Cutting tool materials are extensively used in various industries which deal in the cutting of hard metals etc. One of the basic features of it is that it should be harder compared to the material it is cutting. The tools are often used at high temperatures and therefore, should have heat resistance quality as well. High-speed steel, carbide, cold work steel, hot work steel, and others are a few of the widely used cutting tool materials. These are very effective at high temperatures, bear anti-resistance quality, and are anti-corrosive. Nevertheless, cutting tool materials depend on other factors as well. The type of material to be cut also plays a vital role in deciding which cutting tool is to be used.
Carbide cutting tools: Cemented carbide cutting tools have a special demand in the market because of their efficiency, superior quality, smoothness in use, and the growing competition in the market. Tool Steel suppliers in India have vouched for the increasing demand for carbide cutting tools. Mills, reamer, drills, molding knife, and various other cutting tools have been manufactured. Aerospace, aviation, medical instruments, manufacturing of ship body, IT mobile shell, chemical engineering, and various other recognized fields are amongst the customers of carbide cutting tools. Carbide cutting tools have already captured 40% of the market share. China is one of the leading nations in manufacturing cemented carbide cutting tools. Endmill series and Drill series are two of the significant carbide cutting tool ranges. Endmill series carbide cutting tools have wide applications for stainless steel, cast iron, hardened steels, graphite, and aluminum alloys. Drill series is best known for center drills, twist drills used for hardened steel, stainless steel, and other general purposes.
High-speed steel: High-speed steel uses extremely high speeds to cut through materials. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most used cutting tool materials. There are a few characteristics that make it suitable for cutting tools – excellent robust quality, high resistance against wears, high hardness during the application, outstanding toughness, etc. This particular alloy consists of chromium, carbon, molybdenum or tungsten, and vanadium. High-speed steel had extensive application as reamers, taps, metal cutters, woodwork tools, twist drills, metal saws, cold work tools, broaching tools, and machining tools. With differences in AISI or ASTM, the application of high speed steel differs as well. For instance – while few are specifically used for twists, drills, outlers, broaches, others give excellent performance as drill taps, saw bits, and formed punches.
Hot work steel: Tool Steel Suppliers of India have highly appreciated Hot work steel’s performance at high temperatures. Its resistance to softening at high temperatures makes it very useful in die casting, hot stamping molds, warm work forging, and others. The properties that make it unique are excellent weldability, ductility, high polishability, high mechanical strength, and high thermal conductivity. Market demand for hot work steel has increased in the due course of time. Forming dies, mandrels, die inserts, hot shear blades, extrusion press tools, forging dies, pressure die casting for aluminum alloys, molds used in thermoplastic polymer injection, etc. are just amongst the few of its use.
Cold work steel: Another excellent cutting tool material that consists of tungsten, manganese, molybdenum, chromium. These are great for use as stamping dies, drawing tools, cutting tools, punches tools, shear blades, pressing tools, etc. It exhibits outstanding resistance against cracking, has toughness and strength, rarely chips off, and has wear resistance against dies.
These cutting tool materials are highly in demand in various industries. Customers tool the mode depending on the purpose.