Looking for thoughts on material for project

[verbotenwhisky]

I am building a large fly cutter, I will be machining it with an R8 connection for my mill and it will join the fly cutter disk (a 8.75" dia piece of 6061 Aluminum) at a pressed connection with a small 4 bolt flange. I have a piece of 4041 but it is a bit smaller in Dia than I would like and I have a piece of 1045 which in a great fit. I am curious about the thought on using the 1045 for this application as opposed to the 4041.

 

[Jim F]

We use 1045 TGP at work for lots of different shafting, should be fine for this application.

 

[rabler]

You're basically going to use the steel (4041, 1045) to make the actual R8 piece? From my strictly amateur perspective in selecting steel for that, I'd want something that would give a good finish when turned to minimize the emory cloth work. In this case that finish will form the mating surfaces with the R8 spindle so better contact with a good finish.

 

[verbotenwhisky]

We use 1045 TGP at work for lots of different shafting, should be fine for this application

I had read that the 1045 was a good material for shaft and gear work but could require hardening, Do you think It would be okay if I left it the standard hardness? or would it require heat treating?

 

[verbotenwhisky]

You're basically going to use the steel (4041, 1045) to make the actual R8 piece? From my strictly amateur perspective in selecting steel for that, I'd want something that would give a good finish when turned to minimize the emory cloth work. In this case that finish will form the mating surfaces with the R8 spindle so better contact with a good finish.

That is a very good point.

 

[Jim F]

I had read that the 1045 was a good material for shaft and gear work but could require hardening, Do you think It would be okay if I left it the standard hardness? or would it require heat treating?

We do not heat treat the shafting.

 

[verbotenwhisky]

We do not heat treat the shafting.

Thanks, that sounds reasonable. I will use the 1045 then because it will be the diameter I need.

 

[Jim F]

Thanks, that sounds reasonable. I will use the 1045 then because it will be the diameter I need.

The shafts we make are used in Industrial Oven Fan applications, so hold up.

 

[pontiac428]

I was thinking it don't matter what kind of steel it is if it's press fit in 6061. Cheap steel would be ideal in that case, free would be even better.

 

[verbotenwhisky]

I was thinking it don't matter what kind of steel it is if it's press fit in 6061. Cheap steel would be ideal in that case, free would be even better.

I had the same thought, the reason I asked the question is that everyone of these I see are built with 4140 or at least 4000 series steel and I did not know what the reasoning was, is there is something going on there that I am missing....