Tool Steel

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A-2 is an air-hardening tool and die steel. It is intermediate in abrasion resistance between D-2 and O-1 die steel. It possesses excellent non-deforming properties, is deep hardening, and has good toughness properties. Hardening happens between 1750 – 1800°F. A-2 is a 5% chromium air hardening die steel that is less expensive than high carbon-high chromium materials. Typical uses for this grade of material are blanking and forming punches, dies and rolls, slitting cutters, thread roller dies, trimmer dies (both cold and hot), plastic molding dies, straightening and bending dies, and gages.

A-2 should be preheated at 1300 – 1400°F then transferred to a furnace at 1750 – 1800°F. Sizes over three inches (76.2mm) in smallest dimension may not achieve full hardness on air cooling, and usually it is necessary to speed up the cooling rate in the critical temperature range of 900 – 1400°F.

Temper as soon as pieces have cooled to room temperature and heat slowly to tempering temperature selected to obtain the hardness desired. For most applications, A-2 is tempered in the range of 350 – 500°F. Double tempering is desirable, particularly when a temperature of 900°F or higher is used.

A-2 is an oversized material.

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A-6 is a medium alloy; air-hardening tool and die steel with non-deforming properties making the grade an ideal choice for many die and mold applications. Deep hardening results are possible with A-6 using relatively low heat-treating temperatures that are characteristic of oil hardening steel. A-6 also has an optimum combination of alloying elements providing a desirable balance of toughness, strength, and wear resistance.

A-6 should be heated to 1525 – 1600°F and held at temperature until the tool is thoroughly heated. Then remove it from the furnace and cool in air to approximately 125 – 150°F before tempering. Preheating at 1200 – 1250°F is recommended for large or intricate tools. To minimize scaling or decarburization, A-6 should be hardened in an atmosphere furnace, vacuum, or a properly rectified salt bath.

To anneal A-6, pack in sealed container with neutral packing compound or place in a vacuum furnace to prevent excessive scaling or decarburization. Heat slowly to 1350 – 1375°F, furnace cool at a maximum rate of 20°F per hour to 980°F or under and then air-cool to room temperature. Proper annealing should result in a hardness of Brinell 235 maximum.

For most applications, heat A-6 to 350°F for tempering. Hold the tool at temperature for at least 1 hour per inch of thickness followed by air-cooling.

Hardening happens between 1525 – 1600°F. Then removed from the furnace and cool in air to approximately 125°F – 150°F before tempering.

A-6 is an oversized material.

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A-8, available upon request, is a versatile, air-hardening tool and die steel. It combines good wearing qualities with excellent toughness characteristics. It is well suited for many metals working dies and punches, which operate in the hardness of Rockwell C 55-60. The intermediate carbon and alloy content of A-8 gives it an optimum balance of toughness and wear resistance, makes it particularly adaptable for those applications which are too severe for high carbon-high chromium steels and too abrasive for conventional shock resisting steels.

In the hot work field, A-8 is used with outstanding success whenever erosion, wash, and wear of the lower carbon hot work steels is the primary problem. Because of its higher carbon content, A-8 should NOT BE used where heat checking or breakage is the primary cause of failure. Hot work tools of A-8 may be water-cooled in use if desired.

A-8 should be preheated at 1300 – 1400º F, then transferred to a furnace at 1825 – 1850º F soaked at this temperature for 30 minutes for sections 1 inch and thinner, then air cooled. Sections over 1 inch in thickness should be soaked for an additional 10 – 15 minutes per inch and then air-cooled. A-8 normally is air cooled from the hardening temperature, although for some applications it may be oil quenched. When the pieces have cooled to room temperature, temper immediately.

Temper A-8 immediately after quenching to room temperature. Allow to heat slowly to the desired tempering temperature and hold for a period of 1 to 6 hours, depending upon the size. Remove from the furnace and allow to cool in the still air. For most cold work applications, tempering should be carried out in the range of 300 – 600º F or higher. Double tempering is recommended for best results with temperature above 600º F

A-8 is an oversized material, available upon request.

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A-10, available upon request, is an air hardening, non-deforming tool steel with outstanding wear resistance and toughness properties. This grade contains uniformly distributed graphitic particles for good machinability and non-seizing characteristics. It also hardens from a low temperature range of 1450 – 1500°F (788 – 816°C) which minimizes size change and distortion in heat treatment. This combination of properties makes A-10 material an ideal choice for a variety of applications such as gauges, arbors, forming rolls, shear blades and metal working dies and punches.

