Forging A2 Tool Steel

Forging a2 tool steel forges very much like a high speed steel.
Forging a2 tool steel. Bring the forge up to a strong heat run the forge at 10 12 psi for about 5 minutes place the tool steel into the heating chamber and heat the steel for about 30 40 seconds. I have tried everything hhs tool bits with various angles and radius different spindle rpm and feed rate different types of cutting fluid. It seems that whatever i try i can t get a nice smooth finish on the lathe. The first high speed steel came to be known as t1 which had 4 cr and 18 w tungsten.
A2 tool steel properties. S7 tool steel is a versatile formulation suitable for both cold and hot work service. Heat uniformly and forge from a temperature between 1950 and 2050 f 1066 and 1121 c. I am working on a project that includes a2 tool steel parts and i have no experience of working with a2.
Reheat as often as necessary. A2 tool steel is an air hardening cold work steel. Tool steel a2 principal design features. Shut the forge off and leave the door closed allowing the steel to soak up the heat of the forge without the added oxidation of the forge blast.
It has a relatively low carbon concentration compared to d2 and a2 steels 0 45 0 55 and significantly less chromium 3 00 3 50. The earliest record i have found of a precursor a2 type steel is in a summary of tool steels in 1925 1 while summaries of tool steels from 1910 2 and 1915 3 do not have any similar steels. The best practice for large forgings is to place them in a. Small simple forgings can be cooled slowly in lime.
It is heat treatable and will offer a hardness in the range 57 62 hrc. A2 tool steels have medium machinability. These tool steels should not be forged below 899 c 1650 f. It contains chromium and molybdenum with a relatively high 1 carbon content and is capable of deep hardening from air quench so as to minimize distortion.
A2 is a 5 chromium steel which provides high hardness after heat treatment with good dimensional stability. This alloy is one of the cold work medium air hardening type tool steels. Forming of a2 tool steels is carried out by machining or hot forging.