Choosing the right tool steel grade for a high-volume stamping die
hi, I’m designing a cold-formed stamping die for thin stainless-steel sheets (gauge ~1.5 mm) used in an enclosure that will see around 500 k cycles. Given that abrasion resistance and dimensional stability over long runs are critical, I’m debating between a high-wear cold-work steel like a “D-series” (e.g. D2) or a hot-work steel even though the process is at room temperature. Has anyone tried cold-work tool steel for similar stamping dies under repeated cycling this high, and how did the material hold up in terms of dimensional accuracy vs. wear?