At O’Hare Precision Metals, we supply both 316L and 316LVM round bar stock to medical manufacturers across the Chicago area. Engineers ask us regularly which grade fits their application. The answer depends on one thing: whether the part goes inside the body or not.
Both grades are austenitic stainless. Both offer strong corrosion resistance. But they are not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one at spec time costs you later. This guide gives you a clear, practical answer before you order.
How 316L and 316LVM Differ and Which One Your Application Needs
Choosing between these two grades comes down to your end use. One is built for instruments and devices. The other is built for implants. Understanding that difference upfront saves time at every stage of your program.
Both grades go through our centerless grinding process, where we hold tolerances up to .0001 inches and achieve surface finishes of 8 micro inches or better. That precision matters whether you are making a surgical clamp or a spinal implant. The grade you choose determines how the material performs once the part is in use.
316L: The Right Grade for Instruments and Biomedical Devices
Surgical instruments, biomedical device housings, and pharmaceutical components all have one thing in common. They need a stainless grade that holds up through repeated sterilization without sensitizing at the weld zone. That is exactly what 316L delivers, and it is one of the most corrosion-resistant austenitic grades we carry.
The precision ground surface finish we achieve on 316L bar, 8 micro inches or better, supports contamination resistance and makes downstream machining more consistent. O’Hare Precision Metals supplies it for surgical instruments, clamps, scissors, dialysis machine components, and blood pressure monitor hardware. If your application involves body contact that is intermittent rather than permanent, 316L is the proven choice.
316LVM: The Right Grade for Implantable Components
When a component will remain inside the body long term, the melt process behind the bar stock becomes a specification requirement, not a preference. 316LVM goes through vacuum arc remelting, which removes nonmetallic inclusions and dissolved gases that standard melting leaves behind. We carry it as a dedicated medical grade for orthopedic implants, spinal hardware, dental implants, and prosthetics.
Our centerless and precision grinding on 316LVM bar directly supports biocompatibility with the patient’s body. Concentricity and surface finish on implant stock affect long-term tissue performance, not just dimensional accuracy. When your specification calls for vacuum melt material, this is the grade you need.
Other Medical Stainless Grades We Carry
Our medical-grade stainless category covers chromium-nickel alloys with a minimum 10% chromium content. We supply grade 303 for high-volume instrument sub-components where machinability is a priority. Grade 304 is our listed choice for forging medical tools, given its corrosion resistance and hardenability.
O’Hare Precision Metals also carries martensitic variants used in surgical tools alongside the full austenitic range. If you are sourcing for a mixed program that includes both instruments and implants, we can supply multiple grades from a single location, all through the same quality inspection process.
Services That Support Medical Grade, Bar Stock
Centerless grinding is our core process for medical bars. We run in-feed and thru-feed grinding, handle diameters up to 9 inches and lengths up to 50 feet, and use in-process gauging to confirm dimensions during the grinding cycle. CNC rotary dressers let us produce intricate radii and profiles when the part geometry requires it.
Polishing is available when your application requires a specific RA finish. We operate centerless polishing cells, bar and tube polishers, buffing cells, and automated belt sanders on-site. For cut-to-length bar, our cold saw cutting service produces cleaner ends and tighter tolerances than bandsawing, with CNC automated saws handling up to 7 inches in diameter.
Quality Standards Behind Every Order
We are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and quality control inspections run at each phase of our operation. That means grinding, turning, machining, and any downstream service on the same order all go through inspection before the material ships. For supplier qualification teams, that per-phase process is the documented standard we work to.
Our quality approach has been consistent since 1970. Every order, whether it is a standard 316L bar or a precision-ground 316LVM run for an implant program, goes through the same rigorous inspection sequence. That consistency is what our medical customers rely on.
Request a Quote for Medical Grade Stainless Steel Bar
Tell us your grade, diameter, length, tolerance, and surface finish requirement. Our team reviews every inquiry and responds with the information you need to move your project forward without delays.
Submit your specifications through our Request a Quote form or call us at (847) 640-6050, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST. You can also reach us at sales@ohareprecision.com. We are located at 2404 W. Hamilton Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
FAQs
Do you carry both 316L and 316LVM in precision-ground round bar?
Yes. O’Hare Precision Metals stocks 316L and 316LVM as separate product lines, both available in precision ground form with tolerances up to .0001 inches.
What surface finish do you achieve on medical-grade stainless bar?
Our centerless grinding process achieves 8 micro inches or better on medical-grade stainless steel. We also offer polishing to a specific RA finish using on-site equipment.
Which grade is right for a surgical instrument versus an implant?
316L suits surgical instruments and biomedical devices. 316LVM is the correct grade for implantable components requiring vacuum-melt material.
Are you ISO certified for medical supply programs?
Yes. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified, with quality control inspections running at each phase of production. Contact us at sales@ohareprecision.com for documentation.