Home / Materials / 1018 / 1045 Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel · Cost-Effective Industrial
1018 & 1045 Carbon Steel CNC Machining
Low-carbon (1018) and medium-carbon (1045) steels — cost-effective for general industrial work where alloy steel isn't justified. 1018 machines easily and welds well; 1045 hardens for shafts and mechanical components.
1018 / 1045 Carbon Steel at a glance
| UNS 1018 | G10180 |
| UNS 1045 | G10450 |
| Yield strength (1018 cold-drawn) | ~54 ksi |
| Yield strength (1045 hot-rolled) | ~45 ksi |
| Hardness (1045 Q&T) | up to ~55 HRC |
| Machinability rating | Excellent |
Conditions we routinely machine:
Cold-drawn (1018 standard)Hot-rolledNormalized1045 Q&T
Where we machine 1018 / 1045 Carbon Steel
Capabilities
Industries served
Typical 1018 / 1045 Carbon Steel parts
- Industrial fixtures and jigs
- 1045 shafts and pinions
- General industrial mechanical components
- Weld-fabricated assemblies (1018)
- Cost-sensitive prototype work
Frequently asked questions
1018 vs 1045 — which for my part?
1018 for weld-fabricated assemblies and parts that don't need hardening. 1045 when the part needs to be quench-and-tempered for hardness (shafts, gears, wear surfaces).
Do you keep carbon steel in stock?
Some sizes yes, others sourced per job. Cheaper and more available than alloy steel — usually a 3–5 day material lead time when we don't have it.