Need to settle a debate - Tool Steel O-1 or 0-1

[Micromatic]

I am looking to settle a debate on the call out for a specific tool steel.

What should the call out be for 0-1 Tool Steel?

Is it the letter 'O' or the number 'zero'?

O-1 Tool Steel
or
0-1 Tool Steel

I have seen both of them used. I have called metal suppliers and they said they are inter-changeable.

Please help settle this issue.

Thank you,

Micromatic

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Well, considering that other classifications use an alpha-numeric combination, I would vote for the letter version.

http://www.engineersedge.com/tool_steel.htm

This post has been brought to you by the letter 'O'.

 

[racookpe1978]

A question about tools for drilling steel?

I think it is "O"pen for comment.

(Is the "0" tool steel is only good for very, very tiny h0les.)

 

[Micromatic]

I am looking for a specific answer on this; not opinions.

Thank you,

Micromatic

 

[Ussuri]

This post has been brought to you by the letter 'O'.

The number '1' and ...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Micromatic,

I doubt you will be given a definitive answer ... especially with that attitude.

 

[Micromatic]

This forum is for professionals looking for information from the engineering community. I appreciate people responding to this post, but need a serious answer to this issue. If you need a release for you comedy, please go to an 'Open Mic-night' at your local comedy club.

Thank you,

Micromatic

 

[TenPenny]

According to my 21ed of Machinery's Handbook:

"...a tool classification system has been developed in which the commonly used tool steels are grouped into seven major categories. These categories, several of which contain more than a single group, are listed in the following with the letter symbols used for their identification. The individual types of tool steels within each category are identified by suffix numbers following the letter symbols."

"O" refers to the "Oil hardening types"

 

[racookpe1978]

Efunda uses the "O" designations here:

http://www.efunda.com/materials/all...m?ID=AISI_O1&show_prop=all&Page_Title=AISI O1

Matches with the first answer above: Letter then number for all other steel in their list.

 

[hydtools]

It is the letter O for oil hardening.

Ted

 

[Micromatic]

Thank you TenPenny for your answer. This is the conclusion that I had as well. I have receiced prints from customers with the call out with a zero. I was not sure which was technically correct.

Thank you,

Micromatic

 

[ornerynorsk]

As previous posters have mentioned, the correct designation is the letter O, and it does represent "oil hardening".

 

[TVP]

Micromatic,

The correct designation is O1, not O-1 or 0-1. Suppliers that tell you the designations are interchangeable are doing you a disservice. Designations for metallic alloys are standardized, which means going to the appropriate standard will tell you what the designation is supposed to be. In this case, ASTM A 681 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy is the appropriate standard, and Table 1 shows the designation as UNS T31502, Type O2 as well as the chemical composition requirements. Efunda, Machinery's Handbook, and well-intentioned, but incorrect suppliers are not definitive sources and should not be considered as such. The following is a link to the ASTM website for ASTM A 681:

http://www.astm.org/Standards/A681.htm

 

[handleman]

1. I would hardly consider this situation "serious". Suppliers will know what you mean if you use zero instead of the letter O. They will just chuckle at your ignorance and supply you with what you need.
2. Seems odd for someone with a total of 6 posts to be lecturing long term and valuable members on the function of this site.
3. Even though we are engineers, we still like to have fun in our own way. One is to poke a bit of light-hearted fun at easy questions that could be very easily answered by a Google search or quick reference to any of several widely available, well known sources of engineering information. Even the McMaster-Carr catalog will tell you that the "O" is for oil-hardening.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[vc66]

handleman,

I was waiting for that.

Good call.

V