Alloy steels are not as common as carbon steels, but when hardness, strength and wear resistance of the machined parts are a necessity, alloy steels are the right choice. And when turning alloy steels, shop personnel should know the workpiece grade to boost productivity. Also, they need to know from which material their tools should be made to choose the correct machining parameters for turning alloy steels. According to AMS International's Metals Handbook: "Alloy steels constitute a category of ferrous materials that exhibit mechanical properties superior to carbon steels as the result of additions of such alloying elements as nickel, chromium and molybdenum. Total alloy content can range from 2.0 percent up to levels just below that of stainless steels. For many alloy steels, the primary function of the alloying elements is to increase hardenabil-ity in order to optimize mechanical properties and toughness after heat treatment."
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