Engineering library

Engineering materials used in Indian manufacturing: equivalent grades across standards, typical properties, heat treatment and uses.

• EN8 steelEN8 (080M40) medium-carbon steel: equivalent grades in IS, DIN, AISI and JIS, typical composition and mechanical properties, heat treatment, machining, welding and uses.
• EN9 steelEN9 (070M55) medium-high carbon steel: equivalents in IS, DIN, AISI and JIS, typical composition and properties, heat treatment and where it is used instead of EN8.
• EN19 steelEN19 (709M40, 42CrMo4, AISI 4140) chromium-molybdenum alloy steel: equivalent grades, composition, strength by condition, heat treatment and typical uses.
• EN24 steelEN24 (817M40, AISI 4340) nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel: equivalents, composition, strength by condition, heat treatment and uses for heavily loaded parts.
• EN31 bearing steelEN31 high-carbon chromium bearing steel (100Cr6, AISI 52100): equivalents, composition, hardening to 60+ HRC, and uses for bearings, rollers, punches and wear parts.
• EN1A free-cutting steelEN1A (230M07) free-cutting mild steel and its leaded version: equivalent grades, composition, machinability, limits and uses for high-volume turned parts.
• SS304 stainless steelSS304 (18/8) austenitic stainless steel: equivalent grades, composition, properties, 304 vs 304L, corrosion limits, machining and welding, and typical uses.
• SS316 stainless steelSS316 molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel: equivalent grades, composition, why it resists chlorides better than 304, 316L, and typical uses.
• Mild steel IS 2062IS 2062 structural mild steel: grades E250 to E450 and quality A, BR, B0 and C, strength and composition limits, equivalents (ASTM A36, S275, S355) and uses.
• D2 tool steelD2 high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel (1.2379, SKD11, "HCHCr"): composition, hardening to 58–62 HRC, wear resistance, and uses for dies and punches.
• H13 hot-work tool steelH13 chromium hot-work tool steel (1.2344, SKD61): composition, hardening, working hardness, nitriding, and uses for die-casting, forging and extrusion dies.
• Aluminium 6061Aluminium 6061 (6061-T6): composition, strength, density, equivalents (EN AW-6061, IS 65032 / HE20), machining, welding, anodising and how it compares with 6063, 6082 and 7075.
• Free-cutting brass (CuZn39Pb3)Free-cutting leaded brass (CuZn39Pb3, CW614N, CZ121, C38500): composition, machinability, forging brass vs free-cutting brass, dezincification and uses for turned parts.
• EN353 case-hardening steelEN353 nickel-chromium-molybdenum case-hardening steel: typical composition, carburising and hardening, case hardness and depth, equivalents and uses for gears and pins.
• C45 steelC45 (1.0503, AISI 1045) medium-carbon steel: equivalents, composition, strength as normalised and hardened and tempered, induction hardening, and how it compares with EN8.
• P20 mould steelP20 (1.2311) prehardened plastic mould steel and P20+Ni (1.2738): composition, supplied hardness, machining, polishing, nitriding, and uses for injection moulds.
• SS410 stainless steelSS410 martensitic stainless steel: composition, hardening, magnetism, corrosion resistance compared with 304, equivalents and uses for valves, pumps and fasteners.
• SS202 stainless steelSS202 low-nickel austenitic stainless steel: composition, why it costs less than 304, corrosion limits, and where it should and should not be used.
• Aluminium 6082Aluminium 6082 (6082-T6, HE30): composition, strength, equivalents, machining, welding and anodising, and how it compares with 6061.
• Aluminium 7075Aluminium 7075 (7075-T6), the high-strength zinc alloy: composition, strength, machining, welding limits, corrosion and uses in aerospace and high-stress parts.
• FG 260 grey cast ironFG 260 grey cast iron (IS 210): what the grade number means, typical properties, equivalents (GG25, EN-GJL-250), and uses for machine beds, housings and pump bodies.
• SG iron 500/7SG 500/7 ductile (spheroidal graphite) iron from IS 1865: strength, elongation, hardness, equivalents (GGG50, EN-GJS-500-7), and uses compared with grey iron.
• Phosphor bronzePhosphor (tin) bronze such as PB1 and PB2: composition, wear and bearing properties, equivalents, and uses for bushes, bearings, worm wheels and pump parts.

How each industrial machine works, the work it can do, its typical sizes, advantages and limits.

