공구강 적용 분야 재료 찾기

The page covers every tooling application in this finder, grouped by tool type. Each section gives the primary grades, the alternative grades and the selection note to check before a grade is fixed. This is a first-stage material selection guide. Final grade selection should still consider tool size, working temperature, impact load, wear mode, machining allowance and heat treatment control. New to grade selection? Start with 공구강 선택 방법.

Primary grades: the usual starting choice for the application. Alternative grades: replacement logic when the primary grade chips, cracks or wears. Selection note: the failure mode to check before the grade is fixed.

Jump to Cold work dies · Rolling and threading · 절단 및 전단 · Drawing tools · 정밀 공구 · 플라스틱 금형 · Abrasive molds · 다이캐스팅 · Hot work tooling · Hot forging · High speed cutting · 절삭 공구 · Bearing and rolling contact · Machine parts · Shock-resisting tools · Impact cold work · High-strength components · Flexing components · Rolls and rollers · Powder and pressing molds · Special wear parts

Cold work dies

Cold stamping, blanking and piercing dies

For sheet-metal press tools where wear resistance, compressive strength and dimensional stability are the main requirements.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Long-run wear. Suitable for long-run blanking, stamping, piercing and trimming dies where abrasion resistance is the main failure control.
Cr12MoV	GB workhorse. A practical Chinese standard choice for precision blanking, silicon steel punching, trimming and high-volume cold-work dies.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Balanced choice. Better toughness than high-carbon D-series grades, useful when the die needs wear resistance but cannot be too brittle.
DC53	Chipping control. A stronger upgrade candidate when D2-type tooling chips or cracks under repeated stamping load.
대체 등급
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	Short-medium run. Good for smaller or less demanding press tools where easy heat treatment and machinability matter.
O2 / 1.2842	Stable oil-hardening. Useful for forming, blanking and trimming tools needing low distortion during hardening.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	High-speed blanking. Consider for high-volume blanking or shearing of steel sheet, stainless steel or high-carbon steel.
Cr12Mo1V1	D2 equivalent. Chinese equivalent of D2/1.2379/SKD11 for high-wear cold-work tooling.

Selection note. D3, D6 and Cr12 can be used for very high abrasion, but they are less forgiving under shock load. For impact-heavy dies, use S7, S1, L6 or 6CrW2Si instead.

Deep drawing, forming, bending and coining dies

For cold forming tools where the steel must resist wear while keeping enough toughness to avoid cracking at radii and corners.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	General forming. A strong balanced grade for forming, bending, coining and drawing dies where both wear and toughness matter.
Cr12MoV	Complex cold dies. Good for large-section and complex cold-work dies requiring wear resistance and dimensional stability.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Wear priority. Suitable when the main failure is abrasive wear rather than cracking or impact fracture.
DC53	D2 upgrade. A better candidate when D2-level wear resistance is needed but chipping risk is higher.
대체 등급
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	Simple tooling. Useful for short- to medium-run forming and bending dies with moderate wear demand.
O2 / 1.2842	Low distortion. Suitable for forming, blanking, trimming and flanging dies needing stable size after hardening.
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Pure abrasion. Use where pressure is gradual and impact is low.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Tough forming. Consider where impact and fracture resistance are more important than maximum abrasion resistance.

Selection note. For severe impact, avoid selecting only by hardness. Toughness often decides die life.

Cold heading, cold extrusion and cold punches

For cold tools exposed to high compressive stress, sliding wear and repeated impact during heading or extrusion.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Wear-resistant. Used for cold heading dies, cold extrusion dies and pressure machine punches when abrasion is strong.
Cr12MoV	Heavy cold work. Good for heavy-duty cold extrusion dies, cold-heading dies and bolt or nut forming punches.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Tougher alternative. Useful when D-series grades are too brittle for the tooling load.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	High compressive strength. A premium option for cold extrusion punches, die inserts, swaging dies and forming rolls.
대체 등급
S7 / 1.2355	Impact resistance. Use where cold punches fail by chipping, shock fracture or breakage.
S1 / 1.2550	Severe shock. Strong candidate for intricate cold-heading tools where cracking risk is high.
6CrW2Si	Heavy-duty GB. Useful for cold-heading punches and heavy cold-pressing dies under high load.
M42 / 1.3247 / SKH59	Extreme wear. Consider for special cold-forging, thread rolling or deep-drawing tools needing very high hardness and compressive strength.

