1.2080 Mould Base Steel

Pre-heat at 900°-950°C then raise temperature to 1050°-1100°C. Soak until uniformly heated. This tool steel is relatively hard at elevated temperature. Therefore, initial hammer blows must be light and the temperature must not be allowed to fall below 1020°C until the metal begins to flow. Final forging should not be done below 900°C.

Supplied in the annealed and machineable condition re-annealing will only be necessary if the steel has been forged or hardened by the toolmaker. To anneal, heat slowly and uniformly to 900°C. Soak for three to four hours and allow to cool in the furnace to room temperature. Re-heat to 800-1040°C and again soak for three to four hours. Allow to cool in the furnace to room temperature.

When tools made from 1.2080 tool steel are heavily machined, ground or otherwise subjected to cold work, the relief of internal strains is advisable before hardening to minimise the possibility of distortion. Stress relieving should be done after rough machining. To stress relieve, heat the component to 600-650°C. Soak well and cool in the furnace or in air. The tools may then be finish machined before hardening.

It is preferable to heat the tools in a controlled atmosphere. If this is not possible, pack hardening is recommended. A reducing atmosphere is desirable. Pre heat the tool steel component to 750-800°C. and allow to soak at this temperature. The tools may then be brought up to 1000-1040°C for air cooling, or 980°C for oil quenching. Soak thoroughly at the temperature for thirty minutes per 25mm of ruling section, then cool or quench accordingly. It is important not to exceed 1020°C when heating for hardening.   

Double tempering is recommended. Tempering of 1.2080 tool steel should be done with the least possible delay after hardening, preferably when the tools are still hand warm. Select a suitable tempering temperature, bearing in mind the service requirements. Heat slowly and uniformly. When the component has reached the desired temperature, soak for at least sixty minutes. The second tempering should be a repetition of the first

Heat treatment temperatures, including rate of heating, cooling and soaking times will vary due to factors such as the shape and size of each tool steel component. Other considerations during the heat treatment process include the type of furnace, quenching medium and work piece transfer facilities. Please consult your heat treatment provider for full guidance on heat treatment of tool steels.

Select the correct grade of wheel in consultation with the grinding wheel manufacturer. Ensure the grinding wheel is in good condition by means of a suitable dressing tool. Wet grinding is a preferable option using a copious supply of coolant. If dry grinding is resorted to then use a very soft wheel.