April 29, 2008 Many factors influence tool steel selection. Part
Iof this article focused on selecting the right cutting
clearance. Part II discusses properties to look for in tool
steel and the importance of heat treating, preparation for
production, coatings, lubricants, and the press on which the
tool will be used. Figure 1 Click to enlarge image The material
the punch is made from significantly influences its life. Among
the factors to consider when selecting the tool steel are its
hardness and thickness; material to be cut; cutting speed; how
much shock the punch will be subjected to; punch size; and the
desired quality of the cut edge. You should look for two
fundamental properties when selecting the tool steel for a
cutting punch—toughness and wear resistance. Toughness can be
defined as the tool steel's ability to withstand substantial
shock without breaking, and wear resistance is the steel's
ability to resist abrasive or adhesive erosion or breakdown.
During the metal cutting process, the punch is s