| Tool Steel Overview (Material overview)

Tool steel is broadly classified into carbon steel, alloy steel, and high-speed steel, and

It is capable of hardening and heat treatment, and is used to form or cut other materials such as molds, dies, and cutting tools.

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The martensite content of tool steel is a key factor in determining its mechanical properties.no see.

Martensite is formed when the austenite state is rapidly cooled (quenched), and

It plays an important role in increasing hardness, wear resistance, and impact resistance.

The representative classifications of tool steels are as follows:

The tool steel currently most frequently used and printed at Meltio is H11no see.

This material is classified as Meltio's official addable material, and

Detailed material property information can be found in the datasheet on the website.

In addition to this, Meltio H12, H13, H17, P20, M7 Lamination tests for the tool steel on the back have been completed.

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| H11 Tool Steel

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H11 is one of the most widely used tool steels,

It is primarily used in processes that require resistance to repeated impact and wear at high temperatures, such as forging, die casting, extrusion, and plastic molds.

This material has very strong resistance to wear, deformation, and high temperatures,

It is also suitable for cases where high performance is required in only a part, rather than the entire component.

H11 has excellent weldability and bonding strength,

It is also effective in forming a uniform and hard coating layer on these areas.

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[Characteristics of Additive Manufacturing and Heat Treatment Process]

H11 is deposited in a hardened state during 3D printing,

In this case, processing is difficult and ductility is reduced. A condition prone to crackingIt becomes.

So generally, excluding cladding or simple functional additions,

A proper heat treatment process is essential.

Ideal heat treatment sequenceIt is as follows:

• • Annealing

– Applied immediately after printing and before removal from the build plate to reduce internal stress and facilitate machining

Example: Heating to 820°C in an argon atmosphere, then slowly cooling in an oven

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• • Quenching

– Heat to 1025℃ and maintain for 2 hours → Cool by air cooling

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• • Tempering

– Heat to 550℃ → Hold for 1 hour, then cool slowly (repeat 2 times recommended)

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[Output Speed and Mechanical Characteristics]

H11 is not the fastest printing material, but

(150g/h based on blue laser, 141g/h based on infrared laser)

A material with very high demand in industrial settings and user satisfactionno see.

| H12 Tool Steel

H12 has superior wear resistance compared to H11 and provides more stable performance even during prolonged use in high-temperature environments.

However, a little toughness is sacrificed to that extent.

The carbon content is slightly higher and the chromium content is reduced, but tungsten has been added to improve hardness and thermal stability.

Therefore, rather than impact strength or ductility Materials suitable for environments where heat resistance and wear resistance at high temperatures are importantno see.

H12 processes high-strength steel hot forming tools, for molding glass or high-heat-resistant plastic mold,

Used in sintering and powder metallurgy processes die It is frequently used on the back,

It is useful in all situations where maintaining shape and hardness even at high temperatures is important.

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In addition, H12 is One of the most frequently chosen materials for mold work involving severe abrasive wear in high-temperature environmentsno see.

For example, it is frequently used to manufacture extrusion inserts for difficult-to-machine alloys requiring heat resistance, or mold parts used in high-temperature stamping.

| H13 Tool Steel

H13 is a representative hot die steel with a well-balanced combination of heat resistance, thermal fatigue resistance, hardness, and toughness,

It is one of the most widely used tool steels worldwide.

Compared to H11 and H12, H13 has a higher vanadium and molybdenum content. Resistant to thermal shock and excellent wear resistance even in repetitive heating and cooling cyclesIt shows

Thanks to these characteristics, H13 withstands rapid temperature changes and frequent mechanical stress, and can be used without sacrificing dimensional stability or lifespan.

also, A representative material widely used in parts that undergo repetitive thermal cycling, such as core pins or inserts.It is also.

Because it is highly reliable due to its resistance to cracking and thermal cracking, and exhibits stable performance in various thermal and mechanical environments

The most widely chosen steady seller among global hot die materialsIt can be said.

P20 is pre-hardened tool steelAs such, it is widely used in plastic injection molds or die-casting molds for low-melting point alloys.

Since it is already heat-treated at the time of shipment (generally to the 30–36 HRC level), there is no need for a separate heat treatment process after processing.

It can be used immediately for mold making.

Advantage of making the production process fast and simpleThere is.

P20, which possesses a balanced combination of moderate hardness, excellent machinability, and decent toughness,

Highly suitable for manufacturing medium to large mold bases or general mold parts, rather than high temperature or high-wear environments.do.

Typically, cavities for plastic injection molds, core inserts, and die-casting molds for aluminum and zinc,

It is also used for mold frames and the like, where dimensional precision and ease of machining are important.

Of course, it is not suitable for high temperatures or extreme wear conditions,

A stable and practical option for general-purpose mold manufacturingIt becomes.

It offers balanced characteristics between cost, processability, and mechanical performance.

| M7 Tool Steel

M7 is a material of the molybdenum-based high-speed tool steel (HSS) series,

It has a higher carbon and vanadium content than the more widely used M2, so it has higher hardness and edge retention even at high temperatures.

Thanks to High-performance cutting tools where high temperature resistance and wear resistance are simultaneously importantIt is a material particularly suitable for.

M7 can maintain its hardness even at red heating temperatures (high temperatures high enough for the tool to glow red during operation).

You can expect reduced tool wear and a long service life even during high-speed machining.

Generally, more performance is needed than the M2, but like the M42 When high-cobalt-content steel grades are a concern due to price or brittleness

The M7 is a good alternative.

Typical applications include twist drills, end mills, broaches, reamers, punches, etc.

especially High compressive strength and durabilityIt is widely used in cold working tools where this is required.

Like other HSS series, the M7 also Balanced properties between hardness and toughnesshas

It withstands shocks or pressures generated during cutting and delivers stable machining performance.

| Why Meltio's Tool Steel?

Based on these advantages, Meltio's additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the way tool steel is produced.

Efficient and cost-effective manufacturing solutionsIf you are looking for... Meltio could be the answer.

Major Applications of Tool Steel

▶ Mold and Tooling Industry

Meltio's technology enables the rapid production of shape-proximity parts, making it suitable for custom manufacturing, repair, and hybrid material applications.

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▶ automotive industry

It is utilized for tool fabrication for rapid, repetitive production in the forming process. In particular, it provides a material with excellent thermal fatigue resistance, making it effective for cost reduction during short-term production or prototype manufacturing.

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▶ Aerospace industry

We manufacture high-hardness tools (such as M7) with excellent wear resistance, making them suitable for precision, high-performance, low-volume production tooling. We also provide solutions advantageous for weight reduction and the integration of complex geometries.

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▶ Heavy industry sector

Partial reinforcement or repairs can be performed to extend tool life, reducing replacement cycles and the cost of large tools. It is effective for manufacturing tool steel for high-temperature applications capable of withstanding extreme environments.

W-LMD technology can produce parts with superior microstructure and a density of 99.998%, surpassing the characteristics of cast products and providing quality comparable to forged products.

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| Advanced additive manufacturing technology using tool steel

The ability to print high-performance tool steel precisely and consistently means,

Shorter delivery times, reduced raw materials, and secured design freedomIt opens up new possibilities for manufacturers who want it.

Whether reinforcing parts with H11, manufacturing high-heat resistant molds with H12, or optimizing mold inserts using P20,

Meltio's technology helps you maximize the potential of these tool steels.

Meltio continues to test and verify various materials, and

Through this, across the entire industry Substantial performance improvement and cost reduction effectsWe are expanding additive manufacturing solutions that provide [the following].

This is the way to maximize manufacturing efficiency without sacrificing strength, durability, or flexibility.

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