CNC Machining Tool Steel Services
Precision CNC tool steel machining with 9+ grades available. Hardness up to 65 HRC with exceptional wear resistance for dies, molds, and cutting tools. Upload your CAD file for instant pricing.
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Overview
Detailed Material Analysis
Tool steels are specialized high-carbon alloys designed to be used as tools for cutting, forming, or shaping other materials. They are characterized by extreme hardness, abrasion resistance, and ability to hold a cutting edge at elevated temperatures. They are almost always heat treated to achieve their final properties.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Hardness | Very High (58-65 HRC after heat treatment) |
| Wear Resistance | Excellent – abrasion and galling resistance |
| Toughness | Varies – 'Shock resisting' grades (S7) are extremely tough |
| Heat Resistance | Good – 'High Speed' grades (M2) hold hardness at temp |
| Machinability | Fair (Annealed state) to Impossible (Hardened state) |
| Stability | Good – minimal distortion during heat treatment |
| Lead Time | 10-15 working days (machining + heat treat) |
| Typical Price (India) | Moderate to High (₹200-1,000/kg) |
Available Grades & Standards
We offer a wide selection of grades to meet specific engineering requirements, from general purpose to high-performance flight-grade alloys.
| Grade | Category | Key Features | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 (High-Carbon/Chrome) | Cold Work | Most popular tool steel. Excellent wear resistance, deep hardening | Blanking dies, shear blades, punches, drawing dies |
| O1 / OHNS | Oil-Hardening | General purpose. Good toughness, easy to machine and heat treat | Gauges, cams, machine parts, stamping dies |
| A2 | Air-Hardening | Good balance of wear resistance and toughness. Dimensionally stable | Forming dies, shear blades, punches |
| S7 | Shock-Resisting | Highest toughness. Resists breakage under impact | Chisels, punches, hammers, shear blades |
| H13 | Hot Work | Resists thermal fatigue and cracking. High strength at heat | Die casting dies, extrusion dies, forging dies |
| M2 | High-Speed Steel | Retains hardness at high temp. Excellent edge retention | Cutting tools, drill bits, milling cutters, taps |
| P20 | Mold Steel | Pre-hardened (30-32 HRC). Polishable, photo-etchable | Plastic injection molds, die casting support blocks |
| D3 | High-Carbon/Chrome | Superior wear resistance to D2 but lower toughness | Ceramic brick molds, powder mixing paddles |
| EN31 / 52100 | Bearing Steel | Extreme hardness and fatigue life | Bearings, rollers, precision instruments |
Common Applications
Metal Stamping & Forming
- Sheet metal dies (D2, A2)
- Punches and dies (D2)
- Shear blades and slitters (D2, S7)
- Bending tools
Plastic Injection Molding
- Mold cavities and cores (P20, H13)
- Ejector pins (H13)
- Mold bases (P20)
- Hot runner manifolds
Cutting Tools
- Specialty milling cutters (M2)
- Broaches and reamers
- Industrial blades
- Woodworking knives
Die Casting & Forging
- Aluminum die casting molds (H13)
- Forging dies (H13)
- Trimming dies (D2)
- Extrusion nozzles
Surface Finishing Options
| Finish | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Vacuum Heat Treatment Hardening without oxidation/scale | +5-7 days | +₹3,000-8,000 |
Surface Grinding Precision sizing (±0.005mm) | +3-5 days | +₹1,500-4,000 |
EDM (Spark Erosion) Machining deep ribs/cavities after hardening | +5-10 days | Varies |
Wire EDM Precision cutting of hardened plates | +2-5 days | Varies |
Nitriding Surface hardening for wear resistance (molds) | +4-6 days | +₹3,000-6,000 |
Polishing (A1/A2) Mirror finish for injection molds | +3-7 days | +₹5,000-15,000 |
Black Oxide Corrosion protection | +2-3 days | +₹100-300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about machining Tool Steel Machining.
Once hardened to 60 HRC, standard CNC milling is extremely difficult and expensive (requires hard milling). Use Grinding or EDM for hardened parts. We recommend machining 0.2mm oversize, heat treating, then finishing with grinding.
Both are High Carbon High Chromium steels. D2 contains Molybdenum and Vanadium, giving it better toughness and air-hardening properties. D3 has slightly higher wear resistance but is more brittle and susceptible to cracking during heat treatment.
P20 comes pre-hardened to ~30 HRC, which is hard enough for production molds but soft enough to be machined directly without further heat treatment. This saves significant time and avoids distortion risks.
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