Stainless steel wire with high machinability for improved productivity in machining operations is generally referred to as “Free-machining” stainless steel wire.

Such high machinability stainless steel wire results from special and controlled additions in the stainless steel, particularly Sulphur.

Smaller diameter (< 0.30”) free machining stainless steel wire, in cold drawn condition, is often called “Escomatic free-machining” stainless steel wire, in reference to the “Escomatic” modern machines used for their machining into parts. Specific free-machining stainless steel grades are Austenitic 303, Ferritic 430F and Martensitic 416.

Free-machining stainless steel wire provides an excellent machinability, in either of the following conditions :

• Cold drawn
• Annealed

This type of wire provides a good combination of corrosion resistance and improved machinability due to selective & controlled additions.

Thus, such so-called “ free-machining “ stainless steel wires are used in all machining operations using high productivity modern multi-tool CNC equipments for a large array of machined parts such as

• Household appliances & equipments
• Hardware parts
• Electronics & connectors precision parts

According to standards : 

• ASTM A581