Selection note. Cold heading tools often fail from a mix of compression, friction and impact. A harder steel is not always the safer steel.

Rolling and threading

Thread rolling dies and thread rolling rolls

For flat or circular thread rolling tools exposed to continuous sliding friction and high surface pressure.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Long service life. A common high-wear choice for thread rolling dies and thread rolling rolls.
Cr12MoV	High-friction work. Widely used for flat thread rolling boards and circular thread rolling wheels.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Stable and tough. Suitable for flat and circular thread rolling dies, especially when ground after hardening.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	High-performance. Good for thread rolling dies needing stronger wear resistance and compressive strength.
대체 등급
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Low impact. Good when wear is severe and sudden shock is limited.
D6 / 1.2436 / SKD2	Severe sliding wear. Useful where high-carbide abrasion resistance is the priority.
9SiCr	Low-alloy option. Used for thread rolling dies and flat thread rolling boards in lower-speed applications.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Cost-effective. Can be used for thread rolling dies and small wear-resistant rolling components.

Selection note. If the thread rolling die chips at the edge, consider moving from D3 or D6 toward A2, DC53 or S7 depending on the load.

절단 및 전단

Cold shear blades, slitter knives and cutting blades

For cutting tools where edge retention, chipping resistance and stock thickness must be balanced.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Edge wear. A standard choice for shear knives, slitter knives, cold shear blades and cutting templates.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Light-medium gauge. Useful for cold shear blades, slitter knives, chipper knives and rotary knives with better toughness than D2.
Cr12MoV	Cold cutting. Suitable for cold shear blades, slitter knives, cold-cutting scissors and circular saw blades.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Heavy stock. Better where cold shears must cut thick or heavy stock without fracture.
대체 등급
S7 / 1.2355	Shock load. Good for shear blades and cutters that see impact or sudden loading.
S1 / 1.2550	Heavy cold shear. Strong choice for cold shearing of heavy plates and billets.
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Heavy wear. Useful for heavy-duty slitter knives and shear blades where edge wear dominates.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	Cutting performance. Consider for demanding knives, saws and high-wear cutting edges.

Selection note. For thick plate shearing, fracture resistance is often more important than maximum wear resistance.

Drawing tools

Wire drawing dies and tube drawing dies

For tools exposed to continuous sliding friction, abrasive wear and high surface pressure.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Classic choice. Explicitly suitable for wire drawing dies because of strong resistance to continuous sliding friction.
D6 / 1.2436 / SKD2	Severe abrasion. Good for drawing dies and wire drawing dies where pure abrasion is the main failure mode.
Cr12	Traditional high-wear. Used for wire drawing dies and cold extrusion matrices under low impact.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Wear and seizing control. Used for cold-drawing dies, including seamless steel tube drawing tools when surface treated.
대체 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Dimensional stability. Useful for drawing dies requiring wear resistance and heat-treatment stability.
Cr12MoV	Tougher Cr12 series. Better than Cr12 where higher toughness and larger sections are required.
Cr12Mo1V1	D2-type GB. Good for high-wear drawing and cold-work tooling.

Selection note. If drawing dies crack, move away from maximum-carbide grades and review radius, lubrication and heat treatment.

정밀 공구

Precision gauges, plug gauges and measuring tools

For tools requiring wear resistance and very small dimensional movement after heat treatment.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Nondeforming. Used for precision gauges, ring and plug gauges, squares, straight edges and micrometer anvils.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Stable air-hardening. Excellent for solid gauges, plug gauges, ring gauges, templates and master hubs.
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	Oil-hardening. Good for thread gauges, plug gauges, ring gauges, snap gauges and engraving tools.
O2 / 1.2842	Low distortion. Suitable for plug, ring and fixed snap gauges, squares, templates and micrometer anvils.
대체 등급
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	High hardness. Used for gauge blocks, plug gauges, thread ring gauges and measuring gears.
Cr12MoV	Micro-deformation. Good for precision measuring tools and standard tools requiring long service life.
Cr12Mo1V1	High stability. Good for precision gauges and instruments requiring strict tolerance.

Selection note. For precision tools, heat treatment distortion and grinding allowance matter as much as final hardness.

