Injection Molding
Tooling and molding for your repeat plastic parts.
Other Tool Steel Grades for Your Custom Parts
For your custom tool steel machining inquiry, start with the working duty, controlled geometry and actual material designation. Review A6, A8, D3, H11, W1, L6 or M4 against your drawing before agreeing stock, processing and final acceptance.
7 Additional GradesReview the exact designation.
Your Working DutyDefine load, temperature and wear.
Supplied StateConfirm before programming.
Finished EvidenceAgree geometry and records.
7 Grades to Review Against Your Working Duty
Other tool steel is a navigation group, not one alloy. For your tool steel material selection, identify the actual grade, producer product, stock form and supplied state. Procurement and manufacturing scope are confirmed for your drawing.
| Candidate grade | Your inquiry | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| A6 tool steel | Your cold-work tooling inquiry | Section, delivered state and the specified treatment route. |
| A8 tool steel | Your supported working-profile inquiry | Wear, loading and local support before selecting a grade. |
| D3 tool steel | Your die or wear-insert inquiry | K100 / 1.2080 / X210Cr12 is a producer comparison to ~D3, not an automatic replacement. |
| H11 tool steel | Your hot-work insert inquiry | W300 ISODISC / 1.2343 / X37CrMoV5-1 lists H11; confirm purchase specification and form. |
| W1 tool steel | Your simple tool-component inquiry | Exact product specification, section and treatment responsibility. |
| L6 tool steel | Your wear or tool-component inquiry | Producer identity, supplied condition and final duty. |
| M4 tool steel | Your high-speed-tooling inquiry | Conventional or powder product identity, final condition and finishing access. |
Define the Failure Concern
Describe wear, chipping, deformation, thermal cycling or fit loss. Include the working material, support and operating conditions.
Keep the Source Identity
Do not treat a similar European name or a powder product as approval to change your purchase specification.
Reference Composition Table
| Element · average wt.% | H11 / W300 ISODISC | ~D3 / K100 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.38 | 2.00 |
| Si | 1.10 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.40 | 0.35 |
| Cr | 5.00 | 11.50 |
| Mo | 1.20 | Not listed |
| V | 0.40 | Not listed |
Selected BÖHLER product averages; presented data refer to long products. “Not listed” is not zero. Check the actual product form and lot records; other grades require their own producer specification.
European Purchasing Names
H11: W300 ISODISC lists 1.2343 / EN X37CrMoV5-1. D3: K100 lists 1.2080 / EN X210Cr12 with ~D3 as an approximate comparison.
For A6, A8, W1, L6 and M4, submit the complete requested specification. No unverified direct EN equivalent is assigned here.
Compare Two Producer Chemistry References
Average wt.% · common axis 0–12% · chemistry only
W300 ISODISC / H11 · Cr
5.00%
K100 / ~D3 · Cr
11.50%
W300 ISODISC / H11 · C
0.38%
K100 / ~D3 · C
2.00%
06%12%
A higher bar does not mean longer tool life. These selected producer references are not a lot analysis, a ranking of the seven grades or approval to substitute one material for another.
W300 ISODISC reference ↗ K100 reference ↗
Already Have One of These Grades?
Match Your Grade Review to Your Finished Part
Select the tooling component, then connect machining, working condition and final acceptance.
