O1 Tool Steel: Unrivaled Performance for Demanding Applications
The Ideal Choice for Precision Tooling, Dies, and Wear-Resistant Components
Maximize tool life, minimize downtime, and achieve superior results with our premium O1 tool steel
Looking for a reliable O1 tool steel supplier? Aobo Steel provides high-quality O1 tool steel with excellent wear resistance and machinability, ensuring top application performance.
What is O1 tool steel? O1 tool steel is a low-alloy cold work die steel. This steel has a certain degree of hardenability and wear resistance, with minimal quenching deformation. The carbide distribution is uniform, and the particles are fine. Manufacturers typically use O1 tool steel for manufacturing cold punching dies with small cross-sections, complex shapes, and various gauges and measuring tools.
O1 tool steel Applications
Cutting Tools
Toolmakers widely use O1 for cutting tools such as chisels, drills, and knife blades because it not only retains a sharp edge but also offers excellent wear resistance.Punches and Dies
O1’s toughness and wear resistance make it popular for punches and dies that endure repeated high-impact forces.Knives and Blades
O1 is highly regarded in the knife-making industry for its ability to hold a sharp edge while offering good toughness. This makes it ideal for knives, axes, and other blades.Shear Blades
Engineers often use O1 tool steel in shear blades since high hardness and edge retention are critical for effectively cutting through tough materials.
High Wear Resistance
O1 tool steel is made to withstand some pretty brutal conditions. Its endurance guarantees minimizing wear, even after long-term usage, extending the lifetime of tools and reducing maintenance costs.
Exceptional Toughness
Reliability is key. Under extreme pressure, O1 tool steel remains strong while other types develop cracks and fractures, making it suitable for high-stress applications.
Introduction to O1 tool steel
O1 steel has a relatively high manganese content, along with chromium and tungsten, which enhances its hardening ability, making intense water quenching unnecessary. Oil quenching can achieve a hardness of up to 62HRC. The steel also exhibits good machinability, wear resistance, stable heat treatment performance, and minimal dimensional deformation, but its toughness and corrosion resistance are relatively weak.
O1 steel composition
| Element | Carbon (C) | Manganese (Mn) | Chromium (Cr) | Tungsten (W) | Vanadium (V) | Silicon (Si) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) |
| Content (%) | 0.85 – 1.00 | 1.00 – 1.40 | 0.40 – 0.60 | 0.40 – 0.60 | 0.30 max | 0.10 – 0.40 | 0.030 max | 0.030 max |
O1 steel equivalent
| Standard | Equivalent Grade |
| USA (AISI) | O1 |
| Germany (DIN, Werkstoff) | 1.2510 (X153CrMoV12) |
| Japan (JIS) | SKS3 |
| China (GB/T) | 9CrWMn |
O1 steel properties
| Property | Value | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.81 g/cm³ | Hardened to 62 HRC |
| Electrical Conductivity | 7.4% IACS | – |
| Yield Tensile Strength | 58 ksi | Annealed |
| Shear Modulus | 11,200 ksi | – |
| Shear Strength | 58 ksi | Annealed |
| Fatigue Strength | 40 ksi | Annealed |
| Elongation at Break | 20% | Annealed |
| Machinability | 85-95% of a 1% carbon steel | – |
O1 steel heat treatment
Isothermal annealing process after forging
| Process | Heating Temperature (°C) | Holding Time (h) | Tempering Temperature (°C) | Tempering Time (h) | Cooling Method | Hardness (HBW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isothermal annealing process after forging | 780 ~ 800 | 2 ~ 3 | 670 ~ 720 | 2 ~ 3 | Furnace cooling to below 550°C, then air cooling | 197 ~ 241 |
Quenching Specifications
| Preheating Temperature (°C) | Heating Temperature (°C) | Quenching Medium | Quenching Medium Temperature (°C) | Quenching Method | Hardness (HRC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650 | 820 ~ 840 | Oil | 20 ~ 60 | Oil Quenching | 64 ~ 66 |
Isothermal quenching process
| Heating Temperature (°C) | Equalizing Temperature (°C) | Equalizing Time (h) | Heat Treatment Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 ~ 840 | 260 ~ 300 | ≤1 | The base structure is martensite + retained austenite + residual carbide. A suitable amount of bainite is distributed on the high-strength martensite base. |
O1 steel hardness
The hardness of O1 tool steel depends on its heat treatment condition:
| Condition | Hardness (HRC) |
|---|---|
| Annealed (Softened for machining) | 20 – 22 HRC |
| After Hardening & Quenching | 62 – 64 HRC |
| After Tempering (Typical range) | 57 – 62 HRC |
Forging Process Specifications
| Item | Heating Temperature/°C | Initial Forging Temperature/°C | Final Forging Temperature/°C | Cooling Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Ingot | 1150 ~ 1200 | 1100 ~ 1150 | ≥850 | Slow Cooling |
| Steel Ring | 1100 ~ 1150 | 1050 ~ 1100 | ≥850 | Slow Cooling |
O1 vs. O2 steel
O1 and O2 look like pretty much the same steel, and we’ve provided some data comparing them.
