Material

Tool Steel

High-hardness alloys for dies, punches and wear-resistant parts.

Material decision support

How this alloy behaves in your project.

Below is what we tell buyers about this alloy: where it pays for itself, where it costs you in cycle time or tooling, and which records to specify for shipment. Compare against your operating environment and tolerance stack before you finalize the print.

Tool steel for CNC-machined wear-loaded tooling, dies, inserts and fixtures. Choose tool steel by wear, toughness, hot-work conditions and heat-treatment needs. Final grinding or EDM may be required after hardening.

Reference grades

Grades to consider for Tool Steel

CodeNotes
A2Air-hardening — general purpose dies
A6Air-hardening — low distortion
D2High-carbon, high-chrome — wear parts
H13Hot-work — dies for casting & forging
M2High-speed — cutting tools
M4High-speed — higher wear resistance
O1Oil-hardening — general purpose
P20Pre-hardened mold steel
S7Shock-resistant — punches & chisels
W1Water-hardening — simple tools

Typical uses

Typical uses for Tool Steel

Punches & die sets

For punches and dies, specify grade, hardness, grinding stock after heat treatment and recast-layer limits if EDM is used.

Cutting tools & form tooling

For form tooling, specify hot-work versus cold-work grade and how the profile will be finished after hardening.

Wear-resistant machine parts

For wear parts, specify hardness, lubrication and whether nitriding or coating is required after machining.

How we work

Materials, tolerances, equipment

Tool steel for CNC-machined wear-loaded tooling, dies, inserts and fixtures. Choose tool steel by wear, toughness, hot-work conditions and heat-treatment needs. Final grinding or EDM may be required after hardening.

How should I select the grade?

Choose tool steel by wear, toughness, hot-work conditions and heat-treatment needs. Final grinding or EDM may be required after hardening. Material availability, stock size and certificate requirements are confirmed during quotation; a listed grade is not a stock guarantee.

What affects machining and inspection?

Review hardness state, heat-treatment distortion, machining allowance and surface integrity. Functional tolerances depend on part geometry, material condition, fixturing and measurement method, not only the material family.

What should I specify for finishing?

State the finish standard, thickness, color or texture, masking and functional surfaces. Consider coating build in fits and threads. Approve any material or finishing substitution in writing.

Material quotation checklist

Send the exact grade and condition, 2D drawing, STEP model, quantity, critical features, service environment and traceability requirements. Tecpreva can review machining suitability and proposed alternatives before production.

Bring a drawing

Discuss your Tool Steel part with us.

Send the CAD file, required grade, quantity and operating conditions. We will review material availability and machining feasibility before confirming a production route and quote.

Request a quote