Define Your Cold-Work Profiles Before Cutting
For your A6 tool steel machining services inquiry, send the controlled working profile, backing section and locating features. A8 and D3 inquiries also need their own product specification; these are separate candidates, not one shared recipe.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working opening, backing section, mounting faces and required clearance. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Plan Access and Your Final Datum
For custom tool steel machining, connect reachable profiles to secure workholding and a recoverable datum. Review the actual supplied state before selecting the route.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working opening, backing section, mounting faces and required clearance. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Connect Section, Treatment and Fit
For A6 tool steel heat treatment, agree the provider, actual section and finished requirement. Keep finishing stock and datum recovery specific to your drawing.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working opening, backing section, mounting faces and required clearance. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Inspect the Finished Working Features
Inspect the finished working profile, locating fit and agreed condition. Protect contact faces and identify the material lot.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working opening, backing section, mounting faces and required clearance. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Define Your H11 Hot-Work Inserts Before Cutting
For your H11 tool steel machining services inquiry, describe contact temperature, thermal cycling, loading and supported geometry. Confirm the actual supply specification before approving a hot-work insert.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working radius, mounting feet, supporting section and operating duty. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Plan Access and Your Final Datum
Review H11 tool steel grinding around the reachable reference faces, final condition and surface requirements. Separate initial machining from later finishing.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working radius, mounting feet, supporting section and operating duty. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Connect Section, Treatment and Fit
Connect section, treatment responsibility and retained stock. Use the selected producer data with the treatment provider rather than a universal recipe.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working radius, mounting feet, supporting section and operating duty. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Inspect the Finished Working Features
Check the finished working radius and mounting datums. Agree the specified condition evidence and receiving records.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Working radius, mounting feet, supporting section and operating duty. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Define Your L6 / W1 Components Before Cutting
For your L6 tool steel CNC machining inquiry, define the wear face, locating interfaces and supporting geometry. W1 tool steel inquiries require a separate material and thermal-route review.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Contact face, locating bore or shoulder, support and replacement fit. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Plan Access and Your Final Datum
Plan turning for collar bores and shoulders in the agreed machining state. For L6 tool steel wire EDM, identify a suitable reachable through profile, actual section and final surface requirements; a closed blind pocket needs a different route.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Contact face, locating bore or shoulder, support and replacement fit. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Connect Section, Treatment and Fit
Confirm the exact supplied material and condition. Agree any treatment, final finishing stock and protection of the fit.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Contact face, locating bore or shoulder, support and replacement fit. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Inspect the Finished Working Features
Verify contact lands and locating features after every agreed fit-changing operation. Keep part identity tied to material records.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Contact face, locating bore or shoulder, support and replacement fit. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Define Your M4 Tooling Blanks Before Cutting
For your M4 tool steel inquiry, distinguish the producer product and manufacturing route. Confirm conventional or powder identity, supplied state and the final working geometry.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Blunt form blank, supporting head, locating shank and final working requirement. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Plan Access and Your Final Datum
Plan initial turning of stout form blanks in the agreed supplied state. Review M4 tool steel grinding around wheel access, datum recovery, specified final state and surface acceptance. Quote the actual feature and route.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Blunt form blank, supporting head, locating shank and final working requirement. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Connect Section, Treatment and Fit
Agree responsibility for the thermal route, retained stock and final condition. Do not inherit a heat-treatment recipe from another high-speed grade.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Blunt form blank, supporting head, locating shank and final working requirement. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Inspect the Finished Working Features
Inspect the finished geometry and agreed condition from accessible datums. Protect working faces separately during shipment.
| Your decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Your fit | Blunt form blank, supporting head, locating shank and final working requirement. |
| Your process | Machining state, specified thermal route and final finishing. |
| Your approval | Controlled geometry, working condition and receiving evidence. |
Verify Your Tool Steel Tooling at 3 Stages
01 · Incoming material
Identity, stock form and supplied state.
02 · Specified treatment
Actual working condition and remaining stock.
03 · Finished tooling
Functional geometry, protection and records.
Confirm Material Identity Before Preparing the Route
Check exact designation, source, stock form and supplied condition. Agree which lot records and product documents your receiving team requires.
- Specified grade, producer product and supplied condition.
- Final working features and locating fits.
- Agreed treatment, surface protection and records.
Sampling and document scope are agreed with your quotation.
Quality Assurance →
Review a Sample Through the Complete Route
Check retained stock, datum recovery and accessible working geometry. Agree the first finished part and condition evidence before repeat production.
- Specified grade, producer product and supplied condition.
- Final working features and locating fits.
- Agreed treatment, surface protection and records.
Sampling and document scope are agreed with your quotation.
Quality Assurance →
Verify Working Features and Locating Interfaces
Inspect the final profile and mounting fit from agreed datums. State edge, contact-surface and condition acceptance separately from nominal dimensions.
- Specified grade, producer product and supplied condition.
- Final working features and locating fits.
- Agreed treatment, surface protection and records.
Sampling and document scope are agreed with your quotation.
Quality Assurance →
Protect Separate Working Faces and Records
Agree protective packaging, identification and required material, treatment and inspection records. Keep distinct parts separated at receiving.
- Specified grade, producer product and supplied condition.
- Final working features and locating fits.
- Agreed treatment, surface protection and records.
Sampling and document scope are agreed with your quotation.
Quality Assurance →
Connect Your Grade to the Manufacturing Route
For special tool steel machining, confirm the exact material and condition before agreeing operations. Availability and scope are reviewed for your drawing.
CNC Milling
Review the supplied state, support and reachable reliefs before material removal.
