Precision Tool Steel Machining and Manufacturing
PartsMake provides high-precision CNC machining services engineered for tool steel components. From complex mold cavities to high-wear industrial fixtures, we manage the complete production cycle from raw material procurement to final heat-treated delivery.
1–100,000+
Prototype to repeat-run quantities
0.01 mm
Grinding flatness capability
Ra 0.4–3.2
Target surface finish range, μm
Built for demanding tooling
Molds, fixtures, dies, punches, gauges, and wear-resistant components.
Material selection
Choose the right tool steel for service life and stability
Selecting the correct grade is critical to the longevity and functionality of your hardware. We support standard tool steel grades with consistent material sourcing, machining knowledge, and heat-treatment coordination.
| Material grade | Hardness | Wear resistance | Toughness | Typical hardening range | Machinability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | 58–62 HRC | High | Moderate | 1,020–1,040°C | Low |
| H13 | 45–52 HRC | Moderate | High | 1,020–1,050°C | Moderate |
| O1 | 55–60 HRC | Moderate | Moderate | 790–820°C | High |
| SKD11 | 58–62 HRC | High | Moderate | 1,020–1,040°C | Low |
| SKD61 | 45–52 HRC | Moderate | High | 1,020–1,050°C | Moderate |
Typical temperature ranges are shown for planning reference. Final heat-treatment parameters are confirmed against the selected material certificate, section size, required hardness, and approved process specification.
D2 / SKD11
Long-run cold-work tooling
High-carbon, high-chromium steels for stamping dies, thread rolling dies, and gauges where dimensional stability and wear resistance are priorities.
H13 / SKD61
Elevated-temperature tooling
Chromium-molybdenum hot-work steels that retain structural integrity for die-casting molds and extrusion tooling.
O1
General-purpose tools
Oil-hardening steel for punches, fixtures, and tools requiring a balance of machining ease and hardening stability.
Controlled production route
From soft-state machining to hardened precision
Our typical route manages internal stresses and dimensional movement throughout the complete manufacturing cycle.
Discuss Your Process RouteSoft-state machining
Bulk material removal in the annealed state, including rough milling, turning, and drilling.
Stress relieving
An intermediate cycle is applied when needed to minimize distortion after significant material removal.
Heat treatment
Certified partners coordinate vacuum hardening or oil quenching followed by tempering to your specified hardness.
Grinding and EDM finish work
Precision grinding plus Wire or Sinker EDM delivers final dimensions, sharp corners, complex profiles, and surface finish.
Advanced capabilities
Equipment and expertise for hardened alloys
Precision grinding
Surface and cylindrical grinding for flatness down to 0.01 mm / 100 mm and parallelism down to 0.01 mm.
Wire and Sinker EDM
Wire EDM handles precision profile cutting, while Sinker EDM supports intricate internal cavities and sharp corners.
Simultaneous 5-axis milling
Complex tool paths are machined in fewer setups to reduce cumulative errors and improve positional accuracy.
Engineering support
Design for stable tool steel production
We collaborate with your engineering team to optimize designs before production begins.
- Thermal expansion: account for dimensional changes during heat treatment.
- Feature geometry: use appropriate internal radii to reduce stress concentrations.
- Surface finish: target Ra 0.4–3.2 μm for wear performance and mold release properties.
Quality assurance
Evidence at every stage
Every tool steel component follows a strict inspection protocol to verify performance in the field.
Dimensional reports
CMM and optical measurement systems verify critical features and tolerances.
Hardness testing
Rockwell hardness testing confirms compliance with heat-treatment requirements.
Traceability
Material certificates and full batch documentation are provided with every order.
Scalable production
One prototype or 100,000+ repeat parts
Whether you need a single prototype for a new fixture design or recurring production of wear-resistant components, PartsMake scales to your requirements while maintaining the same attention to tolerance and quality.