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1144 Stressproof (Cold-Drawn Stress-Relieved)

1144 Stressproof is a resulfurized medium-carbon steel that is cold-drawn and stress-relieved, giving high strength (690 MPa tensile, 620 MPa yield) straight from barstock — no heat treatment required. Its stress-relieved condition resists distortion during machining, so parts hold dimensions and stay straight, making it a favorite for shafts that must be accurate as-machined.

How 1144 Stressproof (Cold-Drawn Stress-Relieved) machines

At 4.0/5 it machines well thanks to its free-machining sulfur content, producing good chip control and surface finish. Crucially, the stress-relief means it does not warp or move much when material is removed, so long shafts and asymmetric parts stay dimensionally stable — a major practical advantage over standard cold-drawn bar.

Manufacturing & processing

The point of 1144 Stressproof is to skip heat treatment: it arrives with the strength and stability you need, ready to machine to final size. It can be induction hardened for surface wear if required. Corrosion resistance is low (1.5/5), so parts need oiling, plating, or paint for protection.

Typical applications

Ideal for shafts, axles, spindles, studs, and pins that need good strength and tight dimensional stability without the cost and distortion risk of quench and temper. Best where you want high-strength shafting that machines cleanly and stays straight, delivered ready to use without a heat-treat step.

When to choose it

Choose 1144 Stressproof when you want strong, dimensionally stable shafts without in-house heat treatment. If you need much higher strength or toughness, step up to 4340 Q&T. If you need a hard wear case, use 8620 carburized. For lower-strength general shafting, 1045 is cheaper.

Suitable surface finishes

Common finishes for 1144 Stressproof (Cold-Drawn Stress-Relieved): zinc plating, black oxide, powder coating, nickel plating. Use the finish selector →

FAQ

What makes 1144 Stressproof resist distortion?
It is cold-drawn and then stress-relieved, which removes the residual stresses that normally cause bar to warp when machined asymmetrically. As a result long or unbalanced parts stay straight and hold tolerance as material is removed — a key reason it is chosen for precision shafting.
Do I need to heat treat 1144 Stressproof?
No. It is supplied with high strength (690 MPa tensile, 620 MPa yield) already developed by cold drawing and stress relief, so it is used as-is. You can induction-harden the surface for added wear resistance if needed, but no quench-and-temper step is required.
How does 1144 Stressproof compare to 4340?
1144 gives good strength with no heat treatment and excellent dimensional stability, ideal for ready-to-machine shafts. 4340 Q&T reaches far higher strength and toughness (1280 MPa tensile) but requires heat treatment and risks distortion. Choose by how much strength and toughness the load truly demands.

Property values are typical/nominal for early guidance and vary by temper, grade, supplier and heat treatment. Confirm critical specs against a certified datasheet or with an mfgiq engineer.