How can you classify tool steels?

Tool Steel is divided into these six groups: water-hardening, cold-work, shock-resisting, high-speed, hot-work, and special purpose. The determination of a choice from the group will depend on; the cost effectiveness, working temperature, required surface hardness, strength, shock resistance, and toughness requirement.

What type of steel is used for tooling?





carbon alloy steel

Tool steel is a type of carbon alloy steel that is well-matched for tool manufacturing, such as hand tools or machine dies. Its hardness, resistance to abrasion and ability to retain shape at increased temperatures are the key properties of this material.

How do you read steel grades?

Carbon steel

Carbon steels and alloy steels are designated a four digit number, whereby the first digit indicates the main alloying element(s), the second digit indicates tg (top grade) element(s), and the last two digits indicate the amount of carbon, in hundredths of a percent (basis points) by weight.

What are the 4 classifications of steel?





Steel is classified by its composition: iron is fused with carbon and any number of other elements to achieve a specific end.
What Are the Different Types Of Steel?

  • Carbon steel.
  • Stainless steel.
  • Alloy steel.
  • Tool steel.

What is D2 tool steel?

D2 steel is an air hardening, high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel. It has high wear and abrasion resistant properties. It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 55-62 HRC, and is machinable in the annealed condition.

What is W3 steel?

Introduction. Water-hardening tool steels, also known as group W steels, comprise the W1, W2, and W3 types. Carbon is the main alloying element found in group W steels. Water-hardening steels are produced with different nominal carbon contents ranging from 0.60 to 1.40%.

What is the difference between A2 and O1 steel?



In general, O1 holds a slightly keener edge and is easier to sharpen. But it also dulls faster and require more frequent sharpening. A2 steel takes a little more effort to sharpen, but you are rewarded with a more durable edge that lasts longer.

What is the highest grade tool steel?

Water Hardening: W-Grade

With careful annealing, W-grade steel boasts the highest machinability of all tool steels. Thanks to their high carbon content, some W-grade types need no further heat treatment. W-grade types soften above 300 degrees F and are poorly suited for high-temperature uses.

What do steel grades mean?



The SAE Grading System uses a four-digit number for classification. The first two digits denote the steel type and alloying element concentration, and the last two digits indicate the carbon concentration of the metal.

What are the different types of steels?

The Four Types of Steel

There are four main types of steel, Carbon Steels, Alloy Steels, Stainless Steels, Tool Steels. Each different type of steels has unique characteristics which lead it to being used in it’s respected fields.

What are various types of steels?

The Four Main Types of Steel

  • Carbon Steel. Carbon steel looks dull, matte-like, and is known to be vulnerable to corrosion. …
  • Alloy Steel. Next up is alloy steel, which is a mixture of several different metals, like nickel, copper, and aluminum. …
  • Tool Steel. …
  • Stainless Steel.


What is #2 steel?

2 Steel is an AISI 4130 type holder block steel is supplied pre-heat treated to 28-34 HRC (271-321 Bhn). A high-strength steel, DME No. 2 is ideal for cavity and core retainer plates, clamping plates, and support plates in molds and dies.

What grade is A2 tool steel?

A2 is a 5% Chromium steel which provides high hardness after heat treatment with good dimensional stability. It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 57-62 HRC.

What is S7 tool steel?

General Purpose Grade Air-Hardening Tool Steel. AISI S7 is a shock resisting general purpose air-hardening tool steel. The shock absorbing properties provide excellent impact resistance and high strength and toughness. In addition, S-7 has good resistance to softening at moderately high temperatures.

What’s the difference between A2 and D2 steel?



A2 and D2 are cold work tool steels defined by their extremely high hardness after heat treatment. A2 tool steel is often regarded as a “universal” cold work steel, offering a combination of good wear resistance and high toughness. D2 tool steel is harder and more wear-resistant, but less tough.

What is the difference between A2 and A6 tool steel?

A6 de-carb free tool steel is an air hardening tool steel with higher manganese and lower chromium and carbon than A2, offering moderate wear resistance and toughness. It has the advantage of hardening from a lower austenitizing temperature for easy heat treatment.

What is A6 tool steel?

A6 is an AOD air hardened tool steel that has the ability of a low temperature heat treatment. It has improved wear resistance than the O series (oil hardened) tool steels. The combination of these properties lends itself well to a variety of applications that include dies and injection molding tooling.