Tool Steel Selection for Cold Extrusion, Cold Heading & Thread Rolling Dies
Select tool steel by compressive stress, sliding friction, shock loading, fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and cracking risk. For cold extrusion, cold heading, and thread rolling dies, the main choice is usually between compressive strength, wear resistance, and toughness.
Quick Selection Guide by Tool Steel Grade
Choose the grade according to the die application, working pressure, impact load, wear level, and whether the steel is used as an active die component or a supporting shrink ring.
M2 High Speed Steel 1.3343 / SKH51
Recommended for cold extrusion punches and die inserts under high compressive stress and severe sliding friction.
Reason: M2 is used where high hardness, compressive strength, and wear resistance are needed for demanding extrusion tooling.
D2 Tool Steel 1.2379 / SKD11 / Cr12Mo1V1
Recommended for cold extrusion die inserts and punches where abrasion resistance is critical.
Reason: D2 provides excellent wear resistance for sliding friction and is also used as an insert material for long-run cold heading tooling.
A2 Tool Steel 1.2363 / SKD12
Recommended for cold extrusion of softer materials and precision thread rolling dies.
Reason: A2 gives a balance of toughness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability, making it suitable where precision and low distortion matter.
H11 Tool Steel 1.2343 / SKD6
Recommended for shrink rings, housings, and difficult extrusion tooling where cracking remains a problem.
Reason: H11 provides toughness for outer support rings and can help resist splitting under high internal pressure.
H13 Tool Steel 1.2344 / SKD61
Recommended for tough shrink rings and housings used to support cold extrusion die inserts.
Reason: H13 is used as a tough retainer material to support lower-toughness inserts such as D2, M2, or carbide.
S1 Tool Steel 1.2550
Recommended for cold heading dies with intricate shapes, deep configurations, or sharp corners.
Reason: S1 is selected when cracking resistance is more important than maximum wear resistance.
S7 Tool Steel 1.2355
Recommended when cold heading or forming dies require stronger toughness against shock loading.
Reason: S7 provides high impact strength where harder, more wear-resistant steels may crack or fail under shock.
Selection Summary
This table gives a faster comparison when the buyer already knows the die application and main failure risk.
| Die Application | Main Requirement | Aobo Steel Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Cold extrusion punches and die inserts | High compressive strength, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance | M2, D2 |
| Cold extrusion of softer materials | Balanced toughness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability | A2 |
| Cold extrusion shrink rings and housings | Tough support against internal pressure and splitting risk | H11, H13 |
| Cold heading dies with cracking risk | Shock resistance and toughness | S1, S7 |
| Long-run cold heading inserts | Higher wear resistance in supported insert design | D2, M2 |
| Flat thread rolling dies | Abrasion resistance against steel blanks | D2 |
| Cylindrical or fine-pitch thread rolling dies | Precision, toughness, and low heat-treatment distortion | A2 |
| Long-run thread rolling and high-tensile fasteners | Compressive strength and wear resistance | M2 |