플라스틱 금형

General plastic injection molds and mold cavities

For ordinary thermoplastic injection molds where machinability, polishability and dimensional stability are important.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
P20 / 1.2311	Standard mold steel. The standard choice for general plastic injection molds, blow molds and extrusion molds supplied in pre-hardened condition.
P20+Ni / 1.2738	Large molds. Better for large or deep mold blocks where uniform hardness through thick sections is required.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Tough mold steel. Useful for plastic injection, compression and transfer molds requiring higher strength and toughness.
S7 / 1.2355	Shock-resistant molds. Good for automatic molding operations or molds exposed to mechanical shock.
대체 등급
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Wear-resistant inserts. Can be used for plastic molds requiring dimensional stability and wear resistance.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Abrasive plastics. Useful for thermosetting resin molds or inserts exposed to abrasive material.
O2 / 1.2842	Small mold inserts. Adaptable for plastic molds where machinability and surface stability are useful.

Selection note. For ordinary injection molds, P20 or P20+Ni is usually more practical than fully hardened cold-work die steel.

Large automotive, appliance and deep plastic molds

For large mold blocks where uniform hardness, machinability, repairability and stable cavity machining are the main concerns.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
P20+Ni / 1.2738	Large mold blocks. The preferred choice for large automotive bumpers, dashboards, appliance housings and deep mold blocks.
P20 / 1.2311	Medium molds. Practical for general mold cavities when section size is not too large.
5CrNiMo	Large tough blocks. Can be used for large plastic injection molds and complex mold components needing uniform hardness and toughness.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Large sections. Useful where deep hardenability and fracture resistance in large blocks are required.
대체 등급
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Higher strength. Consider when mold service includes higher strength demand, thermal load or tougher service conditions.
4Cr5MoSiV1	H13 equivalent. Chinese equivalent for high-strength hot-work and mold applications.

Selection note. Standard P20 can have hardenability limits in massive molds. For deep sections, P20+Ni or 1.2738 is safer.

High-polish, textured or transparent plastic molds

For mold surfaces requiring better polishability, cosmetic surface finish or stable etching response.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
P20+Ni / 1.2738	Polish and texture. Good for aesthetic plastic parts, photo-etched textures and moderately demanding transparent or translucent parts.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	ESR option. High-purity ESR H13 is used where high surface polishability is required.
S7 / 1.2355	Clear plastics. Can reach high hardness with excellent polishability for clear plastic mold applications.
P20 / 1.2311	General polish. Suitable for standard plastic molds requiring good machinability and polishability.
대체 등급
P20+Ni / 1.2738	Higher hardness. Higher-hardness P20+Ni (1.2738 HH) variants improve wear resistance and polished surface quality in smaller molds.

Selection note. For optical-level molds, steel cleanliness and ESR quality may be more decisive than grade name alone.

Abrasive molds

Abrasive plastics, ceramic, brick and refractory molds

For molds processing abrasive fillers, ceramic powder, refractory material or glass-fiber reinforced plastics.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Abrasive inserts. Used for molds exposed to abrasive materials, ceramic or brick molds and thermosetting resin molds.
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Pure abrasion. Good for ceramic shaping tools, brick molds and powder forming molds under low impact.
D6 / 1.2436 / SKD2	Severe abrasion. A strong high-carbide choice for ceramic shaping tools, brick molds and powder metallurgy forming molds.
Cr12MoV	Tougher Cr12 series. Used for thermosetting plastic molds and refractory brick-forming molds, especially with surface treatment.
대체 등급
Cr12	High wear. Suitable for abrasive thermosetting plastics and ceramic pressing molds when impact is limited.
P20 carburized	Tough core. Useful for compression and transfer molds needing a hard case with a tough core.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Cost-effective wear. Can be used for thermosetting plastic molding dies and abrasive refractory brick molds.

Selection note. For abrasive molds with impact load, do not use brittle high-carbide steels without checking toughness and heat treatment.

다이캐스팅

Zinc, lead and low-temperature die casting molds

For lower-melting-point metal die casting where full H13-level hot-work performance may not always be necessary.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
P20 / 1.2311	Low-temperature casting. Suitable for short- to medium-run zinc and lead die-casting molds.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Dimensional stability. Can be used for die-casting dies for lower-melting-point metals like zinc and lead.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Higher duty. Use when thermal fatigue, erosion and service temperature are more demanding.
5CrNiMo	Less demanding molds. Can be used for die-casting molds and hot-pressing dies for non-ferrous metals under controlled temperature.
대체 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Abrasive mold parts. May be used for die-casting molds or inserts when wear resistance is prioritized.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Thermal shock. Useful for general die-casting dies, inserts and cores where toughness and thermal shock resistance are important.

