Cold Work Tool Steel For High-precision Applications

By Author: TGKSSL
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When you consider the workhorses of the modern age, various types of tool steels occupy a prominent place. While there are various types of steel, cold-work steel is now a favorite among many industry owners. This variety, with its low carbon content and an amalgamation of alloys, results in minimal distortion during the hardening phase. This steel is also beneficial in manufacturing larger machine parts. And there are many more factors that make it a popular choice.

Why choose it over the others?

Cold work tool steels are more resistant towards wear and tear. Moreover, metal workers can use them at temperatures as high as 200 degrees Centigrade. On the basis of their particular areas of usage, this steel variety is impressively tough. Different types of cold-work steel have different compositions of alloy. These compositions, on the basis of their design, can offer excellent stability of dimensions. It also gives hardenability ranging from high to moderate. However, the alloy contents might make this steel soften down when exposed to very high temperatures (for example, temperatures more than 205 - 260°C.

The ...
... Ideal Applications

The unique features of cold work steel make them perfect for:

• Cutting off the tools.
• Punches.
• Shear blades.
• Profile rolls.
• Does used in cold heading.
• Pressure rolls.
• Flanging rolls.
• Embossing dies.
• Blanking rolls.
• Cold rolls.
• Cutting and punching tools to thin sheets.
• Dies used in cold threading.

Moreover, this variety of steel is helpful for just about any type of blanking and forming collets, dies, gauges and the like.

Very Recent Applications
Nowadays, medium alloy, air-hardened cold work tool steels are also helpful in:

• Forming dies.
• Coining dies.
• Trimming and blanking punches and dies.
• Shearing knives.
• Precision measuring of gages and tools.
• Applications like brick molds and ceramics involve high abrasion.

Selecting the Steel

There are different grades of cold-work steel tools available. Selecting the correct grade is essential for every unique project that it is used for. The selection of the right type of steel depends on its properties. They include:

• Machinability.
• Wear resistance.
• Resistance to distortion and sinking.
• Resistance to spalling, breaking and cracking.

The Right Group to Select

Choosing the right subgroup of cold work tool steel also depends on factors like:

• The required surface hardness.
• Service temperature.
• Cost.
• Impact resistance.
• Requirements in toughness.

With more severe conditions of utility (such as abrasiveness, high temperature, load and corrosiveness), more carbides and alloy content is needed in the steel.

The Pros and the Cons

The upsides of cold work steel are:

• Their versatility makes them ideal for different industrial procedures.
• They incur relatively low operational costs.
• This type of steel can offer excellent resistance to water damage.
• They can withstand different types of fractures.
• Even under increased heat, this steel experiences minimum alterations in dimension.
• They offer good machinability.

On the flip side, this steel type is not a good choice for tools which need to go through high abrasion.

The Bottom Line

The leading cold work tool steel suppliers are seeking different ways to optimize and develop their products. And various manufacturers are also adjusting the components of the steel as per the market demands. After all, they also need to strike the perfect balance between cost and versatility. And as a customer, if you need any guidance towards choosing the right tool type, then a responsible service provider would be happy to help.