A2 Tool Steel

A2 tool steel is widely utilized across CNC turning, Swiss lathe operations, and cold forging processes due to its exceptional wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability. Its good machinability allows for efficient material removal and the production of precise components with tight tolerances in CNC turning and Swiss lathe operations. Moreover, in cold forging applications, A2 steel’s robustness enables it to withstand deformation forces while maintaining dimensional integrity, resulting in high-quality forged parts. In each of these machining processes, proper tooling selection, cutting parameters optimization, and lubrication management are critical to achieving superior performance and extending tool life.

A2 Tool Steel Datasheet (General Overview)

Chemical Composition:

Element	Percentage
Carbon (C)	0.95 – 1.05%
Manganese (Mn)	1.00% max
Chromium (Cr)	4.75 – 5.50%
Molybdenum (Mo)	1.10 – 1.60%
Vanadium (V)	0.15 – 0.50%

Physical Properties:

Density: ~7.86 g/cm³
Melting Point: ~1465°C
Thermal Conductivity: ~24.2 W/(m·K)
Electrical Conductivity: ~28 MS/m
Specific Heat: ~470 J/(kg·K)

Mechanical Properties (Approximate values after heat treatment):

Property	Value
Tensile Strength	~700 MPa
Yield Strength	~500 MPa
Elongation at Break	~10%
Hardness (Rockwell C)	~60 HRC

Heat Treatment:

Annealing: Heat at 820-870°C, followed by slow furnace cooling. This improves machinability.
Hardening: Austenitize at 845-870°C, then quench in air or pressurized gas.
Tempering: After hardening, temper at a specific temperature to achieve the desired hardness and toughness.

Processing Properties:

Machinability: A2 tool steel has good machinability, but its high hardness after heat treatment may require special tools.
Weldability: A2 can be welded using conventional methods, but it is important to follow proper pre- and post-welding procedures.

Surface Finish:

Typically supplied in the annealed or hardened and tempered condition. Additional surface treatments or coatings can be applied for specific applications.

Applications:

A2 tool steel is commonly used for various cutting tools, blanking and forming dies, punches, shear blades, and other applications where high wear resistance and toughness are required.

Get Your Parts Today!

We’ll quote for you within 8 hours, and ship within 3 days.

Types of A2 Tool Steel

A2 tool steel is commonly available in various forms to suit different applications and manufacturing processes. Some of the common types/forms of A2 tool steel include:

Plate:
- A2 tool steel plates are flat, rectangular pieces of steel with uniform thickness.
- Plates are often used in applications where flat surfaces are required, such as dies, molds, and precision tools.
Bar:
- A2 tool steel bars are cylindrical or rectangular solid bars with consistent cross-sectional dimensions.
- Bars are widely used in machining operations, such as CNC turning, milling, and drilling, to produce components with specific shapes and dimensions.
Round Bar:
- A2 tool steel round bars have a circular cross-section and are commonly used in applications requiring rotational symmetry, such as shafts, dowels, and fasteners.
Square Bar:
- A2 tool steel square bars have a square cross-section and are often used in applications requiring high strength and rigidity, such as tooling components and machine parts.
Sheet:
- A2 tool steel sheets are thin, flat pieces of steel with uniform thickness.
- Sheets are typically used in applications where flexibility and formability are required, such as stamping, bending, and forming operations.

Get Your Parts Today!

We’ll quote for you within 8 hours, and ship within 3 days.

What Types of Parts Should Consider A2 tool steel ?

A2 tool steel is a versatile material suitable for a wide range of applications that require high wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability. Here are some types of parts that are commonly made from A2 tool steel:

Cold Work Tooling:
- A2 tool steel is frequently used to manufacture cold work tooling, such as punches, dies, shear blades, and forming tools.
- These tools are subjected to high compressive loads and abrasive wear during operation, and A2 steel’s excellent wear resistance and toughness make it well-suited for such applications.
Precision Machine Components:
- A2 tool steel is used to produce precision machine components that require tight tolerances, such as gears, shafts, bushings, and cams.
- Its dimensional stability and good machinability allow for the production of accurate and reliable components in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing.
Stamping and Forming Dies:
- A2 tool steel is commonly used to manufacture stamping and forming dies for sheet metal and plastic components.
- The high wear resistance and toughness of A2 steel make it suitable for withstanding the repeated impact and deformation forces encountered during stamping and forming operations.
Injection Molding Components:
- A2 tool steel is utilized in injection molding applications to produce core and cavity inserts, ejector pins, and other critical components.
- Its high hardness and thermal stability allow for the production of durable and long-lasting molds that can withstand the high temperatures and pressures of the injection molding process.
Cutting and Trimming Tools:
- A2 tool steel is employed to manufacture cutting and trimming tools for various materials, including wood, plastics, and non-ferrous metals.
- Its excellent edge retention and ability to maintain sharpness under high cutting forces make it suitable for applications such as woodworking, plastic machining, and metalworking.
Industrial Knives and Blades:
- A2 tool steel is used to produce industrial knives and blades for cutting, shearing, and slicing applications.
- Its combination of high hardness, wear resistance, and toughness allows for the production of sharp and durable blades used in industries such as packaging, food processing, and paper manufacturing.