Selection note. For aluminum or magnesium die casting, move toward H13 or H11 rather than P20.

Aluminum, magnesium and zinc die casting dies

For die casting dies, inserts, cores, plungers, slides, shot sleeves, nozzles and ejector pins exposed to heat checking and molten-metal erosion.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Industry standard. The standard material for aluminum, magnesium and zinc die-casting dies and components.
4Cr5MoSiV1	H13 equivalent. Chinese equivalent of H13 for die cavities, cores and inserts requiring thermal fatigue resistance.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Thermal shock. A strong choice for die-casting dies, inserts and cores where toughness and thermal shock resistance are critical.
4Cr5MoSiV	H11 equivalent. Chinese H11-type hot-work grade for aluminum alloy die-casting molds and hot-work tooling.
대체 등급
H10 / 1.2365 / SKD7	Chromium hot-work. Useful in hot forming, extrusion and casting-related tooling.
5CrNiMo	Lower demand. Can be used for non-ferrous die-casting molds where surface temperature remains controlled.
P20 / 1.2311	Zinc or lead only. Consider for low-temperature zinc or lead casting, not severe aluminum die casting.

Selection note. For severe aluminum die casting, heat checking and washing resistance usually decide grade choice. H13-type steels are the safer starting point.

Brass, copper and high-temperature die casting dies

For die casting applications with higher pouring temperature and stronger thermal softening demand than aluminum or zinc casting.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H21 / 1.2581 / SKD5	High heat. A tungsten hot-work steel for brass and copper-base alloy die-casting dies, inserts, cores, plungers and ejector pins.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	General hot-work. Useful where a balance of toughness, heat checking resistance and wear resistance is required.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	인성. Consider where thermal shock and mechanical shock are stronger concerns.
4Cr5MoSiV1	H13 equivalent. Chinese H13-type grade for high-temperature die casting and hot-work service.
대체 등급
H10 / 1.2365 / SKD7	Moderate heat. Can be used for hot-work tooling under less severe conditions than tungsten hot-work steels.

Selection note. H21 resists heat and softening well, but it is less tolerant of thermal shock. Preheating and avoiding aggressive water cooling are important.

Hot work tooling

Hot extrusion dies, mandrels, dummy blocks and liners

For hot extrusion of aluminum, magnesium, brass, copper alloys, steel and high-temperature alloys.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Light metals. Widely used for aluminum and magnesium extrusion dies, mandrels, dummy blocks, press liners and rams.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Tough extrusion. Used for aluminum, magnesium, brass and steel extrusion tooling including dies, mandrels and liners.
H21 / 1.2581 / SKD5	Brass and copper. A strong candidate for hot extrusion of brass, copper alloys, steel and refractory metals.
4Cr5MoSiV1	H13 equivalent. Chinese H13-type grade for solid extrusion dies, die holders, mandrels and liners.
대체 등급
H10 / 1.2365 / SKD7	Hot extrusion. Used for hot-extrusion dies and related high-temperature tooling.
4Cr5MoSiV	H11 equivalent. Used for hot extrusion dies, piercing tools and mandrels, especially light metals and copper alloys.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Cold aluminum extrusion. Can be used for cold extrusion dies for aluminum alloys, not severe hot extrusion.

Selection note. For copper or brass extrusion, H21 may be necessary. For aluminum extrusion, H13 or H11 is usually the practical starting point.

Hot forging, hot forming and hot heading dies

For tooling exposed to high temperature, repeated impact, thermal fatigue and long contact with heated workpieces.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Press forging. Strong for hot forging dies, die inserts, hot heading dies and hot forming matrices.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Shock resistance. Good for forging dies, die inserts, hot heading, hot swaging and hot piercing tools.
5CrNiMo	Hammer forging. A standard choice for medium, large and extra-large hammer forging dies and screw press forging dies.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Large blocks. Useful for large forging dies, drop-forging dies and hammer die blocks where toughness dominates.
대체 등급
H21 / 1.2581 / SKD5	Severe heat. Use for severe hot-forging operations where prolonged high-temperature contact and abrasion are priority.
H10 / 1.2365 / SKD7	Hot forming. Suitable for hot forging dies, forming matrices and hot-heading dies.
S7 / 1.2355	Moderate hot work. Can be used for medium hot-work dies, hot-swaging dies and hot-stamping applications.

