Best Allround Steel

[PVCSKI]

Im looking to design my own tool. Material cost-not an issue. Whats the best allround steel grade for high volume. I am really disgusted with P-20, Failure after Failure!

[oldtool]

I have always liked H-13 Rc 48-52. There is also a material called Finkle if your looking for a pre hard steel. Per hard Finkle is around Rc28-32 but there's also a heat treat version that goes to Rc 54.

[Will Call]

For high volume long lasting molds that require a little less concern for cavity maintenence, (rust, abuse, etc), I always preferred heat treated (50-54 Rc) 420 stainless.

Great, especially for highly abrasive materials.

[rickbatey]

PVCSKI-Are the failures due to steel? Design? Abuse? Corrosion? Wear?
I have not always been happy with the P20 does everything approach either. I have worked in plants that the mold builder used D2, H13, and P20 pre-hardened. I guess it depends on if you can machine the harder stuff.
Could some coatings help with the failures? That is truly a hard question to best guess when we don't know the failure mode. Rick.

[Will Call]

PVCSKI-Are the failures due to steel? Design? Abuse? Corrosion? Wear?
I have not always been happy with the P20 does everything approach either. I have worked in plants that the mold builder used D2, H13, and P20 pre-hardened. I guess it depends on if you can machine the harder stuff.
Could some coatings help with the failures? That is truly a hard question to best guess when we don't know the failure mode. Rick.

Rick,

From what I read in his post, I don't think he's having failure issues. I think he's just looking to build a mold that all-around will hold up to most anything that an operator or set-up person can throw at it. Something that can take the normal abuse, misuse, etc.

PVCSKI, comments Please.

[Rocky Huber]

I agree with Bill; 420 S.S. @ 50-52 Rc in most cases. I may not aggree if: there are shallow shut off angles, irregular parting lines, or other 420 S.S. pieces rubbing on it, but in general I agree. You may want to look into Stavax, if you need highly polished surfaces. Of course, you'd want to plate the surfaces with something like a DLC after polishing, in order to prevent scratching.

[Yoda]

420 SS for corrosive materials and S-7 for almost everything else.

[Sino Mould Lydia]

It depends on the plastic you used. If the plastic of your product is PVC or some thin wall moulds, we suggust you to use S136 or Din 1.2316 stainless steel HRC 45-52
For other plastic products, for some good german steel you can use Din 1.2344 some slides will use this steel. And then is Din1.2738 and Din 1.2311.

P20 i think its a not good steel. If you want high quality mould with long time mould life, i suggest you use german steel.