Machine shop tools must be designed to be rugged, sturdy, and precise during operation. That’s why it’s so important to take your time when reviewing high speed tool steel suppliers, as the business you choose must strive for perfection with every order.
High Speed Tool Steel Suppliers
Here at Griggs Steel, we’re proud to support our clients by affording high-quality high speed tool steel and dependable customer service. While your tooling needs may vary depending on the situation, we recommend our high speed steel for a number of uses.
This product is known for its hardiness and durability. It’s also quite versatile, as it can be used both in the industrial realm, as well as the construction of kitchen elements and other basic items.
Some of the common types of this steel include M2, M3, M4, PM M3, CPM REX M4 steel, PM A11, and more.
About High Speed Tool Steel
High speed steel is a type of tool steel that is used primarily in cutting tools. It is often used in drill bits, saw blades, milling cutters, taps and similar applications. As the name implies, it is most often used in applications that involve the item moving at high speeds.
HSS was developed as an upgrade to the older high-carbon steel that was frequently used in tools until about the 1940s. High speed steel can withstand significantly higher temperatures compared to high-carbon steel while maintaining its temper or hardness. Due to this, HSS tools can be used to cut significantly faster than many other types of steel.
Tool steel suppliers often provide HSS for powered tools and machines. It is also popular with woodturning and some high-end hand tools for craftspeople.
Reasons To Use High Speed Tool Steel
High speed steel can offer some substantial advantages versus other steel alloys. Overall, HSS exhibits excellent hardness and resistance to heat, abrasion and wear.
This translates to reduced maintenance requirements and fewer replacements. With less downtime necessary, HSS can have a direct impact on productivity and bottom-line performance.
A dull edge means that your tools won’t be producing at full capacity. Many grades of HSS can keep an edge even in the most demanding applications.
Applications of High Speed Tool Steel
Our high speed steel is available in a variety of grades, in both plate steel and block sheet. When it comes to industrial needs, this steel product is ideal for creating saw blades, drills, tool bits, cutters, and taps.
We can produce any size high speed steel flat from our extensive block sheet and plate inventory. If you’re unsure what grade or size you need, we can help you make the best decision. In terms of grades, clients can choose from the following:
- M2: This is the “standard” and most popular high speed steel. Ours is a general-purpose, molybdenum-type steel. It has excellent toughness, wear-resistance and hardness. Many customers use this grade for punches, dies and high-speed, light cutting applications.
- M3: The carbon and vanadium levels of this grade sit between M2 and M4. This makes it a well-balanced steel that offers wear-resistance, grindability and superior performance in terms of holding an edge. M3 makes a good choice for form tools and roll turning for severe cutting.
- M4: This grade of HSS has very high carbon and vanadium contents. Therefore, it has excellent abrasion-resistance, making it a good option for premium cutting tools, especially those cutting heat-treated materials, abrasive alloys and castings.
- M7: For drill applications that require extended life and flexibility, M7 is a good choice. It is a molybdenum high-speed tool steel that exhibits consistent abrasion-resistance, edge toughness and resistance to wear even at high heats.
- M42: This alloy features an additional 8% to 10% cobalt. M42 has excellent red hardness even compared to other high speed steels. This allows for shorter cycle times and greater productivity in manufacturing environments.
- PM M4: PM M4 is a more flexible alloy compared to conventionally-wrought steels. This helps it to offer better tool lifespan. Therefore, it is an excellent choice for cold work tooling.
- PM T15: This alloy also has superior flexibility compared to more conventional alloys. It has excellent toughness combined with impressive bend strength. This grade suits applications that require long tool lifespans.
- PM M48: A combination of superior cleanliness, small carbides and fine grain size make PM M48 an alloy with good wear resistance, bend strength and impact toughness. It can offer long life for cutting tools.
- PM A11: A large volume of hard vanadium carbides means that this alloy offers excellent wear-resistance combined with high-impact strength.
- PM 23: This powered, high-alloyed HSS corresponds to AISI M3:2. It is a good choice for demanding applications in cold work such as blanking of hard materials.
- PM 60: This alloy’s high carbon content, Co, Mo, W and V makes it very suitable for the most demanding cold work applications. It has good wear-resistance combined with excellent compressive strength.
How Our Product Matches Up Against Other Alloys
When it comes to other high speed steel suppliers, we’ll happily compare our product to other alloys on the market to highlight its many qualities. Much of its inherent strength comes from the inclusion of metal carbide, along with a sturdy steel substrate.
These two components combine to create a steel that can be used at ultra-high speeds without worries about a breakdown. Here are a few of the benefits this product offers our clients:
- Reliability – This material can hold up against extreme temperatures, high speeds, and tough impacts, which is essential in a heavy-duty tooling environment.
- Abrasion-Resistance – When your tooling equipment breaks down, you lose money. And the more time spent repairing tools, the more downtime you’ll be faced with. With our steel, you don’t need to worry about seemingly minor defects that can turn into a major issue.
- Greater Affordability – Investing in us means lower operating costs overall. Tools derived from tough, rugged steel need to be replaced less frequently, which saves you money. It also ensures you can meet and exceed customer expectations as your machine shop is humming along.
Griggs Steel has a broad selection of grades compared to other tool steel suppliers. Furthermore, all our alloys are manufactured to the highest quality, ensuring superior characteristics.
How Our Product Matches Up Against Other Alloys
When it comes to other high speed steel suppliers, we’ll happily compare our product to other alloys on the market to highlight its many qualities. Much of its inherent strength comes from the inclusion of metal carbide, along with a sturdy steel substrate.
These two components combine to create a steel that can be used at ultra-high speeds without worries about a breakdown. Here are a few of the benefits this product offers our clients:
- Reliability – This material can hold up against extreme temperatures, high speeds, and tough impacts, which is essential in a heavy-duty tooling environment.
- Abrasion-Resistance – When your tooling equipment breaks down, you lose money. And the more time spent repairing tools, the more downtime you’ll be faced with. With our steel, you don’t need to worry about seemingly minor defects that can turn into a major issue.
- Greater Affordability – Investing in us means lower operating costs overall. Tools derived from tough, rugged steel need to be replaced less frequently, which saves you money. It also ensures you can meet and exceed customer expectations as your machine shop is humming along.
Why You Should Work With Griggs Steel
We’ve been in business for more than 65 years. During this time, we’ve assisted clients of all sizes, including massive corporations as well as small, family-run businesses. Quality is at the heart of everything we do, no matter the size of the project. We’d hate to provide a product to you that doesn’t live up to your expectations, which is why we offer an expansive inventory to suit the needs of all machine shops.
In addition to our technical skills, we also pride ourselves on offering exemplary customer service at every turn. If you have questions about a product or a machining solution, just ask us. We’ll be happy to sit down and review your situation so we can help you make the right decision. Once your order has been completed, we’ll strive to get you what you need in the fastest time possible. And if you have concerns about cost, rest assured that we offer competitive prices to benefit our clients.
Let’s Talk High Speed Steel
Now that you know what we’re all about as a tool steel supplier, the next step is to get in touch with us. Feel free to contact us today if you have questions or would like to place an order for high speed steel. We’ll do our best to get back to you ASAP so we can begin developing a tooling solution to ensure lasting success for your company.