality, combined with extensive machining capabilities, ensures your stainless steel parts and components are manufactured to the highest standards with competitive lead times.
Our advanced vertical and horizontal milling centers with up to 6-axis capabilities tackle the most challenging stainless steel components. We specialize in complex HVAC manifolds, precision pump housings, and intricate gauge components where tight tolerances are critical. Whether you need custom stainless steel parts for industrial power equipment or precision-machined components for instrumentation, our milling expertise covers all common grades including 303, 304, and 316 stainless steel.
Specialized in high-volume stainless steel production, processing bars up to 1-5/8" and chucking to 6". This service is ideal for large-quantity precision parts used in pressure gauges, thermometers, and industrial equipment. We help manufacturers maintain quality and efficiency in their supply chains through consistent, reliable production of complex stainless steel parts.
Offering complete stainless steel turning services for bars up to 4" and chucking to 20" diameter. We excel in manufacturing custom stainless steel components for industrial pumps, precision valve parts, and critical power equipment components. Our turning capabilities serve diverse applications from high-pressure gauge components to custom HVAC parts for Parker Hannifin, delivering exceptional surface finishes and tight tolerances every time.
Precision Swiss turning for stainless steel bars up to 7/8" diameter and lengths to 4". This specialized service is perfect for small, intricate components used in pressure gauges, thermometers, and precision instrumentation. Our Swiss machining capabilities excel in producing the tight-tolerance, small-diameter parts that instrumentation manufacturers demand, with superior surface finishes and exceptional accuracy.
Learn more about our machining services and capabilities
Delivering high-quality, consistent s components is a top priority at Spex. Our quality system is built on our ISO 9001:2015 certification, guiding how we work every step of the way. We carefully check parts during production to ensure dimensional accuracy and address the specific needs of machining s.
We apply these same quality standards whether we're making a single prototype or thousands of parts. You can be confident in the results, as each project comes with full documentation, including material certifications, detailed measurement reports, and First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs). This paperwork clearly shows how your parts meet your exact specifications.
We'd love to hear from you!
Scalable production
Short lead times
Fair prices
ISO-9001 certified
Secondary processes
Range of materials
On-time delivery
75+ years in business
Advanced CNC machining
Rapid prototyping
Stainless steel is a popular choice primarily for its excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for parts exposed to moisture, chemicals, or harsh environments. Many grades also offer good strength, durability, temperature resistance, and hygienic properties essential for medical and food processing applications. Plus, its aesthetic appeal is often a benefit for consumer-facing components.
Designing stainless steel parts with machinability in mind can significantly impact production efficiency and cost. Key considerations include: selecting the most machinable grade suitable for the application (e.g., 303 vs. 316), specifying tolerances appropriate for the function (avoiding overly tight specs), incorporating generous radii on internal corners instead of sharp edges, maintaining reasonable wall thicknesses to prevent distortion, and simplifying complex features where possible. Discussing your design with your machining partner early can help optimize it for manufacturability.
Excellent surface finishes, including very fine Ra values, can be achieved on precision machined stainless steel parts. Proper techniques are crucial to avoid issues related to work hardening. We utilize advanced processes to deliver smooth, precise finishes suitable for applications in medical, food processing, and instrumentation industries. We can also coordinate post-machining finishing processes like passivation or electropolishing if required.
Delivering high-quality, consistent stainless steel components is a top priority at Spex. Our quality system is built on our ISO 9001:2015 certification. We carefully check parts during production, using methods suited to stainless steel's properties, ensuring dimensional accuracy and adherence to specifications. These same quality standards apply from prototype to high-volume production runs.
To provide the most accurate quote, please share detailed part drawings or CAD models, specify the exact stainless steel grade required (e.g., 303, 304, 316, 17-4 PH, 416), required tolerances, desired quantity, any critical features, and details on necessary secondary operations if any (like passivation). The more detail provided, the better we can tailor a precise and competitive quote.