Selection note. For large hammer dies, fracture resistance and deep hardenability are often more important than the highest hot hardness.

Hot shearing, hot punching, hot piercing and hot trimming

For tools cutting or piercing hot metal where hot strength, shock resistance and thermal fatigue resistance are needed.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Severe hot shear. Suitable for hot shear blades, hot punches, piercers and mandrels under high thermal and mechanical stress.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Tough hot work. Good for hot shear blades, billet shears, hot punches and hot piercing tools.
H21 / 1.2581 / SKD5	High-temperature edge. Useful for heavy-duty hot shear blades, hot punching tools and hot trimming dies.
S7 / 1.2355	Moderate heat and impact. Commonly used for hot shear blades, hot punching tools and hot piercing tools.
대체 등급
S1 / 1.2550	Shock plus heat. Can be used in hot punching, hot shearing, heavy hot-shear blades and hot forming tools.
H10 / 1.2365 / SKD7	Hot punches. Used for hot punches and punching dies for piercing hot metals.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Hot trimming only. Can be used for hot trimming of forgings at lower hardness when toughness is improved.

Selection note. For hot trimming, tempering and working hardness must be chosen carefully to avoid brittle edge failure.

Hot forging

Large hammer forging dies and massive die blocks

For massive forging dies where impact toughness, deep hardenability and resistance to fracture are critical.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
5CrNiMo	Primary choice. A common standard for medium, large and extra-large hammer forging dies, including massive die blocks.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Nickel toughness. A strong choice for large forging dies and hammer die blocks because nickel improves toughness and deep hardening.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Insert option. Useful for hot-forging inserts where thermal shock and mechanical shock are important.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Higher heat. Useful when thermal fatigue and heat checking resistance are stronger requirements.
대체 등급
4Cr5MoSiV	H11 equivalent. Can be used for forging dies and hot-work tools needing toughness and thermal fatigue resistance.
4Cr5MoSiV1	H13 equivalent. Useful for hammer forging, press forging and precision forging dies.

Selection note. For very large dies, check section thickness and required core hardness before selecting the grade.

High speed cutting

General drills, taps, reamers, milling cutters and broaches

For high-speed cutting tools where red hardness, edge retention, grindability and cost must be balanced.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	Universal HSS. The general-purpose standard for twist drills, reamers, milling cutters, taps, broaches, hobs and saws.
M35 / 1.3243 / SKH55	5% cobalt. Use when higher hot hardness and tool life are needed while keeping good grindability.
M42 / 1.3247 / SKH59	8% cobalt. Use for severe machining, high cutting heat and difficult-to-cut workpieces.
대체 등급
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	Low-speed tools. Suitable for taps, threading dies, reamers, broaches, knives and saws used at lower speeds.
O2 / 1.2842	Low-medium speed. Useful for cutters, saws, threading dies and taps that do not require hot hardness.
9SiCr	Low-speed cutting. Used for hand reamers, twist drills, taps, dies, circular saws and milling cutters in low-speed work.

Selection note. Do not use O-series or low-alloy steels for high-speed machining where cutting heat is high.

Machining stainless steel, titanium, superalloys and hardened steel

For cutting materials that generate high heat or strong abrasive wear at the cutting edge.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
M42 / 1.3247 / SKH59	Severe machining. Best suited for nickel-base superalloys, titanium alloys, austenitic stainless steels and heat-treated high-strength steels.
M35 / 1.3243 / SKH55	High-performance HSS. Good for larger or special cutting tools requiring better hot hardness than M2.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	Economic baseline. Works for general cutting where material hardness and cutting heat are not extreme.
대체 등급
PM M35	Intricate tools. Powder metallurgy M35 improves toughness and grindability for intricate or intermittent tools.

Selection note. M42 is not a blanket replacement for M2. Low-rigidity setups, interrupted cuts or soft materials may cause micro-chipping.

절삭 공구

Bandsaw blades, circular saws, paper knives and woodworking tools

For saws and knives where edge holding, toughness, hot hardness and cost must be matched to the cutting condition.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	General saws. Common for circular saws, bandsaws, hacksaw blades, paper knives and woodworking tools.
M42 / 1.3247 / SKH59	Bimetal saw teeth. Frequently used for high-performance bandsaw tooth tips cutting superalloys, stainless steels and heat-treated steels.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Cold knives. Suitable for shear knives, slitter knives, scissors and woodworking knives where wear resistance matters.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Tough woodworking. Used for woodworking saws and knives where toughness is important.
대체 등급
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	Low-speed knives. Good for paper knives, woodworking knives and lower-speed cutting tools.
Cr12MoV	Cold cutting. Useful for cold-cutting scissors and circular saw blades.

