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Gauge Plate specs

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Chris Trice03/12/2010 20:13:41
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Never had cause to use it until now so it's a hole in my knowledge but what grade of steel is 'gauge plate'? Is it a low carbon steel and are there any things to bear in mind when machining it? Is it good for gib strips?
Michael Cox 103/12/2010 20:42:10
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Hi Chris,
Guage plate is high carbon steel that can be hardened and tempered like silver steel. It machines reasonably well in the as received soft condition.
The only problem I would forsee using it for gib strips would be that hardening and tempering may introduce distortion.
Mike
GoCreate03/12/2010 20:57:13
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Chris
Gauge plate is a medeum carbon alloy tool steel supplied ground to size and in the annealed condition with a hardness of about 230 Brinell equivalent to a tensile strength of 45 tons/sq in.
It's about twice as hard as mild steel and in comparison is tough to machine, you need to use sharp cutting tools and for HSS reduce your cutting speed to maybe half or less than you would for mild steel and use a cutting oil. Take your time with sharp tools and you should have no problem. Drilling small holes is best done with cobolt grade HSS.
 
I think it could be good for gib strips as supplied un hardened only because it's nicely ground and should be ok against cast iron.
 
The spec is AISI 01 British equivalent B01. You can harden and temper it much like silver steel to make cutting tools.
 
Nigel

Edited By tractionengine42 on 03/12/2010 20:59:11

Pat03/12/2010 21:00:41
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Hi Chris
 
Just a thought gauge plate even in the soft state is quite hard.  The gib strips need to be softer than the bed against which they rub and should be regarded as sacrificial i.e. replacement items.  Brass or bronze are often used as the material of choice for operation against cast iron slides.  (Take care not to lap these with abrasives as this could become embeded in the soft metal and act as a cutting lap giving accelerated wear of the machine main way.)
 
Yes gauge plate as supplied can be cut easily just take care not to build up too much heat during cutting.  Treat as you would silver steel (drill rod).  I agree with Michael that heat treating a long thin gib strip would be difficult and would most likely distort.  A further point is that if left in a hard state it could fracture when the adjustment screws are tightened.  The fractured ends migh also shave bits out of the machine ways.
 
Hope this helps - regards - Pat

Edited By Wildwestpat on 03/12/2010 21:02:01

Stub Mandrel03/12/2010 21:04:18
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Hard brass is excellent for gib strips - I made one from CZ108 from College Engineering. THis was material I gave up on for making gears by free hobbing - I then tried CZ120 engraving brass for the latter and found instant success. The CZ108 has come in handy for various tasks, including the handwheel on my dividing head, but I have kept one 61-tooth wheel as a reminder!
 
Neil
 
 
Nicholas Farr03/12/2010 21:32:01
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Hi, Workshop Practice Series No. 30 re Workshop Materials by Alex Weiss, puts gauge plate as high carbon steel with about 1% carbon content and small amounts of chromium, manganese, tungsten and vanadium. I think its OK for gib strips, but use as is supplied, don't harden.
 
Regards Nick.
Chris Trice03/12/2010 21:51:41
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Thanks for the info everyone. It's clearly harder than mild steel and I didn't want to risk any precious HSS cutters if they were going to get destroyed. I'll leave it soft for gib strips. Thanks again for the info guys.
GoCreate03/12/2010 21:55:40
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I said medium carbon steel but Nick is right gauge plate  is high carbon steel.
0.3 to 0.6 %carbon is medium carbon steel
0.6 to 1 % carbon is high carbon steel
ref wikapedia
Nigel

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