Hardening A-10, heat slowly to 1450 – 1500°F (788 – 816°C) hold for 1 hour per inch (25.4mm) maximum. Hold at this temperature until thoroughly and uniformly heated. Air cool to under 100°F (38°C), preferably to 80 – 90°F (27 – 32°C) for maximum hardness response. Pieces up to 2” (51mm) in thickness should be austenitized at 1450°F (788°C), 2”- 4” (51 – 102 mm) at 1475°F (802°C) and over 4” (102mm) at 1500°F. For large or intricately shaped pieces where preheating is considered advisable, preheat to 1220 – 1250°F (649 – 677°C) before transferring to the hardening furnace. Best results are obtained by austenitizing in controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnaces or neutral salt baths.

Tempering A-10, heat slowly to the tempering temperature; hold for 1 hour per inch (25.4mm) of thickness and then air cool. For most applications the tempering temperature should be within 300 – 500°F (149 – 260°C). Actual hardness obtained will depend on section size since it affects the quenching rate in hardening.

A-10 is an oversized material.

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D-2 is an air-hardening, high carbon-high chromium die steel well suited for long run tool and die applications. An abundance of extremely hard, wear resisting alloy carbide particles imparts excellent abrasion resistance qualities. These carbides are well dispersed resulting in consistent response of the steel during all machining, heat-treating, and production operations.

D-2 should be preheated at 1300 – 1400°F, then transferred to a furnace at 1850 – 1875°F. If furnace hardening uses a soak time of 30 minutes for parts over 1 inch or less and add 15 minutes for each inch in thickness over 1 inch. After air-cooling from the hardening furnace or salt bath, temper D-2 tools as soon as they have reached room temperature. For many applications, D-2 is tempered between 500 – 550°F. This temper produces a good balance between toughness and wear resistance, and normally produces hardness in the range of Rockwell C 57-59. This tempering range is recommended for blanking, forming, and coining dies and other tools requiring a good hardness-toughness balance. Where maximum abrasion resistance is desired, as in bench draw dies, cold extrusion tools, and gages, a lower temper in the 300 – 350°F range is recommended. For semi-hot work applications, a temper in the secondary hardness range of 950 – 1000°F is recommended.

Temper large tools and dies a minimum of 2 hours per inch (25.4mm) of thickness. Double tempering is beneficial temperatures in the secondary range. Hardening happens between 1850 – 1900°F.

D-2 is an oversized material.

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H-13 is an air hardening, 5% chromium die steel, which is an excellent choice for a wide range of hot works and cold work applications. H-13 is widely used for aluminum, zinc, and magnesium die casting dies where resistance to thermal fatigue due to alternated heating and cooling cycles is of primary importance. The high vanadium content of H-13 increases its resistance to wash caused by the erosive action of the die casting alloy, increases its resistance to heat checking and imparts superior properties at elevated temperatures. H-13 also has excellent impact strength to resist cleavage cracking, is easy to machine, can be water cooled in service, and has excellent size change characteristics.

Other typical hot work uses are aluminum extrusion dies and backers, brass extrusion dummy blocks, shear knives, and forging applications. In forging works, it is recommended for die blocks, inserts, punches, piercers, and heading dies. H-13 is finding increasing usage in cold work applications such as die cases for inserted cold heading dies and intermediate Sendzimir Rolls. It is often used as a cold work shock steel because of its excellent toughness.

To obtain a hardness of Brinell 420-460 (Rockwell C 44-48), H-13 should be tempered at 1075° F-1100°F.

Long tempering times and multiple tempers are recommended.

Hardening happens around 1850°F.

H-13 is an oversized material

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M-2 is a tungsten-molybdenum, general-purpose high-speed steel. Worldwide, the M-2 grade is by far the most popular high-speed steel, having replaced the T1 grade in most cases because of its superior properties and relative economy.

For optimum results, harden M-2 in properly rectified salt baths or controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnaces. When other furnaces are used, it is necessary to coat the steel with a protective material to prevent excessive decarburization and scaling.

M-2 should be preheated thoroughly at 1500 – 1550°F. Large or intricate tools should be given a double preheat at both 1100°F and at 1500 – 1550°F. After preheating, transfer to a high temperature bath or furnace. The exact hardening temperature to use will depend upon the type of work being treated, but in general, cutting tools should be hardened from the range of 2175 – 2225°F when salt bath hardened, and 2200 – 2250°F when furnace hardened.

