BS 970 HIGH MACHINABILITY LOW CARBON FREE CUTTING STEEL

EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

We are EN 1A Free Cutting Steel Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Exporters in Mumbai, India. STEEL MART is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company established in 1986, with decades of experience in supplying high-quality free-cutting steel products to various industries. We specialize in manufacturing and supplying EN 1A Free Cutting Steels (BS 970 230M07 / EN1A / DIN 11SMn30 / W.Nr 1.0715 / AISI 1213 / SAE 1213) that meet national and international quality standards for precision automatic lathe components, threaded fasteners, hydraulic fittings, bushings, and high-volume machined parts. EN 1A Free Cutting Steel is a low-carbon, high-machinability steel engineered specifically for high-speed machining on automatic screw machines and CNC lathes. Formulated with controlled Carbon (0.15% max), Manganese (0.90–1.30%), and elevated Sulphur (0.20–0.35%), EN 1A forms microscopic Manganese Sulphide (MnS) inclusions that act as chip breakers, dramatically reducing tool wear and delivering superior surface finish. Offered in cold drawn (+C), turned, or ground condition, EN 1A provides high dimensional accuracy, uniform straightness, and reliable machinability. Because of its outstanding cutting performance and cost efficiency, EN 1A Free Cutting Steel is widely specified across automotive manufacturing, hydraulic fitting production, electrical hardware, textile machinery, and general mechanical engineering sectors.

Our EN 1A Free Cutting Steels are 100% Prime – Tested & Guaranteed, ensuring precise chemical composition, dimensional accuracy, and consistent machinability. Each product is supplied with proper Mill Test Certificates (MTC) confirming compliance with BS 970 / EN 10087 standards with EN 10204 3.1 certification. STEEL MART follows strict quality control procedures and ensures timely delivery.

ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED
100% PRIME TESTED
MILL TEST CERTIFICATE
40+ Years Experience
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
Worldwide Supply & Export
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What is EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

What is EN 1A Free Cutting Steel?

EN 1A Free Cutting Steel (BS 970 230M07 / EN1A / 11SMn30 / W.Nr 1.0715 / AISI 1213 / SAE 1213) is a low-carbon free-cutting structural steel specifically developed under British Standards (BS 970) for high-speed precision machining applications. Formulated with 0.15% max Carbon, 0.90–1.30% Manganese, and high Sulphur content (0.20–0.35%), EN 1A utilizes Manganese Sulphide (MnS) inclusions to break chips cleanly during high-rpm turning, drilling, threading, and milling. This unique chemical balance reduces cutting forces, prevents tool edge built-up, and produces a mirror-smooth surface finish without post-machining operations. In cold drawn supply condition (+C), EN 1A achieves excellent dimensional tolerances, high bar straightness, and improved tensile strength (370–540 MPa). It is widely specified for high-volume screw machine production, precision automotive fasteners, hydraulic hose nipples, bushes, studs, inserts, and general engineering spares.

✔ High Machinability Free Cutting Steel (BS 970 230M07 / 11SMn30)
✔ Elevated Sulphur Content (0.20–0.35%) for Superior Chip Breaking
✔ Excellent Surface Finish & Reduced Tool Wear on CNC Lathes
✔ High Bar Straightness & Precise Cold Drawn Tolerances (+C)
✔ Ideal for High-Speed Automatic Screw Machines & Fasteners
✔ Global Equivalents: 11SMn30 / AISI 1213 / SAE 1213

100% Machinability

High-speed cutting capability for maximum throughput on automatic screw machines.

0.20-0.35% Sulphur

High sulphur content generates MnS inclusions for effortless chip breaking.

Smooth Finish

Delivers clean, burr-free surfaces without edge built-up or tool drag.

370–540 MPa Tensile

Cold drawn bar condition offers enhanced tensile strength & dimensional stability.

Extended Tool Life

Lower cutting friction prolongs tool insert life & reduces production downtime.

Fastener Grade

Universal choice for high-volume threaded bolts, nuts, studs, & hydraulic nipples.

Why Choose STEEL MART for EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

STEEL MART is the preferred choice for purchasing EN 1A Free Cutting Steel due to its strong reputation for quality and reliability. With over 40 years of experience in the steel industry, the company ensures that every product meets strict industry standards. The company follows strict quality inspection procedures to ensure that every EN 1A Free Cutting Steel product meets international standards.

Each product is carefully tested to ensure durability, strength, and performance. Customers trust STEEL MART for consistent quality, competitive pricing, and timely delivery. The company maintains a large inventory to meet urgent and bulk requirements efficiently. In addition to EN 1A Free Cutting Steels, STEEL MART also supplies a wide range of free-cutting, alloy steel, and carbon steel products for various industrial applications.

Chemical Composition of EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

Element Composition (%)
Carbon (C) 0.15 % Max
Manganese (Mn) 0.90 – 1.30 %
Sulphur (S) 0.20 – 0.35 %
Phosphorus (P) 0.07 % Max
Silicon (Si) 0.05 % Max

Elevated Sulphur (0.20-0.35%) and Manganese (0.90-1.30%) combine to form MnS inclusions for optimal chip breaking.

