Machining A2 Tool Steel

A2 tool steel a2 tool steel is an air hardening cold work chromium alloy die steel that is preferable to o1 tool steel in applications requiring greater size stability machinability and safer hardening.

Machining a2 tool steel.

At the moment i m at a step where i need to machine with a 3mm end mill with a length of cut of at least 12mm due to some clearance issues so far i ve broken 3. Tool steel is generally divided into carbon tool steel alloy tool steel and high speed tool steel. A2 tool steel is an air hardening cold work steel. Cutting a2 tool steel speed and feed so i m working on a project that requires a2 tool steel and i can t seem to get the speeds and feeds right.

It s highly wear resistant and moderately tough. The wear resistance properties and cost place a2 between that of o1 and d2 tool steel making it a good all purpose grade for many applications. A2 is tougher than d2 steel and has better dimensional control after heat treatment than o1 steel. Tool steels are difficult to machine without causing fractures from the re hardening of the outer layer surface.

It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 57 62 hrc. A2 is a 5 chromium steel which provides high hardness after heat treatment with good dimensional stability. The wear resistance of a2 steel is intermediate between o1 and d2 steel and it has relatively good machining and grinding properties. A2 tool steel properties a2 is also an air hardening tool steel but includes less than half the chromium 4 75 5 50 and a bit less carbon 0 95 1 05 than d2.

Free machining plain carbon steels resulfurized 1212 1213 1215. Used for molding dies.