Punches, dies and other tools requiring toughness rather than red hardness usually are hardened from a temperature of 2050 – 2150°F.

After a short hold at the hardening temperature, quench without further soaking. Quench into salt at 1000 – 1100°F or warm oil. If salt quenched, then complete the quench in still air. If oil quenched, remove from the oil at about 900°F and air cool.All tools should be cooled down to at least 150°F prior to beginning tempering operation. For most applications, M-2 should be tempered in the range of 1000 – 1100°F, with 1025 – 1050°F being considered as a standard temperature. Heat slowly to the tempering temperature and hold for 2 hours. Cooling should follow in still air. Always allow tools to reach room temperature before retempering.

Hardening happens between 2175 – 2250°F.

M-2 is an oversized material.

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S-7 is an air or oil hardening die steel with an unique combination of toughness and wear resistance properties making it an ideal choice for many tooling applications. An intermediate carbon level balanced with moderate amounts of chromium and molybdenum provides the outstanding properties of this grade. S-7 die steel is used successfully for both cold and hot tooling applications as the result of its unusual combination of properties. This grade is recommended for cold work tools such as shear blades, swaging dies, gripper dies, chisels and punches which require a high degree of shock resistance. It is also suitable for dies used in plastic molding and other applications where operating temperatures are below 1000°F.

Another desirable feature of this grade is its ease of heat treatment and the excellent resistance to distortion during air hardening. Additional economies are realized from the good machinability of this grade, which is comparable to standard grades of oil hardening tool steel.

Heat slowly to 1725°F, hold at this temperature until thoroughly and uniformly heated and then either air or oil quench. For most tools, air-cooling will develop full hardness but sections over 2 ½ inches in thickness or diameter should be quenched in oil. When oil quenching is used it’s suggested that a flash quench to 900°F be employed, followed by air-cooling to 125-150°F before tempering. When furnace hardening use a holding time of 30 minutes for tools up to 1 inch in thickness and 15 additional minutes for each inch of thickness over 1 inch.

After cooling to 125-150°F it should immediately be treated slowly to the tempering temperature and held at heat for 1 hour per inch of thickness followed by air-cooling. Most cold work tools are tempered within the 400-500°F range; for hot work applications a tempering temperature of 900-1000°F is suggested.

Hardening happens around 1725°F.

S-7 is an oversized material

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L-6 is an oil hardening steel for use in tools, dies and machine parts requiring a good combination of hardness, toughness, and wear resistance. The relatively large percentage of nickel contained in this grade produces an alloy with greater toughness than the standard oil hardening types while retaining desirable hardness and wear resistance.

L-6 is well suited for cold work applications requiring extra toughness. It is often used for punches, dies, and cold forming tools. Where greater stability in heat treatment and greater wear resistance are required, an air hardening steel such as A-2 or a high carbon-high chromium steel like D-2 should be considered.

For large or intricately shaped sections or where deformation may be a problem, preheating is advisable. Preheat slowly 1100 – 1200°F before transferring to the hardening furnace. L-6 should be heated slowly to 1450 – 1500°F, held at this temperature until uniformly and thoroughly heated, then oil quenched. Light sections will develop moderate hardness if cooled by as dry air blast. Salt bath hardening is also satisfactory providing the molten bath has been properly rectified with respect to dissolved oxides. For pressurized gas quenching, the quench rate to 1000° F is critical for obtaining the desired properties.

Temper L-6 immediately after quenching to room temperature. Parts should be heated slowly to the desired tempering temperature and held for a period of 1 to 6 hours, depending upon its size. Remove from the furnace and allow to cool in still air. For most cold works applications, tempering should be performed in the range of to 300 – 600°F or higher.

Hardening happens between 1450 – 1500°F.

L-6 is an oversized material.

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O-1 is an oil hardening, non-shrinking die steel which can be hardened at relatively low temperatures. Tools and dies made from O-1 will have good wearing qualities since the tungsten and higher chromium content gives improved wear resistance over the straight manganese types. Where greater stability in heat treatment and greater wear resistance is desired, an air hardening steel such as A-2 or a high carbon-high chromium steel such as D-2 should be considered.