Selection note. For hot cutting or high-speed cutting, choose HSS grades instead of ordinary cold-work tool steels.

Bearing and rolling contact

Bearings, bearing races, balls and rollers

For rolling-contact components requiring high hardness, wear resistance and fatigue resistance.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
52100 / 1.3505 / 100Cr6	Bearing standard. The standard material for bearing races, balls, spherical rollers, straight rollers and tapered rollers.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	GB bearing steel. Used for bearing rings, steel balls, tapered rollers and needle rollers.
대체 등급
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	High-temperature bearing. Can be used for specialized ball and roller bearings operating at higher temperature.
GCr15	Tooling crossover. Also used for wear-resistant precision machine parts and small rolling mill rolls.

Selection note. For bearing performance, steel cleanliness and heat treatment quality are critical, not only chemical composition.

Machine parts

Wear-resistant bushings, spindles, shafts, cams and machine parts

For mechanical parts requiring high wear resistance, strength, sliding contact resistance or high surface hardness.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
52100 / 1.3505 / 100Cr6	Wear and fatigue. Good for high-wear machine parts, spindles and rolling-contact components.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Cost-effective wear. Used for fuel injectors, precision lead screws, machine tool shafts, spring collets and load-bearing parts.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	High wear. Used for guide bars, pipe clips, bushings, mandrels, knurls and lathe centers.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Balanced wear. Useful for bushings, drill bushings, cams, cam followers, clutch plates and pawls.
대체 등급
O1 / 1.2510 / SKS3	General parts. Used for cams, bearings, arbors, spindles, collets, bushings, guides and machine ways.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Tough machine parts. Used for clutch parts, gears, pinions, drive shafts, ratchets, arbors and spindles.
H13 nitrided	Surface wear. Nitrided H13 can be used for heavy-duty machine parts needing wear and fatigue resistance.

Selection note. For structural parts, do not select only by wear resistance. Toughness, section size and heat treatment depth must be checked.

Shock-resisting tools

Battering tools, chisels, rivet sets and pneumatic tools

For tools exposed to repetitive impact, shock loading and crack propagation risk.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
S7 / 1.2355	Highest shock resistance. A premier choice for pneumatic tools, heavy-duty chisels, rivet sets, rivet busters, drift pins and driver bits.
S1 / 1.2550	Tungsten chisel steel. Used for hand and pneumatic chisels, rivet sets, rivet busters, bolt clippers and driver bits.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Nickel toughness. Used for rivet sets, hand chisels, rock drills and impact-heavy hardware.
6CrW2Si	Shock plus wear. Useful where heavy shock and higher wear resistance are both needed.
대체 등급
5CrNiMo	Large impact tools. Can support heavy-duty cold-working and impact tooling where deep hardenability is needed.

Selection note. D2, D3, D6 and Cr12 are usually poor first choices for severe battering tools because brittleness becomes the main risk.

Impact cold work

Heavy plate punching and high-impact cold work

For punching or cold-working thick stock where ordinary wear-resistant die steels may crack or break.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
S1 / 1.2550	Thick plate punching. Recommended when punching steel plates above about 3 mm or where hole diameter approaches stock thickness.
S7 / 1.2355	Impact punch. Good for cold-extrusion, cold-heading, draw and piercing punches where breakage is the main problem.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Fracture resistance. Useful for brake dies, press-brake dies, cold coining dies, header punches and knockout pins.
6CrW2Si	Heavy-duty GB. Useful for large and medium cold blanking dies and heavy-duty punches under high load.
대체 등급
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Medium impact. Consider when wear resistance still matters but D2 is too brittle.
DC53	Higher toughness than D2. Good when D2-type dies chip during stamping or cold forming.

Selection note. For heavy impact cold work, a lower-wear but tougher grade can give longer actual tool life than a high-carbide grade.

