Machinability Comparison Tool - Filter, Sort & Compare 32 Local Rows

How It Works

1. Browse or Filter

   View all 32 local rows or filter by family: Carbon, Alloy, Free-Machining, Stainless, Aluminum, Copper/Brass, Cast Iron, Titanium, and Nickel Alloys.

2. Sort by Property

   Sort by local machinability %, name, or SFM planning range. Click headers to toggle ascending/descending.

3. Toggle Heat Treated

   Where available, toggle between annealed and heat-treated planning rows. Verify actual HRC and condition before use.

4. Expand Details

   Click any material to see turning/milling/drilling SFM planning ranges, chip type, and source-boundary tooling notes.

5. Compare Side by Side

   Check 2-3 materials for a comparison table, then verify against toolmaker data, material certs, and shop prove-out.

Built For

• Machinists screening unfamiliar materials before looking up exact tooling data
• Manufacturing engineers flagging materials that need prove-out or supplier review
• CNC programmers documenting preliminary source-boundary planning rows
• Estimators comparing source-gap material options for quoting assumptions
• Purchasing agents identifying material substitution questions for engineering review
• Tool engineers triaging chip-control and work-hardening review needs

Features & Capabilities

32 Local Rows

12 steels, 4 stainless, 4 aluminum, 3 copper/brass, 3 cast iron, 2 titanium, 2 nickel alloys, and 2 free-machining rows with source-gap machinability, SFM, and chip notes.

Family Filters

Nine color-coded pills for quick screening by material family.

Compare Mode

Up to 3 materials side by side highlighting differences in local rating, SFM range, chip type, and source-boundary notes.

Heat Treated Toggle

Shows local heat-treated planning rows while warning that hardness and condition must be verified.

Sortable Columns

Sort by local machinability %, SFM range, or alphabetical name.

PDF Export

Export source-aware comparisons with warnings and source pointers for process-planning review.

Assumptions

• Machinability percentages are local relative screening rows, not a reproduced AISI, ASM, ISO, or handbook table
• SFM ranges are broad local planning rows and do not identify tool material, insert grade, geometry, coating, holder, depth of cut, or coolant
• Chip type classifications are qualitative source-gap notes; actual chip form depends on feed, geometry, work condition, and coolant
• Heat-treated rows are local labels and do not specify hardness, case depth, heat-treatment process, or material certificate requirements
• Material families are grouped for scanning and do not prove substitutability, corrosion behavior, weldability, heat-treatment response, or customer approval
• Tooling notes are review prompts, not manufacturer part-number recommendations

Limitations

• Machinability ratings are not standardized across the industry; different sources report different values for the same material
• Does not validate chip control, tool life, horsepower, torque, chatter, workholding, finish, tolerance, or first-article acceptance
• SFM ranges are planning screens only; coated inserts, HSS, carbide, ceramic, CBN, operation type, and engagement can change values materially
• Aluminum alloy machinability varies dramatically by temper; 6061-T6 machines differently than 6061-O
• Cast iron machinability depends heavily on microstructure (gray, ductile, ADI) and presence of hard inclusions
• Does not include every aerospace, medical, foundry, powder-metal, or customer-controlled material condition

References

1. ASM Handbook, Volume 16 - Machining source pointer; exact tables require authorized access
2. ISO 3685:1993 - Tool-life testing with single-point turning tools source pointer
3. Machinery's Handbook, 32nd Edition - commercial machining reference source pointer
4. Kennametal - current feed and speed workflow source pointer for product-specific recommendations
5. Sandvik Coromant - milling, turning, and drilling formula source pointers
6. OSHA 1910.212 - machine guarding source pointer for safety context

Frequently Asked Questions