Injection Molding
Tooling and molding for your repeat plastic parts.
LEADED FREE-MACHINING CARBON STEEL
12L14 Carbon Steel for Your Turned Parts
Resolve material approval before your machining quote.
For your 12L14 steel machining project, connect the lead-containing material specification with your threads, bore fits, surface protection and receiving records.
Your grade
12L14 · lead-containing free-machining steel
Your condition
Specify stock form and supplied state
Your acceptance
Define finished dimensions and records
Where 12L14 Fits Your Project
12L14 is a low-carbon, resulfurized, rephosphorized leaded free-machining steel. Consider it for turned bushings, pins, inserts and threaded components when your specification permits this chemistry.
For custom 12L14 steel parts, send the functional drawing before choosing stock. A material name alone does not specify your final fit, corrosion protection or inspection scope.
Review CNC Turning →12L14 Composition: Compare the Actual Limits
These producer reference values describe chemistry limits. Your lot certificate establishes the material supplied for your order.
Sulfur & Lead: Compare the Limits
Mass % · common axis 0–0.40%
12L14 · S
0.26–0.35%
11SMnPb30 · S
0.27–0.33%
12L14 · Pb
0.15–0.35%
11SMnPb30 · Pb
0.2–0.35%
00.20%0.40%
Bars show specified ranges, not a measured batch result or a machinability score.
| Element · mass % | 12L14 · Eaton | 11SMnPb30 · Roda |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon · C | ≤0.15 | ≤0.14 |
| Manganese · Mn | 0.85–1.15 | 0.90–1.30 |
| Phosphorus · P | 0.04–0.09 | ≤0.11 |
| Sulfur · S | 0.26–0.35 | 0.27–0.33 |
| Lead · Pb | 0.15–0.35 | 0.20–0.35 |
Selected elements only. The European reference also lists Si ≤0.05%. No value omitted here should be read as zero.
Eaton: 12L14 chemistry ↗ · Roda Specialty: reference sheet, revision 04/2013 ↗
European Names: Review Before Substitution
US designation
SAE / AISI 12L14 is the requested grade. Include your product specification and stock condition.
European comparison
11SMnPb30 · material number 1.0718 appears as a comparable designation in the cited producer sheet.
Your approval
Chemistry limits differ. Compare product form, condition, required properties and permitted lead content before approving substitution.
The 2013 producer cross-reference is a navigation aid, not proof of current-standard equivalence or regulatory compliance.
Plan Your 12L14 Machining Route
For your 12L14 steel CNC machining inquiry, identify which features must share a setup: concentric bores, turned shoulders, thread runouts and cross-holes.
- Locate: identify stock form, datum faces and gripping allowance.
- Machine: show tool access, useful thread depth and intersecting passages.
- Finish: state deburring, cleaning, protection and masked areas.
- Verify: define final dimensions after the agreed finishing sequence.
4 Drawing Checks for Your Turned Component
01 · YOUR DRAWING INPUT
Define useful engagement, not only the hole depth.
Show thread standard, runout, shoulder clearance and the gauge access required for your 12L14 steel threaded parts.
DFM & Drawing Review →
02 · YOUR DRAWING INPUT
Give your deburring process a route to the intersection.
For 12L14 steel drilling and tapping, identify intersecting passages, allowed edge breaks and inspection access. Keep sealing surfaces distinct from deburred edges.
DFM & Drawing Review →
03 · YOUR DRAWING INPUT
Connect wall thickness with your clamping and final fit.
Identify bore tolerance, wall transitions and faces that cannot accept gripping marks. State whether dimensions apply before or after surface protection.
DFM & Drawing Review →
04 · YOUR DRAWING INPUT
Specify the final surface and masked functional faces.
For a 12L14 steel black oxide or zinc plating inquiry, identify coating specification, thickness where relevant, sealing or lubrication, and protected threads or bores. Suitability needs project review.
DFM & Drawing Review →
Resolve Lead, Welding & Hardness Early
Lead-containing grade
12L14 contains lead. Tell us your market and material restrictions; do not assume a lead-free specification or automatic compliance.
Joining requirements
High sulfur makes welding suitability a separate engineering decision. Review the actual joint and service conditions before selecting this grade.
Hardening requirements
Do not infer a heat-treatment route from the grade name. State hardness, case requirements and final acceptance; project-specific review is required.
Keep Your Material & Finished-Part Records Connected
- Grade, product specification, supplied condition and lot identity.
- Agreed composition or material declaration evidence.
- Critical fits, thread acceptance and burr inspection.
- Coating scope and final dimensional records when required.
A polished photograph cannot establish chemistry or compliance. Agree the actual document and inspection scope with your quotation.
Review Quality Assurance →4 Inputs That Change Your Finished-Part Quote
Geometry & setups
Separate turned features from milled flats, cross-holes and secondary operations.
Quantity & stock
Give first-order quantity, repeat demand, stock form and material specification.
Finish & evidence
Define coating, masking, inspection and document scope on the same request.
Schedule & delivery
State your required schedule and delivery location.
A raw bar price does not define the cost of your finished component.
6 Inputs for Your 12L14 Quote
01Controlled drawing and CAD
0212L14 material specification
03Stock form and supplied condition
04Quantity and repeat demand
05Critical fits and surface protection
06Material restrictions and inspection records
Answers Before You Choose
Does 12L14 steel contain lead?
Yes. The Eaton reference lists 0.15–0.35% Pb by mass. Confirm the actual material specification and your application restrictions before ordering.
Can 12L14 steel be welded?
Treat welding as a separate engineering review. The sulfur-rich free-machining chemistry is not a default choice for a welded assembly.
Does 12L14 steel rust?
It is carbon steel, not stainless steel. Define exposure, storage and an appropriate surface-protection specification for your part.
Can 12L14 steel be case hardened?
Do not assume a standard route. Provide the required case, hardness and final dimensions for specialist review; producer and process references differ in their recommendations.
What is 12L14 steel used for?
Turned bushings, pins, inserts, couplings and threaded components are common machining examples when the lead-containing material is permitted.
How much does 12L14 steel machining cost?
Send your drawing, quantity, stock condition, finishing and inspection requirements. Compare quotations on the same finished-part scope.
Is 11SMnPb30 the same as 12L14?
It is a comparable European designation, not an automatic substitute. The chemistry table shows differences; approve the complete specification and condition.
12L14 vs 1144 steel: what should I compare?
Compare lead restrictions, specified chemistry, product condition, required strength, joining and final acceptance. Do not choose from a machinability label alone.
