Cutting UHS sheet with laser hardened tool steels（与激光切割UHS表淬硬工具钢）.pdf

Cutting UHS sheet with laser hardened tool steels Fredric Bergström Uddeholms AB, Research Development, SE683 85, Hagfors, Sweden fredric.bergstrom@uddeholm.se Abstract Laser hardened tools is becoming more popular in the industry. The process is an interesting alternative to induction, and flame hardening, when for instance hardening car body die components. This paper therefore reports Uddeholms AB’s studies on the performance of laser hardened cutting tools. A selective laser hardening operation has been made on the tools cutting edges. Some of the reasons why this type of selective hardening is used in the industry are: in the case when the part to be heattreated is too large for the furnace, when only a small segment or area of the whole part needs the benefit in performance such a treatment offers and the overall cost saving the treatment provides by using inexpensive steels. Longrun cutting tests have been made with a number of tool steel grades with laser hardened cutting edges. The Docol 800DP sheet is used throughout the tests. The wear and failure mechanisms on these tool steel grades, as well as the appearance of the sheet blanks have been studied and taken in to consideration in the evaluation process. From these tests, conclusions can be made regarding different tool steel grades suitability, durability and performance when cutting UHSS. Key words: tool steel, laser hardening, wear 1. INTRODUCTION Laser hardened tools are becoming more used in the industry. By using this type of localized heat treatment process and selectively laser harden only the cutting edges of a for instance trimming tool, instead of harden the whole part, one might reduce cost and lead t