Machinability
Stainless steel 316 has good machinability. Machining can be enhanced using the following rules:
Cutting edges must be kept sharp. Dull edges cause excess work hardening.
Cuts should be light but deep enough to prevent work hardening by riding on the surface of the material.
Chip breakers should be employed to assist in ensuring swarf remains clear of the work
Low thermal conductivity of austenitic alloys results in heat concentrating at the cutting edges. This means coolants and lubricants are necessary and must be used in large quantities.
Welding of Stainless steel 316
Fusion welding performance for 316 stainless steel is excellent both with and without fillers. Recommended filler rods and electrodes for Stainless steel 316 and 316L are the same as the base metal, 316 and 316L respectively. Heavy welded sections may require post-weld annealing. Grade 316Ti may be used as an alternative to Stainless steel 316 in heavy section welds.
Oxyacetylene welding has not been found to be successful for joining of Stainless steel 316.
Supplied Forms
Stainless steel 316 is typically supplied by Aalco in a range of finishes in the following forms:
Sheet
Strip
Tube
Bar
Pipe
Plate
Fittings & Flanges
