High speed end milling of hardened AISI D2 tool steel (∼58 HRC)

Tool steels conforming to AISI group D are used widely in the manufacture of blanking and cold-forming dies, on account of their excellent wear resistance and deep hardening characteristics. The present paper gives details of machining experiments with hardened AISI D2 cold work tool steel (∼58HRC) using indexable insert ball nose end mills employing carbide and cermet tools, and solid carbide ball nose end mills. The aim was to identify tool …