Steel CRS
CRS is generic low-carbon (≈0.05–0.10 % C) commercial-quality sheet and strip, cold-reduced from hot band and box- or continuous-annealed, corresponding to ASTM A1008 CS Type B / SAE 1008-1010 / GB/T 5213 DC01.
Values for the HR condition
CRS tempers and conditions
CRS is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CR DDS/EDDS | Pick when the part needs severe stamping or deep draws without splitting or orange-peel. | 170 | 300 | 43 | 85 HB | 12 % IACS |
full/process annealed low-carbon steel (dead soft) | Use dead-soft annealed stock for the most severe bending, spinning or hand-forming work. | 180 | 320 | 42 | 86 HB | 12 % IACS |
Cold rolled | Default stock: smooth matte grey sheet with tight thickness tolerance for stamped brackets, enclosures and painted parts. | 220 | 340 | 38 | 95 HB | — |
Hot rolled, pickled and oiled | Choose when you want hot-rolled economy but a clean, scale-free surface ready to weld, form or paint. | 245 | 360 | 33 | 105 HB | 12 % IACS |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest form for weldments, thicker plate and parts that will be painted or machined all over. | 250 | 365 | 32 | 110 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Bar-form equivalent of CRS: use for shafts, pins and machined parts needing straightness and a bright finish. | 370 | 440 | 15 | 130 HB | — |
case hardened low-carbon steel (case 58-62 HRC) | Pick when a cheap low-carbon part needs a wear-resistant surface over a tough, ductile core. | 420 | 620 | 12 | 60 HRC | — |
CR Full Hard | Use for flat springy panels, roll-formed sections and slit strip where strength beats formability. | 560 | 620 | 3 | 180 HB | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways CRS is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
GA | Galvannealed, zinc-iron alloy coated | Coating |
Galvanized | Hot-dip zinc coated sheet | Coating |
What is CRS?
CRS is generic low-carbon (≈0.05–0.10 % C) commercial-quality sheet and strip, cold-reduced from hot band and box- or continuous-annealed, corresponding to ASTM A1008 CS Type B / SAE 1008-1010 / GB/T 5213 DC01. It is chosen for its very low cost, excellent stamping, bending and welding behaviour, and a smooth, tight-tolerance surface ready for paint or plating. Limits are low strength, no heat-treat response beyond carburizing, and essentially zero corrosion resistance unless coated. CRS has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). CRS has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is CRS used for?
- Stamped enclosures
- Brackets
- Furniture frames
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 12 % IACS, better than 99% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 95% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 78/100, better than 91% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 35/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low strength — 250 MPa (36.3 ksi), worse than 94% of steel grades
CRS properties
Typical room-temperature values for CRS-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
CRS has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical16
CRS has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
CRS is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 52 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 98% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.2 µm/m·K (6.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
CRS conducts electricity at 12 % IACS, better than 99% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of CRS takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
CRS's machinability is fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (78/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. CRS is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with CRS
Is CRS easy to machine?
Machines easily but gummy — use positive-rake sharp tooling, high speed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge and burrs; annealed stock gives poorer finish than cold drawn.
Can CRS be welded?
Excellent by MIG/TIG/spot/stick with ER70S-6 or E7018, no preheat or PWHT for thin sheet; grind mill scale on HR and expect zinc fume/porosity on galvanized.
Can CRS be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — CS grade handles most bends and stampings, DDS/IF grades for deep draws; minimum bend radius roughly 0.5–1× thickness across the rolling direction.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to CRS. Every CRS part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better52 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Excellent78 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent95 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
CRS chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A1008 CS Type B; ≤0.15 for some CS types | ≤ 0.1 | 0.06 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| SiAl-killed/IF grades lower | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Alaluminium-killed deoxidation | 0.02 – 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on CRS?
Must be protected: zinc phosphate + powder/e-coat, zinc or electroless nickel plating, or oil for storage; not anodizable, and bare surfaces flash-rust within hours in humid air.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel CRS in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Cold Rolled Steel
How much does CRS cost?
CRS is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
CRS — frequently asked
What is CRS used for?
CRS is typically used for stamped enclosures, brackets and furniture frames. In short: standard cold-rolled sheet.
What is the yield strength of CRS?
CRS has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 365 MPa (52.9 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is CRS easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (52/100, better than 52% of steel grades). Machines easily but gummy — use positive-rake sharp tooling, high speed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge and burrs; annealed stock gives poorer finish than cold drawn.
Can CRS be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent by MIG/TIG/spot/stick with ER70S-6 or E7018, no preheat or PWHT for thin sheet; grind mill scale on HR and expect zinc fume/porosity on galvanized.
What surface finishes work on CRS?
Must be protected: zinc phosphate + powder/e-coat, zinc or electroless nickel plating, or oil for storage; not anodizable, and bare surfaces flash-rust within hours in humid air.
Can CRS be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — CS grade handles most bends and stampings, DDS/IF grades for deep draws; minimum bend radius roughly 0.5–1× thickness across the rolling direction.
What is the maximum service temperature of CRS?
CRS is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between CRS-HR and CRS CR-FH?
HR is the default condition — cheapest form for weldments, thicker plate and parts that will be painted or machined all over. CR-FH: use for flat springy panels, roll-formed sections and slit strip where strength beats formability. Yield strength is 250 MPa in HR versus 560 MPa in CR-FH.
How much does CRS cost?
CRS is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in CRS?
Yes — CRS is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A1008/A1008M — Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM A1011/A1011M — Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet and Strip — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM A653/A653M — Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) and Zinc-Iron Alloy-Coated Sheet — ASTM International (2020)
- GB/T 5213 / GB/T 700 Q235B (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
- worldsteel LCI data for steel products — World Steel Association (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.