Table 5. Quick Reference Guide for Tool Steel Selection Table 5. (Continued) Quick Reference Guide for Tool Steel Selection
Tool Steel Categories and AISI Letter Symbol
High-Speed Tool Steels, M and T
Hot-Work Tool Steels, H
Cold-Work Tool Steels, D, A, and O
Shock-Resisting Tool Steels, S
Special-Purpose Tool Steels, L and F
Water-Hardening Tool Steels, W Cold-heading dies: W1 or W2 (C 1.00%) Bending dies: W1 (C 1.00%)
Application Areas
Mold Steels, P
Examples of Typical Applications
Cold-Forming Dies Bending, forming, drawing, and deep drawing dies and punches
Drawing dies: O1 Coining tools: O1, D2 Forming and bending dies: A2 Thread rolling dies: D2 Dies for medium runs: A2, A6 also O1 and O4 Dies for long runs: D2, D3 Trimming dies (also for hot trimming): A2
Burnishing tools: M1, T1
Cold heading: die- casting dies: H13
Blanking, forming, and trimmer dies when toughness has precedence over abrasion resistance: L6
Hobbing and short- run applications: S1, S7 Rivet sets and rivet busters
Shearing Tools Dies for piercing, punching, and trimming Shear blades
Special dies for cold- and hot- work: T1 For work requiring high abrasion resistance: M2, M3
For shearing
Cold and hot shear blades Hot punching and piercing tools Boilermaker’s tools
Trimming dies (0.90 / 0.95% C) Cold blanking and punching dies (1.00% C)
Knives for work requiring high toughness: L6
knives: H11, H12
For severe hot shearing applications: M21, M25
Die-Casting Dies and Plastics Molds
For zinc and lead: H11 For aluminum: H13 For brass: H21
A2 and A6
Plastics molds: P2 to P4, and P20
O1
Structural Parts for Severe Service Conditions
Spring steel
Roller bearings for high-temperature environment: T1 Lathe centers: M2 and T1
For aircraft
Pawls Clutch parts
Spindles, clutch parts (where
Lathe centers: D2, D3 Arbors: O1 Bushings: A4 Gages: D2
components (landing gear, arrester hooks, rocket cases): H11
(1.10 / 1.15% C)
high toughness is needed): L6
Battering Tools for Hand and Power Tool Use
For intermittent use: W1 (0.80% C)
Pneumatic chisels
for cold-work: S5 performance: S7
For higher
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