Welding on ASTM A-681 (01 Tool Steel) 3

[paintballJim]

Our company has been using 01 tool steel (meets ASTM A-681) for stop blocks in an application we have. We are now looking to make the flip lever that goes between the stop blocks out of the same material. What is the procedure to use for welding a block of A-681 to a DOM tube? Other than asking for advice here, where is a good place to look for this knowledge? I looked on Matweb but did not find any welding guidelines given.
Secondly, as I read the information on 01 tool steel I think it comes in untempered and we need to harden it after machining it. Is that a correct reading of this material?

Thank you

Jim

 

[metengr]

Here is guidance for welding 01 tool steel;

http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselector/prodbyapp/tooldie/ketos.html

 

[paintballJim]

Thank you Metengr.
In reading the welding recommendations, it again mentions re-tempering the material after welding. In the same set of information there are instructions for hardening and heat treating. Does the steel bar come in hardened or do we need to harden or temper the blocks after machining even if they are not welded.

Thank you

 

[salmon2]

The o1 meterial you got is probably untempered, and unhardened either - probably annealed condition. Basically you have two choices: machine first and then heat treat, or heet treat it firs and then machine it. With 1st route, you save on mating but have to deal with dimensional change from heat treatment. 2nd approach would give you final dimension but at a higher cost.

 

[redpicker]

Welding on O1 tool steel (or any tool steel, generally) is, at best, problematic. My personal recommendation for welding on O1 is "don't". I can't get the link provided by metengr to work, but if you search the internet, you will find very specific welding procedures must be used, most of them stressing getting the welded part in the postheat furnace immediately after welding. Otherwise, cracking can occur.

I would question if you really need O1 tool steel in this application. If you have been using this material in the annealed condition and have been having adequate performance, why not consider changing the material to one that is more weldable? For example, 4130 can easily be welded and you should be able to find 4130 bar heat treated to 28/35 HRC, which may be suitable.

rp

 

[paintballJim]

thank you gentlemen.
This is basically what I suspected. We have been using the material as delivered but the redesign is because it has been getting beat-up at this point. I thickened the material and purchasing told me we had been using tool steel, machine shop tells me we have been using 4140. We have no print with documentation. (does it look like we have a challenge here?) I had wanted to go with 1141 or 1144 but our vendor no longer carries them due to low turnover. I will look for 4130.

Thank you

Jim