Tool steel is used for manufacturing tools like machine dies and hand tools. It is a type of carbon alloy steel. Tool steel has properties like resistance to abrasion and hardness. It can keep its shape at a higher temperature. Since this material offers hardness at a higher temperature, it is suitable for use in applications with higher temperatures.
There are different grades of tools steel. Tool Steel Suppliers in India Supply different Grades of Tool Steel. These grades include Air hardening, Water Hardening, D Type, Shock resisting types, Oil Hardening, and Hot-Working. Some grades offer better corrosion resistance, it is because of the use of chemicals like vanadium. In some grades, manganese content is used in limited quantity to protect it from getting scratched because of water quenching while in some methods oil is used instead of water. Selection of the grade of the tool steel grade depends on the nature of the application.
These factors include
- Is sharp cutting needed?
- Is the tool required to face hard objects like a hammer and axe?
- Is the tool required to be scratch-proof?
- The type of heating is required
Different Grades of Tool Steel
Air Hardening
It is also called A-Grade tool steel. This tool steel uses more chromium content and as a result, it has a low bending property under increased heat treatment. This grade of steel provides better machinability because it is tough.
The main applications where this grade of steel is used are Die Bending, Arbors, Cams, Coining, Embossing, Lamination, Cold Forming, Cold Swaging, Gages, Cold Trimming, Chipper Knives Woodworking knives Cold Shear Knives, Blanking, and Lathe Center Knives.
Water Hardening
This type of tool steel is also called W-grade tool steel. A higher amount of carbon quantity is used while making this steel. Because of the higher amount of carbon, it is hard, but also it can break easily compared to other grades of tool steels. It is not suitable for applications where a higher temperature is used. Because it is water-quenched, it can break easily or it can easily lose its shape. It is cheaper compared to other tool steel grades.
The main applications where this grade of steel is used are cutting tools, Embossing, Cold Heading, and Cutlery items.
D Type
This type of tool steel is also called D-Grade tool steel. It uses a high amount of carbon quantity and a high amount of chromium quantity with air hardening. It offers two types of characteristics – air-hardening and abrasion resistance. The main applications of this tool steel is forging dies. It is used in paper-cutters, File Cutting Burnishing Tools, Blanking Bending, Embossing, Coining, Cold Extrusion, Cold Heading Die Inserts, Lamination, Cold Forming, Cold Swaging, Cold Trimming, Thread Roll, Wire Drawing, Rotary Slitters, Gages, Knurling Tools, Cold Shear Knives, Lathe Center Knives and Woodworking knives. Examples – D-2 steel , D-3 Tool steel.
Oil Hardening
It is also called O-Grade tool steel. This tool steel is abrasion resistant and it is tough. The main application where this tool steel is used is Thread cutting, Die Blanking, Bushing, Arbors, Cold Trimming, Cold Forming, Gages, Drill Bushing, and Knurling tools. Examples of Oil hardened Steel grades are O-1.
Shock Resisting
This type of tool steel is also called S-grade tool steel. This tool steel offers shock resistance property at a higher or lower temperature. It doesn’t contain too much quantity of carbon and that makes it tough. The drawback of this steel is that it doesn’t have good abrasion resistance. The main application of this tool steel is Battering Tools, Chuck Jaws, Chisel Blacksmiths, Boiler-Shop Tools, Chuck Jaws, Cold Gripper, Clutch Parts, Cold Swaging, hot trimming, and Hot and Cold Shear.
Hot Work Steel
This type of tool steel is also called H-Grade tool steel. This tool steel is useful for applications where metal needs to be cut at high temperatures. It is made up of less carbon content and more of other alloys. The main applications of this tool steel are Cores for Zinc and Aluminum, Die Casting Dies, Hot extrusion for magnesium and aluminum, Hot Gripper, Hot Forging, Hot Trimming, Hot Swaging, and Hot Shear knives. Common hot work steel grades are H-11, H-13 steel.