O1 is a general purpose oil-hardening, versatile manganese-chromium-tungsten tool steel that can be used for a wide variety of cold work applications.
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Imperial and Metric Steel Sizes for Sale
Imperial Steel Size
O1 Tool Steel Standard values
Working hardness:
57 HRC - 62 HRC
Delivery condition:
max. 229HB
Chemical composition in %
0.900000
0.91.050000
1.050.150000
0.150.350000
0.351.000000
11.200000
1.20.000000
00.035000
0.0350.000000
00.035000
0.0350.500000
0.50.700000
0.70.050000
0.050.150000
0.150.500000
0.50.700000
0.7O1 Tool Steel Technical Data
O1 Tool Steel Technical Properties
Alloyed oil hardener with focus on cold work; can be used for a wide range of applications: full hardenability, high degree of dimensional stability, good cutting power and good toughness.
O1 Tool Steel Applications
blanking and stamping tools up to 0.2362" (6 mm) thickness, shear knives, threading tools, thread dies, reamers, chasers, measuring tools, plastic molds, rubber molds, calibres, guide rails, dies, punches, woodworking tools, machine knives
O1 General Information
O1 tool steel meets a wide range of characteristics including good machinability, good dimensional stability when hardening, good cutting edge retention as well as a good combination of high surface hardness and toughness after hardening and tempering. The combination of these characteristics give O1 the suitability for manufacturing tools, which need to have a good tool life and production economy. The high manganese content provides good dimensional stability when quenched from the proper hardening temperature. Overheating the material should be avoided, as it will display shrinkage after being tempered. If hardening is done correctly the work piece will expand slightly and return very close to its originals size after being tempered.
Applications
Applications for this steel grade include: blanking and stamping tools up to 15/64 (6 mm), plastic and rubber molds, engraving tools, forming tools, gauges, paper knives, lamination dies, broaches, spindles, trim dies, woodworking tools and machine knives.
Heat treatment
Annealing
Heat the protected steel through to 1435°F (780°C) and then cool in the furnace, at 27°F (15°C) per hour to 1200°F (650°C), after that O1 can be cooled to ambient temperature in air. Appropriate precautions must be taken to prevent excessive carburization or decarburization.
Stress relieving
Heat the work piece through to 1200°F (650°C) after rough machining and hold for 2 hours. Cool slowly to 930°F (500°C), then it can be freely cooled further in air.
Hardening
Preheating temperature: 1110-1290°F (600-700°C)
Austenitizing temperature: 1450-1560°F (790-850°C)
The part should be protected against decarburization and oxidation during hardening.
Quenching media
- Oil
- Martempering bath at 360-435°F (180-225°C)
O1 is quenched in warm oil to a temperature of 125-150°F (49-66°C), and tempered immediately. Cooling should be done uniformly and at a sufficient rate to avoid transformation of the parts, however, excessive distortion and/or quench cracking must be considered.
Martempering
Tools at austenitizing temperature are immersed in the martempering bath and then air cooled to no lower than 210°F (100°C). Immediately temper as with oil-quenching.
Tempering
Choose the tempering temperature that needs to be achieved, temper twice and cool between tempering to room temperature. Do not let the tempering temperature drop below 360°F (182°C) and hold at the chosen temperature for a minimum of 2 hours.
For our tempering diagram, please click here.
Dimensional changes
Dimensional changes during hardening and tempering should not exceed 0.25% per side if the recommended stress relieving is done.
Sub-zero treatment and aging
For maximum dimensional stability, parts should be treated at sub-zero and/or artificially aged.
Immediately after quenching, the work piece should be sub-zero treated to between -95 to -110°F (-70 to -80°C), soaking them for 3-4 hours following tempering or aging. Sub-zero treatment will increase the hardness of 154-160 BHN (1-3 HRC). Due to cracking, it is not advised to use this treatment for intricate shapes.
Aging
For aging, tempering after quenching is replaced by aging at 230-285°F (110-140°C), holding time 25-100 hours.
Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
Performing EDM in the hardened and tempered condition, remove the recast layer completely by stoning and polishing. Then giving the work pieces another temper at approx. 50°F (25°C) below the prior tempering temperature and soak at this temperature for 2 hours.
Welding
Good results can be achieved when welding tool steel, if the proper precautions are taken during welding (increased working temperature, joint preparation, choice of filler metals and the welding procedure). In the event that the parts are to be polished or photo-etched, it is necessary to work with a suitable electrode type of matching composition.
Disclaimer
The data shown here has been compiled with the greatest diligence and is regularly updated with regard to the correctness and completeness of its content. The content is indicative only and should not be taken as a warranty of specific properties of the product described or a warranty of suitability for a particular purpose. All information presented is given in good faith and no liability will be accepted for actions taken by third parties in reliance on this information. ABRAMS Industries reserves the right to change or amend the information given here in full or parts without prior notice.