High Speed Steels For Cutting Tools
	High Speed Steels are high-alloy, W-Mo-V-Co bearing steels designed to cut other materials efficiently at high speeds, despite the extreme heat generated at the tool’s cutting edge. This heat can reach 1000F and more depending on cutting conditions, coolants used and other operational factors. To provide good cutting tool performance, a High Speed Steel must have three basic characteristics: First, the capacity for heat treatment to high room temperature hardness - usually from a minimum nominal hardness of 63 HRC to a maximum nominal hardness of 68 HRC. High hardness is necessary for good wear resistance. Second, the capacity for maintaining high hardness at elevated temperatures. This is called red hardness. High Speed Steels are subjected to considerable heat where the cutting edge meets the work piece chip interface. Red hardness is essential. Third, High Speed Steels must have enough impact toughness to handle interrupted cut tooling applications. They are notably tougher than carbide or ceramic materials. Naturally, in addition to these three basic characteristics, High Speed Steel must be capable of being fabricated, hot worked, machined, ground, and whatever is necessary to manufacture a given cutting tool.
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