EN1A alternative

Macc models list EN1 in the size required.....£8-72 per foot.....

Hi Alan

you can get almost any width and length of en1a on ebay.

hope this helps.

Nick

Make sure you get black (hot rolled) or you will have a bananna crank.

Metric 20 x 50 from M-machine is £6.60 a foot and machines up OK, think it is EN32

Its a big old lump to heat up and the black is usually cheaper than bright to start with let along the gas cost.

M- Machine price list

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Top of the list of 'Shopping Partners' in the adverts >>

Steel2go sell short lengths.They are at Grantham.They sell on ebay.

They have a 250 mm x3/4in dia of EN1A for £7 inc post.

Hope this helps.

Something to think about....

EN32 is a case hardening steel with low tensile strength and is used in general engineering for the production of lightly stressed components.

EN1A Engineering Steel is ideal for use in precision turned components and is used in intricate drilling and machining operations. The alloy can be case hardened which improves wear resistance and has reasonable strength and ductility. EN1A also offers a superior finish.

EN32 has a tensile strength of around 490MPa, while EN1a is 370-400.

What Neil says it is low tensile when compared to some of the higher carbon steel but better than others and more then strong enough for model open crank engines. Also a lot easier to get hold of in flat sections than EN1A

AJW where are you located ? my local steel stockholder lets me look in the offcut/short length rack. Prices are more than reasonable if paying cash.

Macc's flat is bright so will need heating first, M-Machines won't.

I've tried bright in the past and you can see it move before your eyes as you stitch drill out the waste. Since then I have used flat section or flame cut from plate.

Then again you could do a built up one from PGMS and a couple of slices of round EN1A and make the balance weights as one with the webs. Silver solder or even stick it together with Loctite and it will be good to go

Well it can look a bit rough to start with

And still a bit dull from roughing out

But comes up Ok with finishing cuts

Bit of shaping of the webs and it is as the earlier photo, in the engine below

Black is exactly the same stuff as bright, just not been cold worked. As others have said it is much less likely to distort, and machines exactly the same. I can't imagine that the tensile strength of EN1A is an issue for a small steam engine, if it is then EN3 might be a possibility, still fairly easy to machine.

Ringwood Precision Engineering have a good range in their on-line shop. I've always had good service from them. Usual disclaimer.

George