O-1 should be heated slowly to 1475-1500° F, held at this temperature until thoroughly and uniformly heated, then quenched in oil. For large or intricately shaped sections, it is recommended to preheat at 1200-1250° F, then raising the temperature to 1475-1500° F. Do not allow pieces to remain in the quenching oil until they have cooled to room temperature but when they have cooled to approximately 150° F, transfer to the tempering furnace. Best results are obtained by hardening in atmosphere controlled furnaces, in neutral salt baths or in vacuum furnaces with an integral oil quench.

O-1 should be tempered immediately after quenching. Allow the steel to cool at least to 125-150° F on the quench, then place in temper. Cracks may result if the strains set up during quenching are not relieved immediately by tempering. Most punches and dies are tempered at 350-400° F although other tempering temperatures may be used for certain applications.

Hardening happens between 1475-1550° F.

O-1 is an oversized material.

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O-6 is an oil hardening, non-deforming type tool steel for use on tool and die applications requiring good resistance to wear and abrasion. Uniformly distributed graphite particles in O-6 provide it with remarkable machinability. Since graphite pockets retain lubricant, O-6 tool steel is of particular advantage for tools requiring non-seizing properties. O-6 especially is suitable for dies and punches in drawing, forming and shaping operations, which take advantage of its outstanding self-lubricating characteristics.

Heat slowly to 1450 – 1500°F, soak at temperature until thoroughly and uniformly heated, then quench into warm oil. Pieces ½ inch in thickness and smaller should be austenitized at 1450°F, pieces ½ to 2 inches in thickness at 1475°F and pieces over 2 inches at 1500°F. Remove pieces from quenching oil for tempering immediately after reaching 125 – 150°F to avoid stress cracking. Best results are obtained by austenitizing in controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnaces or neutral salt baths.

O-6 should be tempered immediately after the quench is completed. Most tools and other parts are tempered at 300-400° F for maximum hardness response although the temperature might vary for some special applications. Actual hardness obtained will depend on section size since it affects the quenching rate in hardening.

Hardening happens between 1450 – 1500°F.

O-6 is an oversized material.

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Viscount 44 (VIC-44), available upon request, is a fully heat-treated H-13 hot work steel with carefully controlled and evenly dispersed sulphide additives. It’s the same analysis type as H-13, but the free-machining sulphides improve the machine ability to the point where die work at a hardness of Rockwell C 42-46 is practical. It’s thus possible to bypass the risk of heat treatment involved in tool building. Pre-hardening gives VIC-44 a tremendous advantage when used for hot work dies because of the constant danger of size change or distortion during heat treatment. Also, costly finishing operations after heat treatment are eliminated.

This versatile H-13 hot work steel is an excellent and practical choice for die casting dies. It can be used for cores, cavities, perishable details, ejector core pins – any number of machined parts. Using pre-hardened, VIC-44 for extrusion tools makes it possible to produce dies, backers, bolsters, dummy blocks, etc. in a very few hours, so that extremely short delivery schedules can be met. In addition, the use of pre-hardened VIC-44 for extrusion dies insures clean metal at the bearing surfaces free from any possible decarburization, carburization, scale, sub-scale, or other deleterious conditions sometimes encountered when finished dies are heat treated.

Other tooling applications include die inserts, shear blades, upsetter dies for brass and stainless fitting, piercing punches, plastic mold cavities (where polishability is not important), and many other component items.

The demands for high strength, increased wear resistance, and greater toughness in certain engineering and maintenance applications has resulted in VIC-44’s use in providing outstanding service in countless applications, such as spindles, arbors, shafts, axles, bolts, brake dies, forming rolls and other machine tool parts. Its high strength, toughness, and exceptional wearing qualities are maintained even when exposed to a temperature as high as 1000°F. This makes VIC-44 highly adaptable to a wide range of engineering and maintenance applications.

The hardness range of VIC-44, Rockwell C 42-46, makes its machining considerably more difficult than the machining of annealed tool steels. In most cases, for example, it will be necessary to decrease metal removal rates by about 30%, preferably by decreasing the cutting speed. Carbide tools are most popular but high-speed steels are widely used especially for drills, die sinking cutters, and taps. If high-speed steels are to be used, the super high speeds, such as M3-2, T15, or M-42 are recommended although M-2 or M-1 are practical for short runs particularly if a nitride case can be applied. As with all heavy duty machining, machine tool rigidity, and uniform positive feed rates are essential. Due to its numerous and varied applications, VIC-44 is often referred to as “The Grade of 1000 Uses”.

Hardening happens between 1725°F.

VIC-44 is an oversized material, available upon request.