What kind of steel is usually used in stamping die manufacturing?

In modern manufacturing, stamping dies have become one of the indispensable tools in production due to their high efficiency and precision. The core material for stamping die manufacturing is various types of steel. The choice of steel has a bearing on the service life of the mold, processing accuracy and cost control, so the selection of steel is of paramount importance.

What is stamping die manufacturing? Simply put, stamping is a processing method that uses a die and a press to press a sheet or strip of metal into shape. Stamping is widely used in automotive, home appliance, aerospace, and many other fields.

Next, explore the types of steel used for this process. In general, steel is selected for its hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and other factors. Here are a few common types of steel used in stamping die manufacturing:

1. Cold work die steel: This type of steel has good hardness and wear resistance and is suitable for making dies that are subject to heavy loads. Typical materials are D2, D3, A2, etc. They are usually used for complex stamping die manufacturing.

2. High Speed Steel (HSS): HSS is commonly used for stamping dies in continuous operation due to its excellent hardness and heat resistance. For example, HSS such as M2 and M35 can cope with continuous stamping operations at high temperatures and maintain the accuracy and stability of the mold.

3. Stainless steel: For stamping die manufacturing that requires corrosion resistance, stainless steel is an ideal choice. It not only resists corrosion, but also has a certain degree of hardness and strength for those molds that deal with corrosive materials.

4. Pre-hardened steel: Pre-hardened steel is heat-treated steel with a certain degree of hardness, such as P20, 718 and so on. Their hardness is moderate, easy to cut and process, suitable for rapid mold making.

5. Carbide steel: the hardness of this type of steel is very high, suitable for making small and require very high precision mold. However, carbide steel processing is more difficult, the equipment requirements are also higher.

In the selection of specific steel, but also comprehensively consider the use of the mold environment, the force situation and economic costs. For example, for the manufacture of stamping dies for mass production, it may be necessary to choose a steel that is wear-resistant and has a long service life; whereas for small batches or pilot production stages, a steel with a lower cost can be chosen.