Engineering Reference

Waspaloy

Machining data for Waspaloy (Nickel Superalloy Waspaloy) — material group, hardness, machinability rating, recommended cutting speeds and equivalent designations.

Data verified 2026-09-29 · based on n/a — industry comparison scale, no governing standard

Quick Answer

Waspaloy has a machinability rating of 8 % and a hardness of 32–42 HRC. Typical roughing speed is 50–90 SFM, finishing 80–140 SFM. It belongs to material group S.

General Information

Material groupS — Superalloys & Titanium
Sub-groupNickel superalloy, precipitation hardening
Hardness32–42 HRC
Tensile strength1,275 MPa (185 ksi) aged
Machinability8 %
Density8.19 g/cm³

Precipitation-hardening nickel superalloy with outstanding strength and creep resistance at temperatures to 760 °C — the classic material for turbine discs and blades. It is among the least machinable alloys in commercial use: high shear strength, rapid work hardening, and extremely abrasive gamma-prime precipitates that notch the cutting edge.

Cutting Speed Recommendations

Operation[5]Speed range (carbide)[5]
Turning — roughing50–90 SFM (15–28 m/min)
Turning — finishing80–140 SFM (25–42 m/min)
Milling50–120 SFM
Drilling (HSS)25–40 SFM

Speeds are surface feet per minute with carbide tooling; millimetre equivalents are in brackets. These are typical catalogue ranges, not a specification. Depth of cut, feed, insert grade, coolant and machine rigidity all shift the correct value — start at the low end.

Equivalent Designations

Standard[3]Designation[3]
UNSN07001
AMS5544 / 5708
DIN2.4654
ENNiCr19Co14Mo4Ti
Common nameWaspaloy

Cross-standard correspondence is approximate. Verify against the governing specification before substituting one designation for another.

Chemical Composition

Element[1]Content (%)[1]
NiBalance
Cr18.0–21.0
Co12.0–15.0
Mo3.50–5.00
Ti2.75–3.25
Al1.20–1.60

Composition limits per the governing specification for this grade. Ranges shown are the specification window, not a typical analysis.

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Machining Notes

Precipitation-hardening nickel superalloy with outstanding strength and creep resistance at temperatures to 760 °C — the classic material for turbine discs and blades. It is among the least machinable alloys in commercial use: high shear strength, rapid work hardening, and extremely abrasive gamma-prime precipitates that notch the cutting edge.

What Machinability Rating Means

The rating compares how easily a material cuts against AISI 1112 free-machining steel, which is defined as 100%. It folds together chip formation, surface finish, tool wear and power consumption into one number — it is a shop-floor comparison, not a physical property.

Two consequences follow. First, ratings from different sources differ by roughly ±10%, because each was measured under different conditions. Second, a high rating does not mean the material is soft: gray cast iron rates 70% and machines easily because the graphite breaks chips, while pure copper rates only 20% and is soft but gummy.

Use the rating to compare two candidate materials, not to predict a cutting speed. For speeds, use the table above and your own tooling catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the machinability rating of Waspaloy?
8 %, on the scale where AISI 1112 free-machining steel is 100%. Values above 100% mean the material cuts more easily than the reference steel; values below mean it is harder to cut. The rating is a comparison scale, not a physical property, so sources differ by roughly ±10%.
What cutting speed should I use for Waspaloy?
Typical ranges are 50–90 SFM (15–28 m/min) for rough turning and 80–140 SFM (25–42 m/min) for finishing, with milling around 50–120 SFM. These are starting points only — the correct value depends on the insert grade and coating, the depth of cut, rigidity of the setup, coolant and the machine. Start at the low end and increase until tool life or finish degrades.
What is the equivalent of Waspaloy in other standards?
See the Equivalent Designations table above. Cross-standard correspondence is approximate: alloys within a designation are close but not guaranteed interchangeable, because each standard specifies its own composition ranges and tolerances. Verify against the specific specification before substituting.
What material group is Waspaloy?
S — Superalloys & Titanium, sub-group Nickel superalloy, precipitation hardening. Material groups — P, M, K, N, S and H — classify materials by machining behaviour so that insert grades can be selected by group rather than by individual alloy.

Related

Value Sources

Each data column on this page is tied to the source it came from. The numbers in square brackets correspond to the table headers above.

#SourceTypeRevision / method
[1]Chemical composition limitsstandardn/a — composition limits are taken from whichever specification applies to the grade — source
[2]Values computed from the nominal figurederivedMetric equivalents and any converted values are computed at build time; source values are the inch/imperial figures.
[3]Equivalent international designationsstandardn/a — correspondence table, not a revisioned document — source
[4]Machinability rating (AISI 1112 = 100%)standardn/a — long-established industry comparison scale — source
[5]Recommended cutting speed rangesstandardn/a — typical catalogue ranges with no single revision — source

Data Sources

StandardRevisionWhat it covers on this page
Machinability rating, AISI 1112 = 100%n/a — industry comparison scale, no governing standardthe machinability column
Tooling manufacturer cutting-speed recommendationsn/a — typical catalogue rangesthe cutting speed table
Grade specifications (ASTM / EN / DIN / JIS)n/a — see the individual grade specification (ASTM, EN or DIN)composition limits and equivalent designations

Cross-checked against:

Cutting speeds vary with tooling and setup. The ranges shown are starting points for carbide tooling — confirm against the insert manufacturer's recommendation for the specific grade and geometry before production use.

Accuracy and use. The values on this page are compiled from the published standards and cross-checked sources listed above. Where values are derived, the derivation is stated. No warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of this information, and no liability is accepted for any loss or damage arising from its use. Engineering reference data is provided for guidance in preliminary work — before a value is used for design, fabrication or acceptance testing, verify it against the current revision of the governing standard and against your own inspection. The user assumes all risk and responsibility in connection with the use of this information.

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