For anyone familiar with the metalworking industry, the development of high-speed steels revolutionized the industry. High-speed tool steels are a category of steel specially formulated to sustain their hardness even at high temperatures during processes like cutting. This enables them to perform better than regular tool steels which can soften and lose their edge quickly when under similar conditions.

There are several different kinds of high-speed steels but M2 steel is the most popular type by far because of the characteristics it possesses. It has managed to replace T1 high speed steel, which used to be the most sought after, due to its affordability and excellent properties.

Any high speed steel supplier can attest that M2 tool steel is a general purpose material that exhibits a well-balanced combination of hardness, wear resistance, and toughness. The “M” in M2 comes from the molybdenum it contains, along with other alloy elements, which enables the steel to resist the wear and tear associated with extended use.

The hardness of M2 comes from the high concentration of carbon that it contains making it capable of withstanding demanding tasks like cutting.  M2 steel is also tough and can hold up against shocks and impacts without breaking or chipping.

Typical Uses of M2 Steel

Most high speed steel supplier find that their clients primarily use M2 tool steel to make machining tools which are meant for use in manufacturing processes like milling and turning. Tools like twist drills made from M2 are popular as they have good wear resistance and maintain their sharp edges, ensuring accurate and clean holes.

Milling cutters that are made from M2 steel can effectively handle various milling jobs which can include slot and face milling, to name a few. M2’s balance of toughness and hardness allows them to create desired shapes and remove material effectively.

When it comes to M2, high speed steel supplier can vouch for the fact that their application extends way beyond traditional machining tools. The tool steel is also used to produce cutting tools that cut metal like circular saw, hacksaws, and band saws.

Due to the abrasion resistance of M2, it is very useful for injection mold tooling. Such molds are exposed regularly to high pressure plastics during the injection process. This requires a material that has high wear resistance to maintain the mold shape and ensure consistent part quality.

M2 steel can also be a good option for making knives. It is able to maintain a sharp edge because of its high degree of hardness and resistance to abrasion. The molybdenum containing tool steel is renowned for having good machinability which makes it easy to form through grinding or machining.

It is worth noting that, M2 can be hard on tooling and specialized tooling like cubic boron nitride (known as CBN) is needed when machining. Importantly, it should be noted that tool steels are not like stainless steel which have corrosion resistance and are not at all suitable for applications where knives, for example, are exposed to corrosive environments like a dishwasher.

M2 steel has revolutionized the manufacturing industry and is sought after because it is hard, tough, and resistant to abrasion and wear. It is also cost-effective as it is more affordable than other high speed tool steel types. Understanding its strengths and its limitations allow manufacturers to make use of its excellent characteristics for their machining operations.