High-strength components

Aerospace, high-stress structural and turbine components

For highly stressed parts requiring high tensile strength, toughness, fatigue resistance or elevated-temperature strength.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	Ultra-high strength. Used for landing gear components, airframe parts, rocket motor cases and helicopter rotor shafts.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	High-stress components. Used for critical structural applications and highly stressed aerospace components.
S7 / 1.2355	Fracture toughness. Used for landing gear components, helicopter rotors and other highly stressed components.
4Cr5MoSiV	Hot structural. Used for aircraft, rocket and turbine components operating at moderately elevated temperature.
대체 등급
52100 / 1.3505 / 100Cr6	Bearing components. Used where rolling-contact fatigue and bearing performance are needed.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Tough machine parts. Useful for gears, shafts and heavy-duty machine elements requiring toughness.

Selection note. Structural applications require engineering approval. Do not treat tooling recommendations as a finished-part design specification.

Flexing components

Springs, torsion bars and repeated flexing components

For parts exposed to repeated flexing, high tensile stress and fatigue loading.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
S7 / 1.2355	Flex and torsion. Used for torsion bars, leaf springs, reed springs and split collets.
S1 / 1.2550	Shock-resisting family. Shock-resisting steels were historically developed for spring applications where fatigue resistance is important.
H11 / 1.2343 / SKD6	High tensile strength. Used for torsion bars, leaf springs, reed springs and split collets in high-strength conditions.
L6 / 1.2714 / SKT4	Tough flexing parts. Useful where impact toughness and fatigue resistance are required.
대체 등급
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Elastic limit. Can be used for spring collets and small high-load mechanical parts.

Selection note. Spring and fatigue parts depend heavily on design stress, heat treatment and surface quality.

Rolls and rollers

Cold work rolls, forming rolls and straightening rollers

For cylindrical tools under continuous contact, compressive stress and sliding or rolling wear.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	Thin-gauge roll forming. Used for forming rolls, shaping rollers, straightening rollers, engraving rollers and cold mill rollers.
A2 / 1.2363 / SKD12	Balanced rolls. Used for cold-working rolls, work rolls, backup rolls, forming rolls and straightening rollers.
D6 / 1.2436 / SKD2	High abrasion. Used for straightening rollers, forming rolls and thread rolling dies.
Cr12MoV	Cold rolling tooling. Good for high-wear cold-work rolling and forming tools.
대체 등급
9SiCr	Low-alloy roll option. Used for cold-rolling mill rolls and straightening rolls.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Small rolls. Used for small rolling mill rolls and wear-resistant rollers.
H13 / 1.2344 / SKD61	Hot rolls. Use H13 or H11-type steels for hot rolling, short runs or elevated-temperature rolls.

Selection note. For roll forming, contact stress, strip material and regrinding plan should be checked with the grade choice.

Powder and pressing molds

Powder metallurgy pressing molds and powder forming tools

For powder compaction tools where abrasive powder and high compressive stress cause rapid wear.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
D3 / 1.2080 / SKD1	Abrasive powder. Used for powder forming molds where massive carbides resist abrasion.
D6 / 1.2436 / SKD2	High abrasion. Recommended for powder metallurgy forming molds and abrasive shaping tools.
Cr12MoV	Wear and toughness. Good for powder and refractory pressing molds requiring better toughness than Cr12.
GCr15 / 52100 / 1.3505	Pressing molds. Used for powder metallurgy pressing molds and highly abrasive refractory brick molds.
대체 등급
S1 / 1.2550	Impact pressing. Can be used for some powder-pressing molds where shock resistance is useful.
D2 / 1.2379 / SKD11	General high-wear. Useful for molds exposed to abrasive powder or filler materials.

Selection note. For abrasive powder tools, surface treatment, polishing and lubrication can strongly affect die life.

Special wear parts

Metal injection molding wear parts and precision cutting bits

For complex medium- to high-volume wear parts requiring high hardness and precision geometry.

등급	Why it is recommended
주요 등급
M42 / 1.3247 / SKH59	MIM powder. M42 powder can be used in powder injection molding for precision cutting bits, crimping jaws and complex wear parts.
M35 / 1.3243 / SKH55	PM option. Powder metallurgy M35 improves carbide uniformity, toughness and grindability for intricate tools.
M2 / 1.3343 / SKH51	HSS baseline. Useful for high-wear precision tooling when M42-level hot hardness is not required.
대체 등급
52100 / 1.3505 / 100Cr6	Wear components. Consider for high-wear machine parts when rolling-contact or sliding wear resistance is required.

Selection note. For MIM or powder routes, powder specification and manufacturing process are as important as the grade name.