High Speed Steel Cutting Tools Operate At Cutting Speed

Metal removal rates are faster today than ever before.

High speed steel cutting tools operate at cutting speed.

High speed steel is a high carbon tool steel containing a large dose of tungsten. What was considered high speed machining just a few years ago is regarded as conventional today. High speed steel hss or hs is a subset of tool steels commonly used as cutting tool material. Many factors are driving shops to faster metal cutting rates.

Softer metals like aluminum and mild steel have higher cutting speeds than do nasty metals like titanium or inconel. These include better and more capable machine tools and cnc processors that allow the machine to accurately cut at increasingly higher speeds and feeds. Once heat treating was perfected it became the tool material of choice because it would run at high speed compared to carbon cutting tools. 18 tungsten 4 chromium 1 vanadium 0 7 carbon and the rest iron.

It is often used in power saw blades and drill bits it is superior to the older high carbon steel tools used extensively through the 1940s in that it can withstand higher temperatures without losing its temper hardness this property allows hss to cut faster than high carbon steel hence the name. So too can carbide and ceramic cutting tools achieve higher speeds regardless of the workpiece material than do ones made of high speed. A typical hss composition is. All cutting tools have a recommended cutting speed for any given material.

Crucible steel was awarded a patent for the first recognized high speed steel in 1910.