MAXEL® 3-1/2 (Brake Die)
Free-Machining Alloy Steel
(AISI 4150 S)
MAXEL 3-1/2 free-machining alloy steel provides a good combination of heat treated properties and machinability. This alloy steel is manufactured under close quality control to an ASTM grain size of 5 to 8. It is suitable for service applications where strength, toughness, and hardness are required.

MAXEL 3-1/2 can be supplied in the heat treated and stress relieved condition to a hardness of BHN 269/321. This results in not only an economic advantage, but also minimizes distortion normally encountered in heat treating finished parts.
Typical Chemistry
Carbon 0.50%
Manganese 1.25%
Silicon 0.25%
Chromium 0.65%
Molybdenum 0.15%
Sulfur 0.08%
Typical Applications
Arbors Machinery Parts
Bolts and Studs Shafts
Boring Bars Spindles
Gears Vice Jaws

Annealed Hardness: BHN 170/212.

Machinability in the annealed condition is approximately 90% of W1 Tool Steel (1%C); and 70% in the heat treated condition (BHN 300).

Thermal Treatments

Critical Temperature: 1360F (740C).
Forging: 2100F (1150C) Do not forge below 1650F (900C). Slow cool after forging.

Normalizing: 1650F (900C), equalize and air cool.

Annealing: 1550F (845C), hold 2 hours, slow cool 50F(10C)/ hr max. to 1200F (650C), then air or furnace cool. Hardness BHN 170/212.

Stress Relieving:

Prehardened Material: 1000F(540C), hold 2 hrs, air cool.

Annealed Material: 1100-1300F (595-740C), hold 2 hrs, air cool.

Re-hardened Material: 50-100°F(10-38C) below last tempering temperature, hold 2 hrs, air cool.

Straightening: Best done warm 400-800F (204-425C)

Hardening: (Atmosphere or Vacuum Furnace)

Preheat: 1300-1350F (705-730C), equalize.

High Heat: 1525-1575F (830-860C), soak 10 to 30 minutes.

Quench: Oil quench to below 200F (95C). Large or complicated sections may be quenched to about 350F (180C), followed by air cooling to 250F (120C). Temper immediately.

Temper: Tempering at 900-1300F (480-705C) for 1 hour per inch (25mm) of thickness at temperature is recommended (2 hrs min).

Note: Maxel 3-1/2 can also be selectively hardened by standard flame or induction hardening practices.

Physical Properties
Modulus of Elasticity ..................................................29 psi x 106(200 GPa)
Specific Gravity ...........................................................................................7.80
Density ......................................................................0.282 lb/in3(7810 kg/m3)
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
Temperature
Range
Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion
°F
°C
in/in/°Fx10-6
mm/mm/°Cx10-6
70-200
21- 95
6.5
11.7
70-400
21-205
7.0
12.6
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