H13, A2 and D2 tool steels are all tool steels that can be printed using the Markforged Metal X printer. These carbon steels and alloys steels are particularly well-suited to be made into tools, including cutting tools, dies, hand tools, knives, etc.
H13 tool steel is a hot-work tool steel, which essentially means that it holds its hardness up to a higher working temperature than most other tool steels. H13 tool steel is abrasion-resistant at both low and high temperatures; this makes it particularly suitable for applications such as metal forming tools, dies and punches for coining and forming operations, or for any applications where you require high temperature resistanceor a hardware surface. H13 is heat treatable up to around 50 HRC (Rockwell C Hardness). While it’s not the hardest tool steel available, it can resist heat checking and thermal fatigue.
A2 tool steel is a highly versatile air-hardened tool steel, and often considered a “universal” cold work steel. It offers a combination of good wear resistance (between O1 and D2 tool steels) and toughness. It is considered relatively easy to machine in the annealed condition, as it has a high compression strength and good dimensional stability during hardening and tempering. It’s used widely in a variety of cold work tools from forming and cutting equipment to high wear parts.
D2 tool steel is a high carbon, high chromium, air-hardening tool steel that can be heat treated to high hardness and compressive strength. D2 tool steel offers excellent wear resistance and is widely used in cold work applications that require sharp edges, abrasion resistance, and compressive strength. Markforged D2 tool steel meets the chemical requirements of ASTM A681.
