Assembling 303 Stainless

[jjweber4540]

Hi,

I am working for a company that makes a widget currently. This widget has brass,zinc, rubber and steel components. It is about the size of a pen. They have a lead to sell this component in a food processing machine. the customer has requested the aluminum and zinc parts to be made with 303 stainless. It would come in contact with the grease used to lube the machine. My question comes more from the assembly side. The part is assembled and tested in steel fixtures with steel tools.

What are some good questions to ask the customer that would dictate how the part is assembled?
Any references to standards on assembling?
Is carbon steel contamination a factor when assembling parts with steel tools?

Thank you for any help and I apologize in advance if this seems elementary. I have no experience with stainless steel

 

[tbuelna]

jjweber4540-

303 stainless is a free machining stainless alloy. Under certain circumstances it is a requirement to passivate stainless steel parts that have come in contact during manufacturing with things like steel cutting tools that contain iron. The reason being that iron particles may become embedded in the surface of the stainless steel component, and unless removed can result in surface corrosion pitting.

 

[ledon]

If manufacture process requires welding of the 303, I would suggest looking for an alternative material. 303 is not generally suitable for welding.

 

[EdStainless]

The best practice is to passivate all of the SS parts, and use no steel in contact with them at all after that.
Plastic, wood, bronze, ceramic, or whatever, but no steels.
However in most cases it does not really matter as they will be in contact with steel in usage.
you just have to be careful that you don't get rust stains while they are in transit/storage.

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