Skip to content
Stainless CNC

Standards You Will Meet on a Stainless Drawing

A drawing that names the right standards gets three quotes for the same scope. A drawing that says passivate gets three different prices for three different things.

StandardGovernsWhen to name it
ASTM A276Stainless bar and shapesThe usual material callout for machined bar stock. Covers chemistry and mechanical properties by grade.
ASTM A479Stainless bar for pressure vesselsUse instead of A276 when the part goes into a pressure boundary.
ASTM A564Precipitation hardening barThe right callout for 17-4 PH and 15-5 PH, including the H conditions.
ASTM A182Forged fittings and flangesAppears when a machined part starts life as a forging.
ASTM F138Implant grade 316LVM barVacuum melted with tight inclusion control. Only for implantable parts, and considerably more expensive.
ASTM A967Chemical passivationThe standard to name for passivation. Covers citric and nitric methods plus the acceptance tests.
AMS 2700Passivation, aerospaceThe aerospace equivalent of A967. Same idea, different paperwork.
ASTM B912ElectropolishingName it when the part needs a cleanable or low Ra surface rather than just passivation.
ASTM A380Cleaning and descalingCovers removing heat tint and scale from welded assemblies before passivation.
ASTM B117Salt spray testingThe severe acceptance test option under A967. Say if you want it, because it is not the default.
ISO 2768General tolerancesA one line general tolerance note. ISO 2768-m suits most machined stainless work.
ASME Y14.5GD&TThe dimensioning language. Use it where a relationship matters more than a stack of linear tolerances.
ISO 1302Surface texture on drawingsHow to write the Ra callout so it means the same thing to every shop.
ISO 9001Quality management systemThe general baseline. Tells you a documented system exists, not that the parts are good.
ISO 13485Medical device quality systemRequired for most regulated medical work. Ask whether your part actually needs it before you write it in.
3-A Sanitary StandardsFood and dairy equipmentSets material and surface finish requirements for product contact surfaces, commonly 32 microinch Ra or better.

We do not hold any of these certifications ourselves and we do not certify suppliers. Shops state what they hold and you verify it with them directly. The reasoning is on the about page.

A callout that is actually quotable

Three things make a finishing note comparable between suppliers: the standard, the specific variant and the documentation. Leave any one out and each shop assumes something different.

Quotable

Passivate per ASTM A967, citric acid, Method 1. Acceptance test per copper sulphate. Certificate required with lot traceability.

Material: 316L per ASTM A276, dual certified 316/316L acceptable. Mill certificate with heat number required.

General tolerance ISO 2768-m. Tight tolerances marked individually.

Not quotable

Passivate.

Food grade stainless, polished.

Medical device part, ISO 13485 required.

The last one is not wrong, it is just expensive when it is not needed. Which quality system your part needs covers when it genuinely applies.

Where these come up

Each of these guides covers the standards in the context of a real decision rather than as a list.