• VMC (vertical machining centre)What a vertical machining centre (VMC) is, the work it can do, typical sizes and specifications, advantages and limits, and how it compares with an HMC and a CNC lathe.
• CNC latheWhat a CNC lathe (turning centre) is, how it works, the main types (2-axis, live tooling, Y-axis, sub-spindle, Swiss-type), sizes to check and what it can make.
• HMC (horizontal machining centre)What a horizontal machining centre (HMC) is, how its rotary table and pallet changer work, what parts suit it, pallet sizes, and how it compares with a VMC.
• Wire-cut EDM machineHow a wire-cut EDM machine cuts hardened steel with an electrically charged wire, its accuracy, finish, thickness and taper limits, and what it is used for.
• Fibre laser cutting machineHow a fibre laser cutting machine cuts sheet and plate, what power and bed size mean, the assist gases, accuracy, and which materials and thicknesses it handles.
• Press brakeHow a press brake bends sheet and plate, what tonnage and bending length mean, CNC back gauges, punches and V-dies, and tips for designing bent parts.
• Power pressWhat a mechanical power press is, C-frame and straight-side types, tonnage and strokes per minute, the work it does with press tools, and the safety guards it needs.
• 5-axis machining centreWhat a 5-axis machining centre is, 3+2 versus simultaneous 5-axis, trunnion and head designs, the parts it suits, and how it compares with a 3-axis VMC.
• VTL (vertical turning lathe)What a vertical turning lathe (VTL) is, why large and heavy round parts are turned vertically, typical table sizes, and the work it does.
• Surface grinderHow a surface grinder finishes flat surfaces with a grinding wheel and magnetic chuck, its accuracy and finish, typical sizes, and what it is used for.
• Spark EDM machine (die sinker)How a spark (die-sinking) EDM machine burns shaped cavities into hardened steel with a copper or graphite electrode, what it is used for, and how it differs from wire cut.
• Hydraulic pressHow a hydraulic press works, four-pillar, H-frame and C-frame types, tonnage and stroke, and the work it does compared with a mechanical power press.
• Induction hardening machineHow an induction hardening machine heats only the surface of a steel part with a copper coil and quenches it, the parts it suits, hardness and case depth.
• Injection moulding machineHow a plastic injection moulding machine works, what clamping tonnage and shot weight mean, hydraulic versus electric machines, and how to match a mould to a machine.

What each kind of engineering job work involves, the tolerances it holds, what decides the price and what to send a workshop.

• CNC turningWhat CNC turning is, which parts and materials suit it, the tolerances it holds, what decides the price and what to send a workshop for a quotation.
• VMC / CNC millingWhat VMC and CNC milling job work involves, the parts and tolerances it suits, what decides the price, design tips and what to send a workshop for a quotation.
• Wire-cut EDMWhat wire-cut EDM job work involves, the accuracy and finish it gives on hardened steel, how it is priced (per square inch), and what to send a workshop.
• Laser cuttingWhat laser cutting job work involves, the materials and thicknesses it suits, accuracy, how it is priced (per metre, per piece or per kg), and what file to send.
• Cylindrical grindingWhat cylindrical, centreless and internal grinding job work involves, the tolerances and finishes it gives, grinding allowance after hardening, and what to send.
• Sheet metal stamping (press work)What sheet metal stamping and press job work involves: blanking, piercing, bending and drawing, progressive dies, tooling cost versus volume, and what to send.
• Investment castingWhat investment (lost wax) casting is, the process steps, sizes and tolerances, materials, wax die cost and when to choose it over sand casting or machining.
• Hardening and temperingWhat hardening and tempering heat treatment does, which steels it suits, hardness checks (HRC, HB), distortion, and what to tell a heat-treatment shop.
• Drilling, boring and tappingWhat drilling, reaming, boring and tapping job work involves, the hole tolerances each gives, the machines used, and how to specify holes and threads on a drawing.
• Injection mould makingHow a plastic injection mould is designed and made, single and multi-cavity moulds, mould steels, what decides the mould price and lead time, and what to send a mould maker.
• ForgingWhat forging job work involves, closed-die and open-die forging, the materials and parts it suits, tolerances, die cost and what to send a forging shop.
• Gear cuttingWhat gear cutting job work involves: hobbing, shaping and grinding, the gear details a shop needs (module, teeth, pressure angle), heat treatment and accuracy classes.
• Sand castingHow sand casting works, the metals it suits (grey iron, SG iron, steel, aluminium, brass), tolerances and finish, pattern cost, and what to send a foundry.
• Pressure die castingHow high-pressure die casting makes aluminium and zinc parts, typical alloys, tolerances and finish, die cost versus volume, and what to send a die caster.
• Powder coatingWhat powder coating involves: pre-treatment, spraying and curing, epoxy and polyester powders, typical thickness, colours and finishes, and what to tell a coating shop.
• Zinc platingWhat zinc electroplating does, passivation colours (clear/blue, yellow, black), typical thickness, salt-spray resistance, hydrogen embrittlement, and what to tell a plating shop.

Free tools

• Steel weight calculatorWeight of bars, plates, pipes and sheets in steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and copper.