| Property | O1 Tool Steel | O2 Tool Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Content | 0.90-1.00% | 1.60% |
| Hardness (HRC) | 57-62 | 62-66 |
| Wear Resistance | Good (C, Cr, W) | Better (Higher C, V) |
| Toughness | High | Lower |
| Machinability | High | Lower |
| Corrosion Resistance | Poor, mild (0.5% Cr) | Poor (Minimal Cr) |
| Cost | Lower, widely available | Higher, less common |
| Uses | General tools, dies, punches | Cutting tools, precision dies |
Try O1 Tool Steel and Feel the Difference!
Why settle for less when you can have something awesome for your manufacturing? Our O1 tool steel is tough, super easy to work with, and totally reliable—even for the hardest jobs. Check out how it can make your tools and operations better than ever!
O1 Steel Equivalents: DIN 1.2510 and JIS SKS3
O1 steel, equivalent to DIN 1.2510 in German and JIS SKS3 in Japanese. They are all low-alloy cold work tool steel and can be interchanged with these grades. They exhibit good plasticity, toughness, wear resistance, hardenability, and edge retention, with minor quenching distortion and a uniform, fine carbide distribution.
Introduction to DIN 1.2510 steel
1.2510 Chemical Composition
| Carbon (C) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | Manganese (Mn) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) |
| 1.40 – 1.60 | 4.00 – 5.00 | 1.00 – 2.00 | 0.50 – 1.00 | 0.20 – 0.60 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
1.2510 steel Heat treatment
| Process | Temperature Range | Purpose | Cooling Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealing | 800°C – 850°C (1472°F – 1562°F) | Softens the steel for improved machinability | Slow cooling in furnace |
| Hardening | 1000°C – 1100°C (1832°F – 2012°F) | Increases hardness and wear resistance | Oil or air quenching |
| Tempering | 500°C – 600°C (932°F – 1112°F) | Reduces brittleness and improves toughness | Air cooling |
Introduction to JIS SKS3 steel
SKS3 Chemical Composition
| Carbon (C) | Silicon (Si) | Manganese (Mn) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) | Chromium (Cr) | Tungsten (W) |
| 0.90–1.00 | ≤0.35 | 0.90–1.20 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 | 0.50–1.00 | 0.50–1.00 |
SKS3 steel Propertites
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Hardness (Annealed) | 217 HB |
| Hardness (Quenched and Tempered) | 55-64 HRC |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 1690-2000 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 1500-2200 MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 172-193 GPa |
FAQs
- What is O1 steel good for?
O1 steel is excellent for precision tools and small cold work molds that require good edge retention, low heat treat distortion, and oil hardening.O1 steel is particularly suitable for the following applications:
Precision gauges such as plug gauges, ring gauges, etc.
Cold work dies, especially those requiring good edge retention:
Punches
Trimming dies
Cold heading and spinning dies
Rock drills and scissors
Woodworking tools
Drills and broaches
Powder compacting dies - What is O1 steel equivalent to?
German DIN grade: 1.2510
Japan JIS standard grade: SKS3 or SKS31
China GB standard grade: 9CrWMn
British BS standard grade: BO1
France NF standard grade: 90MnWCrV5
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard grade: 95MnWCr1
Sweden SS standard grade: 2140
Japan Daido (DAIDO) standard grade GOA
Korea KS standard grade STS3
Russian ГОСТ standard: 9ХВГ - What is the difference between 01 and A2 steel?
O1 steel is an oil-hardened tool steel with low heat treatment distortion and is suitable for precision tools; A2 steel is an air-cooled tool steel with higher wear resistance and good toughness. - Is O1 better than 1095?
If you are looking for the ultimate in hardness and wear resistance and can accept the risk of distortion, choose 1095 steel; if the balance of hardness and toughness is more important and the risk of distortion is lower, O1 steel is usually a better choice. - How to quench O1 steel?
O1 steel is quenched by quenching in oil. - Is O1 steel easy to machine?
O1 steel is easy to machine in the annealed condition.
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