What type of die steel should be used for deep drawing a galvanized steel basin with a thickness of approximately 0.23 mm? Question from a viewer during Live Stream #296.
Stamping a 0.23 galvanized steel basin is a typical application for thin-gauge steel. Since the material is not hard and does not require extremely high wear resistance, die steel with a hardness of 60 HRC or higher is sufficient. The primary consideration is anti-stick performance to prevent scratches on the part’s surface.
Cr12MoV tool steel must never be used for iron drawing dies, as it will cause stringing in the product—even a coating will not help. Based on past successful case studies and the principle of using cost-effective materials, I recommend wear-resistant steel 6077.
Wear-resistant steel 6077 has a hardness of HRC 60–63 and offers three times the resistance to chipping compared to chromium steel. Due to its high-quality smelting process, wear-resistant steel 6077 has a uniform microstructure, making it less prone to sticking or stringing when used in drawing dies.
Mr. Tan, who has used 6077 wear-resistant steel, said that the 6077 wear-resistant steel he bought last time worked quite well. I use it to deep-draw 0.7mm galvanized sheet metal into motor housings with a draw height of 30mm. I’ve already produced 3 million units, and I haven’t received a single complaint from customers. Previously, when I used DC53, the material would start showing wire marks after only a few products, and I’d get scolded by customers. Now that I’m using 6077 wear-resistant steel, although it does develop wire marks after a certain period of use, a quick polish is all it takes to make it reusable. Since this doesn’t happen very often, customers don’t complain. Plus, 6077 wear-resistant steel isn’t expensive. Now that a single die can produce 3 million units, I’m completely satisfied. I run a die manufacturing plant—as long as customers don’t complain, I’m happy.
The galvanized steel basin mentioned by this user—which is 0.23 thick—is made from the same material as Mr. Tan’s, but with a thickness of 0.7, it’s even thicker. Stretching it to a height of 30 mm makes the process even more difficult. However, since a single mold made from wear-resistant steel 6077 can produce 3 million products, this case serves as a valuable reference for the user’s specific conditions. Therefore, I also recommend that he use wear-resistant steel 6077.
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Wu Dejian’s tool steel, the chief of staff of the user, bought everything he had used.