Get Your Parts Today!

We’ll quote for you within 8 hours, and ship within 3 days.

A2 Tool Steel Surface Treatment

A2 tool steel is a versatile and widely used material known for its excellent combination of toughness and wear resistance, making it suitable for various applications including tooling, dies, and industrial components. Surface treatments for A2 tool steel are typically aimed at improving its properties further or enhancing its resistance to wear, corrosion, or fatigue. Here are some common surface treatments for A2 tool steel:

Heat Treatment: A2 tool steel is often subjected to heat treatment processes such as quenching and tempering to achieve the desired hardness, toughness, and dimensional stability.
Nitriding: Nitriding involves diffusing nitrogen into the surface of the steel to form a hardened layer, which improves wear resistance and fatigue strength. This process is particularly effective for improving the performance of A2 tool steel in high-wear applications.
Surface Coatings: Various coatings such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings (e.g., TiN, TiCN, TiAlN) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings (e.g., TiCN, TiC) can be applied to the surface of A2 tool steel to enhance wear resistance, reduce friction, and improve cutting performance.
Surface Grinding: Precision surface grinding can be employed to achieve tight dimensional tolerances and a smooth surface finish on A2 tool steel components, which is essential for applications where tight tolerances and surface quality are critical.
Polishing: Polishing is often used to improve the aesthetic appearance of A2 tool steel components and to reduce surface roughness, which can enhance corrosion resistance and fatigue performance.
Shot Peening: Shot peening is a process where small spherical media (such as steel shot) is blasted onto the surface of the material to induce compressive residual stresses, which can improve fatigue life and resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
Passivation: Passivation is a chemical treatment process that removes free iron from the surface of stainless steel and improves its corrosion resistance by forming a protective oxide layer. While A2 tool steel is not stainless, passivation may still be used in certain applications to enhance corrosion resistance.

Similar Steel Grades For A2 Tool Steel

A2 tool steel is a common material used in various standards and specifications across different regions and industries. Here’s a comparison of A2 tool steel in some of the most commonly referenced standards:

AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) / ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials):
- A2 is a standard grade of air-hardening tool steel in the AISI/ASTM classification system.
- The ASTM standard for A2 tool steel is ASTM A681.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization):
- In the ISO standard system, A2 tool steel is designated as ISO 4957.
- The chemical composition and mechanical properties of A2 steel are specified in ISO 4957.
DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) / EN (European Norm):
- In the DIN/EN system, A2 tool steel is designated as X100CrMoV5-1 (material number 1.2363).
- DIN EN ISO 4957 is the European standard for tool steels, which includes specifications for A2 steel.
JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards):
- In the JIS standard system, A2 tool steel is designated as SKD12.
- JIS G4404 is the Japanese standard for tool steels, which includes specifications for SKD12 (A2).
GB (Guobiao Standards) / GB/T (Guobiao Tuijian, or National Standard):
- In the Chinese standard system, A2 tool steel is designated as Cr5Mo1V.
- GB/T 1299 is the Chinese standard for tool steels, which includes specifications for Cr5Mo1V (A2).

Get Your Parts Today!

We’ll quote for you within 8 hours, and ship within 3 days.

Who we are?

Established in 2012, MFG SOLUTION has been devoted to manufacturing small, custom precision machined parts. Our services encompass CNC machining, 5-axis CNC machining, CNC turning, Swiss-type lathe machining, cold forging, compression molding, silicone molding, and sheet metal fabrication. With a robust infrastructure including 5 sets of 5-axis CNC machines, 16 sets of 3-axis CNC machines, 20 automatic lathes, 18 CNC turning machines, 42 sets of cold heading and thread rolling equipment, along with other specialized tools, we possess the capability to fulfill diverse industry requirements. Supported by a team of over 60 engineering and technical professionals, we cater to a wide range of industries, from bicycles to automotive and electronic components, ensuring tailored solutions. Additionally, we offer optimized production strategies aimed at cost reduction, shortened production times, and precise part manufacturing. At MFG SOLUTION, expect design optimization, cost efficiency, rapid delivery, top-notch quality parts, and 24/7 customer support.