400 Series Stainless Steel Guide Pin

The 400 Series stainless steel used in 400 series stainless steel guide pin,usually martensitic types like 416 or 440C,has a unique mix of traits. You can harden it a lot through heat treatment to get high strength and moderate wear resistance, kind of like some carbon steels. The key thing is it's way more corrosion-resistant than carbon steel, though not as much as 300 Series austenitic stainless steel.

That makes these UN guide pins perfect for jobs where you need both hardness and resistance to moisture, mild chemicals, or oxidation,without having to add heavy surface coatings. Basically, they strike a balance: tough enough for heavy-duty use, but they won’t rust easily in damp or mildly corrosive setups. It’s a practical choice when you need reliable performance without extra plating steps.

Application

400 series stainless steel guide pin works great in places where corrosion is an issue or where things need to stay clean. You’ll often find them in setups like plastic injection molds, food processing machines, packaging equipment,chemical handling gear, marine setups,and fixtures for making medical devices. They’re perfect for areas that get washed down a lot, humid spots,  or anywhere lubricants might get rinsed away.

These guide pins keep things aligned reliably in die sets, assembly jigs and automated systems. If you used unprotected carbon steel pins in these same spots,where they might touch water,  weak acids,or corrosive materials,the carbon steel would wear out fast. The 400 stainless steel guide pin holds up way better here,  so it’s a go-to when regular steel would rust or break down too quickly.

What are the typical hardness and strength specifications

The 400 series stainless steel guide pin, usually made from Grade 410 or 416, gets its high hardness and strength through heat treating, like hardening and tempering. You can expect Rockwell hardness in the HRC 35-45 range, which can be adjusted by tempering, along with high tensile and yield strength. This makes these guide pins really durable,they resist wear and don’t deform easily even under heavy loads. That’s key for tough guide pin jobs where they need to hold up to constant use.