Brass: The Cost-Effective Choice
Superior Machinability
Performance and cost are critical factors when selecting
materials for screw machine products. The superior
machinability of brass offers higher productivity and lower
per-part cost compared to other materials.
(steel scrap has little value) creating an advantageous net
material cost for customers while improving control over
raw materials costs.
And while brass easily meets the yield strength
requirements for small component parts, its superior
machinability means higher productivity and lower perpart cost. When you’re buying screw machine parts,
The Standard by Which Others are Judged
you’re really paying for machine time. The faster the cut,
Brass:
Choice
While all brasses are intrinsically easy to machine,
theThe Cost-Effective
the lower
the cost. What’s more, brass naturally resists
addition
of
small
amounts
of
lead
to
brasses
further
corrosion,
thesuperior
need for
costly protective
Performance and cost are critical factors when selecting materials for screw machineeliminating
products. The
machinability
of brass offers
improves
this
property
and
the
well-known
“free
cutting
electroplating
or
coatings
which
can
add
more
than 20
higher productivity and lower per-part cost compared to other materials.
brass” (UNS Alloy C36000) is universally accepted as
cents per pound of product.
Machinability
The Standard
Which
are Judged
setting
the standard
by whichbyall
otherOthers
materials
are
judged when machinability is being assessed. Higher
The numbers say it all. In terms of finished part cost, the
While all brasses are intrinsically easy to machine, the addition of small amounts of lead to brasses further improves this property and the
machining
speeds and lower rates of tool wear mean that
example below demonstrates that free-cutting brass is
well-known "free cutting brass" (UNS Alloy C36000) is universally accepted as setting the standard by which all other materials are
overall
production costs are minimized, tolerances are held
>37% less expensive than 12L14 leaded steel.
judged when machinability is being assessed. Higher machining speeds and lower rates of tool wear mean that overall production costs
during
long production runs and surface finish is excellent.
are minimized, tolerances are held during long production runs and surface finish is excellent. For comparison, C36000 brass is about
For
comparison, C36000 brass is about five times more
five
times more
machinable than leaded steel.
machinable
than
leaded steel.
Finished Part Cost Comparison
Universal
Machinability
(ASTME618)
E618)
Universal
Machinability Ratings
Ratings (ASTM
100
Production Data*
80
60
40
20
0
Brass (C36000)
Cost Effectiveness
Aluminum (2011-T3)
Steel (12L14)
First Cost vs. Finished Cost
BrassSteel
(UNS 36000) (AISI 12L14)
Part Weight 0.013 lbs
0.01196 lbs
Turnings Ratio**
63%
63%
Cycle Time 3.65 sec/part 7.66 sec/part
Efficiency Factor† 0.800.70
Material Cost1
$3.19/lb$0.76/lb
Turnings Value1
$2.53/lb$0.12/lb
1
Total Cost/1,000 Parts
$138.47$219.68
* Data on inserts for molded plastic obtained from Midwestern machine shop in 2014
** Percentage of raw material used to make parts
First
Cost vs.price
Finished
Cost
The off-the-shelf
of brass may
sometimes be higher than alternative† Accounts
materials,
but the raw material cost is only part of the overall
for tool changes, restocking time, maintenance
cost off-the-shelf
picture. Brass turnings
be may
reclaimed
for 75-85%
of the original 1.brass
(steel
has little
value)conditions,
creating
The
price of can
brass
sometimes
be higher
Costs value
of both brass
andscrap
steel fluctuate
with market
but an
the assumptions made
here raw
are consistent
with prices
that have existed in recent years. There is no intent to imply
advantageous
net
material
cost
for
customers
while
improving
control
over
materials
costs.
than alternative materials, but the raw material cost is
that the prices assumed here are current; however, they reasonably represent the metals’
relative market prices.
only part of the overall cost picture. Brass turnings can
And while brass easily meets the yield strength requirements for small component parts, its superior machinability means higher
be reclaimed for 75-85% of the original brass value
productivity and lower per-part cost. When you're buying screw machine parts you're really paying for machine time. The faster the cut,
the lower the cost. What's more, brass naturally resists corrosion, eliminating the need for costly protective electroplating or coatings
which can add more than 20 cents per pound of product.
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The numbers say it all. In terms of finished part cost, the example below demonstrates that
than 12L14 leaded steel.
free-cutting brass is >37% less expensive
Brass: The Cost-Effective Choice
Total Weight of Raw Materials
Brass:
Steel:
13 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
11.96 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
1
x
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
x
(1−0.63)
1
(1−0.63)
turnings ratio
turnings ratio
=
=
35.14 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
32.32 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Raw Material Cost
Brass:
Steel:
35.14 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
32.32 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$3.19
x
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
$0.76
x
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
=
=
$112.10
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$24.56
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Net Material Cost
Brass:
Steel:
$112.10
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$24.56
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
22.14 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
$56.09
($2.53
turnings value x
turnings weight) =
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
–
–
20.50 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
$22.10
($0.12
turnings value x
turnings weight) =
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Machine Shop Labor Cost
Brass:
Steel:
3,650 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
7,660 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
x
x
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
1 ℎ𝑟𝑟
3,600 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
1 ℎ𝑟𝑟
3,600 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
x
x
1
0.80
1
0.70
efficiency factor
efficiency factor
x
x
$65
ℎ𝑟𝑟
$65
ℎ𝑟𝑟
labor
labor
=
=
$82.38
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$197.58
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Total Cost per 1,000 Parts
Brass:
Steel:
$56.09
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$22.10
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Net Material Cost
Net Material Cost
+
+
$82.38
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$197.58
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Labor Cost
Labor Cost
=
=
$138.47
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
$219.68
1,000 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
Fabricating this part from brass is 37% cheaper than steel!
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A7033 XX/15