W6Mo5Cr4V2 — W6Mo5Cr4V2 High-Speed Steel (HSS) — is a high-speed steel supplied at HRC 60-63. Its chemistry centres on 0.80-0.90% carbon, 3.80-4.50% chromium, 4.50-5.50% molybdenum and 1.75-2.20% vanadium. The benchmark general-purpose HSS with balanced toughness. It is available from stock as precision-ground hardened round bar from Φ2 to Φ100 mm, and as machined rotary die bodies made to drawing.
What W6Mo5Cr4V2 is, and where it fits
Grade selection is about matching the dominant failure mode. W6Mo5Cr4V2's role in the range is clear: high-speed cutting with maximum toughness. If your dies fail by gradual wear, prioritise wear resistance. If they chip or crack, prioritise toughness — which usually means accepting a slightly lower hardness.
- GB (China)
- W6Mo5Cr4V2
- AISI / ASTM (US)
- M2 / T11302
- JIS (Japan)
- SKH51
- DIN / W-Nr (Germany)
- 1.3343 / HS6-5-2
- BS (UK)
- BM2
- NF / AFNOR (France)
- HS6-5-2
- UNI (Italy)
- HS6-5-2
- GOST (Russia)
- R6M5
Working hardness and what each band is for
W6Mo5Cr4V2 hardens across a wide window, and the hardness you choose changes the tool's behaviour more than the grade does. Higher hardness buys wear resistance and edge retention at the cost of toughness; lower hardness does the reverse.
| Band | Hardness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary working range | 60 - 63 | First choice for standard production tooling |
| Secondary range | 58 - 60 | Where the application calls for more toughness or more wear resistance |
W6Mo5Cr4V2 for hardened round bar and rotary dies
| Product line | Suitability | Working hardness | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardened round bar | Recommended (4/5) | HRC 60-63 | General die-cutting tooling, Standard circular blades, Cutting tools |
| custom rotary dies | Recommended (4/5) | HRC 60-63 | General rotary dies, Paper slitting rollers, Film slitting rollers |
When to choose W6Mo5Cr4V2 — and when not to
| Choose W6Mo5Cr4V2 when… | Look at another grade when… |
|---|---|
| General rotary die work where toughness protects the tooth roots | Edge temperatures are high enough that W6Mo5Cr4V2 softens — step up to a cobalt grade |
| Waste-removal and label dies on paper, carton and soft film | Abrasive films or mineral-filled board are being cut at speed |
| You need high-speed steel performance at the lowest HSS cost |
Related grades and guides for W6Mo5Cr4V2
- W6Mo5Cr4V2Co5Compare W6Mo5Cr4V2 against W6Mo5Cr4V2Co5
- Cr8Mo2SiVCompare W6Mo5Cr4V2 against Cr8Mo2SiV
- W6Mo5Cr4V2, Co5 & W2Mo9Cr4VCo8 Compared6 min read · Die Material Selection
- Rotary Die Construction: The Six Families11 min read · Rotary Die Tooling
- Which industries use W6Mo5Cr4V2?Packaging · Stamping · Slitting
W6Mo5Cr4V2 FAQ
W6Mo5Cr4V2 (W6Mo5Cr4V2 High-Speed Steel (HSS)) is used for general cutting, high toughness, best value applications. The benchmark general-purpose HSS with balanced toughness In practice it is supplied as hardened round bar for die making and as machined rotary die bodies, at 60-63 in normal production.