Machining D2 Steel?

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Machining D2 Steel?

This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 19 August 2021 at 19:50 by Mark Rand.

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29 July 2021 at 12:56 #556278
Vic
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@vic
I’m contemplating making an item that would be very much easier if I used ground steel stock. I did originally think of using O1 as it’s readily available and I’ve machined it before. Ideally though I’d prefer to use something more rust resistant and I noticed that D2 is available as annealed ground stock. I was just wondering how this stuff is for milling, drilling and threading?

Alternatively are there any other rust resistant steels commonly available as ground stock? TIA.
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29 July 2021 at 12:56 #30157
Vic
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@vic
29 July 2021 at 13:59 #556285
pgk pgk
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@pgkpgk17461
**LINK**

These guys sell precision ground stuff and also do their own manufacture of some fastenings and sell 303 stainless (and other stuff)

Whether they do their own grinding I don't know but may be worth the ask?

pgk
29 July 2021 at 14:00 #556286
Tony Pratt 1
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@tonypratt1
I have used D2 in the now distant past & from memory it was more difficult to machine than O1. Maybe a little more info on the part to be made will help us.

Tony
29 July 2021 at 15:15 #556292
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Judging by the specification it's an extra tough tool-steel that would be hard to machine. Though it can be machined EDM and grinding are preferred. Carbide or better rather than HSS.

If you try can you let us know? I doubt many of us have done it. (Expect fifty posts saying I'm wrong!)

Dave
29 July 2021 at 15:16 #556293
Graham Meek
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@grahammeek88282
I have used D2 in the past for press tools. It is usually vacuum hardened for this usage. The material is more dimensionally stable than O1 during the heat treatment process.

If these characteristics are not required then I would stick with O1. D2 is not something I would want to choose to machine if I had the option of using O1.

Most tool steels will rust, so if the requirement is for a non-rusting component then stainless is the way to go, but this comes with its own set of problems depending on the grade.

Regards

Gray.
29 July 2021 at 15:29 #556297
Stueeee
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@stueeee
If you use a CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) tool you will be able to machine D2 even when it's been heat treated. Here's a ball race I Machined a few weeks ago, according to the bearing manufacturer, the hardness is 60+ Rockwell C.

Pretty much a mirror finish, machining needs to be done "dry" as coolant will cause the insert to crack.
19 August 2021 at 12:35 #558946
Len Morris 2
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@lenmorris2
Nearly all the steel I machined at work was D2 and in its annealed form it's lovely to work with. Best to use a tipped tool but HSS will work fine correctly ground (but not as long). A lot depends on your lathe power. High speed (1000 rpm) and medium cuts (20 thou) will leave a super finish on say one inch bar. Coolant works well but only if it's copious, otherwise do the job dry. An occasional squirt from a squeezy bottle is next to useless and will crack the tool.

Len.
19 August 2021 at 19:50 #559019
Mark Rand
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@markrand96270
^^^^^^

D2 machines quite easily in the annealed condition. Once hardened, CBN inserts can clean it up.

Got a length of 50mm dia to make a roller for embedding diamond grit into a cast iron lap. Hardened it in SWMBOs pottery kiln and tempered it in the kitchen oven.

Edited By Mark Rand on 19/08/2021 19:51:03
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