Explore CNC Milling →
CNC Turning
Plan short supported blanks, collars and locating shoulders around secure workholding.
Explore CNC Turning →
Precision Grinding
Define final datums, stock and surface requirements for your selected product.
Explore Precision Grinding →
Wire EDM
Connect suitable through profiles to section, flushing access and final surface acceptance.
Explore Wire EDM →Resolve 6 Risks Before Releasing Your Tool Steel Drawing
Connect working profile, supplied state and final fit before approving the first route.
Replace Mystery Stock with an Agreed Specification
Verify grade, producer, product form, supplied state and lot identity. A trade name or informal shop description does not define a complete purchase specification.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Keep Your Final Locating Features Accessible
Separate rough holes from final locating fits. Identify which broad datum faces can be recovered and measured after the full route.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Connect the Selected Grade to the Full Route
Agree actual section, supplied condition, thermal responsibility and final requirement. Retain drawing-specific finishing stock; do not apply one movement allowance to all tool steels.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Review Local Support Before Changing the Alloy
Show working loads, supported transitions and minimum accessible radii. An alloy change alone does not correct an unsupported feature or an inaccessible internal corner.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Specify the Surface That Your Part Needs
Review grinding, EDM surfaces and any coating with the actual final condition. Identify controlled contact lands and masking; appearance is not surface acceptance.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Inspect After the Operations That Change Fit
Define working geometry, locating fits, condition evidence and receiving records. Agree measurement access and sampling from the controlled drawing.
01 · Requirement
Show the working load and controlled feature.
02 · Route
Agree section, working state and finish stock.
03 · Evidence
Verify the finished geometry and specified condition.
Rough machineTreat if specifiedFinishInspect
Agree the Surface for Your Working Duty
Illustrative appearance only. Confirm compatibility with the actual grade, thermal history and final fit. A coating or treatment is included only when agreed.
Surface Finishing →Approve a Substitute Before Purchase
| Review | Your required decision |
|---|---|
| Identity | Exact standard or producer product;conventional or powder route. |
| Working requirement | Wear, impact, temperature, support and required final condition. |
| Manufacturing route | Stock, treatment, finishing access and surface compatibility. |
| Approval | Document the accepted material change before purchase or cutting. |
Similar names and chemistry comparisons do not authorize substitution.
Review the Tool Steel Family →
Coordinate Your Drawing and Receiving Requirements
Connect China manufacturing with Dallas-area coordination for your drawing review, sample decisions and delivery requirements.
6 Inputs for Your Tool Steel Quote
01CAD and controlled drawing
02Grade, producer requirement and stock form
03Supplied state and thermal responsibility
04Trial and repeat quantities
05Working geometry, locating fits and surfaces
06Material, treatment and inspection records
Answers Before You Select a Grade
How to select tool steel for custom parts?
Start with the main failure concern, load, temperature, working material and supporting geometry. Then review exact product identity, supplied state, process access and final acceptance. A grade list is a starting point for your drawing review.
Wear resistance vs toughness in tool steel: what should I compare?
Describe the actual wear mechanism and any impact, chipping or thermal cycling. Review support and final condition with the exact producer data. Chemistry bars do not measure toughness or predict your tool life.
Can tool steel grades be substituted?
Only after reviewing the exact purchase specification, product route, supplied condition, working requirement and complete process sequence. Obtain approval for the proposed change before purchasing stock.
What information is needed to quote tool steel parts?
For your custom tool steel parts quote, send CAD, the controlled drawing, grade and producer requirement, stock condition, quantities, thermal responsibility, final fits, surface requirements and required records.
What are your tool steel material certificate requirements?
Agree document type and scope at inquiry: material identity and lot traceability, required chemistry or condition evidence, treatment records and dimensional reports. Do not assume a named certificate or test is included without agreement.
Which European material names can I use?
For H11, W300 ISODISC lists 1.2343 / EN X37CrMoV5-1. For D3, K100 lists 1.2080 / EN X210Cr12 with approximate ~D3 comparison. Confirm the actual purchase specification;other candidate grades need their own verified producer documents.
Are all seven grades available for every part?
No blanket availability or process promise is made. Send the exact grade, product form, section and required condition so procurement and manufacturing scope can be confirmed for your drawing.
How do supplied condition and final hardness affect my route?
Treat these as separate inputs. Confirm whether initial machining starts from annealed or another specified state, who controls the thermal route, and which geometry and records must be accepted after finishing.