Equivalent Grades of EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

Standard Equivalent Grade
BS 970 230M07 / EN1A
DIN / EN 11SMn30 / 1.0715
AISI / SAE AISI 1213 / SAE 1213
JIS SUM22
ISO 11SMn28

These international equivalents ensure global engineering specification compatibility.

Mechanical Properties of EN 1A Free Cutting Steel (Cold Drawn)

The mechanical properties of EN 1A Free Cutting Steels make them ideal for high-speed lathe turning, automatic screw machine components, and precision threaded fasteners. In cold drawn condition (+C), EN 1A delivers uniform mechanical strength and high bar straightness.

Tensile Strength 370 - 540 MPa
Yield Strength 240 - 340 MPa
Elongation (A5) 10 - 18 %
Hardness (HBW) 110 - 160 HBW
Machinability Rating 85 - 100 % (Relative to 1212)

Manufacturing & Cold Processing of EN 1A Free Cutting Steel

EN 1A Free Cutting Steel bars undergo hot rolling, descaling, precision cold drawing, and stress relieving to establish dimensional accuracy and bar straightness.

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Hot Rolling (1050°C - 1150°C)

Primary hot rolling of billets into round, hex, and square bar profiles with controlled cooling.

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Shot Blasting & Pickling

Surface descaling to remove oxide scale prior to cold drawing operations.

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Precision Cold Drawing (+C)

Drawn through precision carbide dies to achieve tight h9 / h10 dimensional tolerances.

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Straightening & Cut-to-Length

Multi-roll reel straightening and precision saw cutting to customer specification.

EN 1A Industry Applications

EN 1A Free Cutting Steels are widely used across Precision Screw Machining, Automotive Fasteners, Hydraulic Fittings, Electrical Terminals, and General Engineering Spares.

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Precision Screw Machine Parts

High-volume turned components, automatic lathe pins, inserts, spacers, & precision bushings.

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Threaded Fasteners & Studs

Standard nuts, bolts, set screws, threaded rods, tie bars, & automotive studs.

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Hydraulic Fittings & Couplings

Hose nipples, hydraulic adaptors, pipe union fittings, valve stems, & pneumatic connectors.

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Automotive Components

Control rod pins, wiper mechanism shafts, door latch components, & instrument cluster inserts.

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Electrical Hardware & Terminals

Electrical connector pins, terminal posts, switchgear shafts, & earth grounding rods.

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Textile & Appliance Spares

Spinning machine spindles, loom pins, washing machine shaft inserts, & hardware fittings.

Availability and Customization

At STEEL MART, we supply EN 1A Free Cutting Steels in a wide range of sizes and specifications.

Profiles Available Round Bars, Hexagon Bars, Square Bars, & Flat Bars
Diameter / Size Round: 5 mm to 100 mm | Hex: 6 mm to 75 mm AF | Square: 6 mm to 50 mm
Condition Supplied in Cold Drawn (+C), Centerless Ground, or Turned condition
Length Standard lengths from 3 meters to 6 meters
Tolerances h9, h10, or h11 precision drawn tolerance per ISO / DIN 175
Customization Band-saw cut-to-length and chamfered bar ends available upon request
Certification Supplied with 100% Prime Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1)

Our strict quality control ensures consistent chemical composition and machining performance.

Enquire For Rates ✉

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Conclusion

EN 1A Free Cutting Steel (BS 970 230M07 / EN1A / 11SMn30 / W.Nr 1.0715 / AISI 1213 / SAE 1213) is a premier high-machinability low-carbon steel widely specified across automatic screw machining, precision turned components, hydraulic hose adaptors, threaded fasteners, electrical pins, and automotive hardware. Combining elevated sulphur (0.20–0.35%) for clean chip breaking, low cutting resistance for extended tool life, and high bar straightness in cold drawn condition (+C), it delivers maximum efficiency and superior surface finish on high-speed CNC lathes. Supplied by STEEL MART with strict quality inspection and full EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certification, EN 1A Free Cutting Steel is a benchmark grade for mass production machining.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common answers regarding EN 1A Free Cutting Steel specifications and parameters.

EN 1A contains max 0.15% Carbon, 0.90–1.30% Manganese, 0.20–0.35% Sulphur, max 0.07% Phosphorus, and max 0.05% Silicon.

EN 1A has elevated sulphur and manganese contents that form Manganese Sulphide (MnS) inclusions, acting as internal chip breakers during machining to allow high cutting speeds, smooth surface finish, and minimal tool wear.

EN 1A (BS 970 230M07) is equivalent to DIN 11SMn30 (W.Nr 1.0715) and American AISI 1213 / SAE 1213, offering matching chemical composition and machinability characteristics.

High-volume screw machine turned parts, nuts, bolts, studs, hydraulic hose fittings, electrical terminal pins, control rods, and textile machinery components.

STEEL MART supplies EN 1A in round bars, hexagon bars, square bars, and flat bars in Cold Drawn (+C), Centerless Ground, or Turned condition with mill test certificates.