CNC Milling Spring Steel

CNC Milling Spring Steel from VT machining delivers precision Spring Steel parts produced to your exact drawing. Multi-axis milling cutters remove material to produce prismatic features, pockets, slots and contoured 3D surfaces, and we tune every parameter to the behaviour of Spring Steel, which is high yield strength and elastic recovery.

CNC Milling Spring Steel at VT machining
CNC Milling Spring Steel — produced in-house at VT machining

CNC Milling Capability for Spring Steel

  • 3-, 4- and 5-axis capability
  • Tolerance to ±0.01 mm
  • Pocket/slot/contour features
  • Spindle speeds to 12,000+ rpm

Spring Steel Material Data

Spring Steel — typical properties, quoted for 1095 / 65Mn
Density7.85 g/cm³
Tensile strength1200–1700 MPa
Yield strength (0.2%)1000–1500 MPa
Hardness44–50 HRC (tempered)
Melting point1425 °C
Thermal conductivity46 W/m·K
Thermal expansion11.4 ×10⁻⁶/K
Electrical conductivity8%
Machinability (C36000 = 100%)40% (annealed); grind or EDM when hardened
Grades we run1074, 1095, 65Mn, 60Si2Mn, 301 spring temper, 17-7PH

Published typical values for 1095 / 65Mn. Other grades in the family differ — the certificate supplied with your order carries the actual heat-lot figures.

Machining Spring Steel — what actually causes trouble

Springback. Formed features are over-bent by a calculated amount; on flat springs we etch or wire-EDM instead of punching so the temper is untouched.

How CNC Milling Spring Steel Works

Rotating multi-flute cutters remove material as the Spring Steel workpiece is driven through programmed tool paths on 3-, 4- or 5-axis machining centres. Climb milling, step-over and depth-of-cut are set so chip load stays in the ideal band for the alloy.

We start from your supplied geometry and tolerance scheme. The setup is designed to minimise re-clamping, which protects positional accuracy across features. A first article is verified against the drawing before the balance of the batch is released.

Achievable Tolerances for CNC Milling Spring Steel

CNC Milling Spring Steel — achievable tolerances
FeatureStandardPrecision
Linear dimension (< 100 mm)±0.05 mm±0.010 mm
Linear dimension (100–300 mm)±0.10 mm±0.025 mm
Hole diameter (reamed)H9H7
True position of hole pattern±0.10 mm±0.025 mm
Flatness over 100 mm0.05 mm0.015 mm
Perpendicularity0.10 mm0.020 mm
Surface finish, as machinedRa 1.6 µmRa 0.4 µm

Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.

Secondary Operations & Finishing

Most Spring Steel parts need some finishing, which we manage in-house or through vetted partners. Options include deburring and edge-breaking, heat treatment, surface grinding, polishing, and plating or anodising for corrosion resistance and appearance. Give us the finished-part requirement and we will sequence every operation correctly.

CNC Milling Tolerances & Surface Finish

For CNC Milling, dimensional and positional tolerances around ±0.01 mm are routine, tightening toward ±0.005 mm on precision setups. Surface finish on machined faces typically falls in the Ra 0.4–1.6 µm range depending on tooling and pass strategy.

The tightest tolerances are reserved for the features your drawing flags as critical. Share your tolerance scheme and we will confirm what is realistic before quoting.

CNC Milling Quality & Inspection

Quality is built in, not inspected on. We monitor key features during the run and confirm them at final inspection, with CMM verification available for tight tolerances. We provide the inspection and traceability records your quality system requires.

Working with Spring Steel

Spring Steel is high yield strength and elastic recovery. We translate those properties into a process plan: the right tooling, speeds, feeds and fixturing for the alloy.

Where the grade, temper or heat-treat condition matters to performance, we confirm it with you and can supply material certificates. Material is procured to recognised standards for consistent, repeatable results.

Design Tips for CNC Milling Spring Steel

Small design adjustments often cut cost and lead time. Generous internal radii, sensible pocket depth-to-width ratios and avoiding very thin unsupported walls all reduce cost and improve accuracy in Spring Steel. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.

Applications of CNC Milling Spring Steel

Spring Steel parts made this way are found throughout aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics and industrial equipment. Prototype, bridge and production volumes are all welcome.

How to Order CNC Milling Spring Steel

Starting your project takes one email. Send your CAD or 2D drawing, the Spring Steel grade and condition, the quantity and any finish or inspection requirements. We respond quickly with price, lead time and any DFM notes, in clear English.

Parts We Have Run in Spring Steel

Three representative CNC Milling Spring Steel jobs, with the callouts that actually drove the process plan. Yours will differ — these are here so you can judge whether your part is in our range before you spend time on an RFQ.

Optical mount plate

Material
Spring Steel
Size
160 × 160 × 12 mm
Key callouts
Hole pattern true position ±0.02 mm, flatness 0.01 mm
Batch
40 pcs

Roughed, stress-relieved overnight, then finished — the plate is too thin to hold flatness in one hit.

Vacuum chamber flange

Material
Spring Steel
Size
Ø180 × 20 mm
Key callouts
Knife-edge seal Ra 0.4 µm, bolt circle ±0.05 mm
Batch
60 pcs

Sealing face finished last, then handled in gloves and bagged straight off the machine.

Robot end-effector bracket

Material
Spring Steel
Size
180 × 90 × 30 mm
Key callouts
Bore pair concentric within 0.02 mm, weight reduction pockets
Batch
120 pcs

Pockets ganged so wall thickness never drops below 2 mm at the load path.

Finishing Options for Spring Steel

Finishing options available with this material
FinishThickness / effectWhy it gets specified
Deburr / edge break0.05–0.3 mmAll parts unless the drawing says otherwise
Bead blastRa 1.6–3.2 µmUniform matt finish, hides tool marks
Laser markingPart number, lot code, data matrix
Free — no sign-up

No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.

Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.

Open the 3D + 2D Builder

What We Need to Quote CNC Milling Spring Steel

  • GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
  • MaterialThe exact Spring Steel grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
  • QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
  • TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
  • FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
  • DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.

Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.

Other Metals for CNC Milling

Other Processes for Spring Steel

Send the drawing, the Spring Steel grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.

Request a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Can VT machining make custom Spring Steel parts to my drawing?

Yes. Spring Steel Spring Steel machining is made to order from your CAD/2D drawing. Share your geometry, material grade, tolerance and quantity and we will confirm feasibility, lead time and pricing.

What is CNC Milling Spring Steel and how is it done?

CNC Milling Spring Steel refers to multi-axis milling cutters remove material to produce prismatic features, pockets, slots and contoured 3D surfaces. Applied to Spring Steel — high yield strength and elastic recovery — VT machining produces each part to your CAD drawing, selecting parameters from your tolerance, finish and quantity requirements.

What surface finish is achievable on Spring Steel with CNC Milling?

Surface finish on Spring Steel is controlled to your specification; we confirm the achievable Ra against your callout.

What tolerances can you hold for CNC Milling Spring Steel?

Achievable tolerances for Spring Steel machining depend on the alloy, geometry and feature size. Milling holds positional and dimensional tolerances to around ±0.01 mm, tighter with precision setups. Exact figures are confirmed against your drawing callouts.