M2 High-Speed Steel for Cutting Tools & Molds

M2 high-speed steel (W6Mo5Cr4V2 / SKH51) is known for its high toughness, good wear resistance, and uniform carbide structure. With low carbide inhomogeneity, M2 performs well under vibration and shock loads, making it suitable for cutting tools and molds used in demanding applications.

As a molybdenum-based high-speed steel, M2 maintains high hardness and stable performance at elevated temperatures. Proper control of quenching temperature and heat treatment helps achieve the best material properties. Thanks to its balanced toughness and wear resistance, M2 high-speed steel is widely used for difficult-to-cut materials and general-purpose cutting tools.

Key Applications

Applicable to the production of drill, tap, screw die, milling cutter, gear cutter, cold die mold, and other cutting tools, and molds with high wear resistance and strength.

  • Metal cutting tools: drills, taps, milling cutters, gear cutters

  • Heavy-duty molds: punch dies, cold extrusion, and forming dies

  • Industrial components requiring high wear resistance and strength

Metal Cutting Tools
M2 Equivalent Standards & Specifications
ZEICIN GradeGBAISIJISDIN
ZDF-M2W6Mo5Cr4V2M2SKH511.3343
M2 Chemical Composition
ElemnetCWMoCrVCoAlMnSiSP
Contene(%)0.80-0.905.50-6.754.50-5.503.50-4.401.75-2.200.15-0.400.20-0.45≤0.03≤0.03
M2 Heat Treatment Process

Quenching

A process of heat treatment to increase hardness and wear resistance by rapidly cooling the steel.

Annealing

Basically, to softens the steel by relieving stress and making it easier to machine.

Tempering

When using M2 steel, tempering follows quenching in order to relieve stress and fine-tune hardness and toughness for optimum performance.

HSS M2 Isothermal Spheroidizing

Annealing-Quenching-Tempering graph (HRC:62-64)

M2 Microstructure
Microstructure M2 500times
Microstructure M2 100times
M2 Product Forms

ZEICIN Steel is a professional manufacturer of M2 HSS, supplying products in various forms produced by hot rolling and hot forging. Bulk supply and customized size requirements are available upon request.

 

TypeSpecification(mm)Surface Condition
Cold-drawn Round Steelφ1-12Black/Centerless Surface
Hot-rolled Round Steelφ12-60Turned Surface
Precision Forged Round Steel
(Spray Forming)
φ60-300+Turned/Peeled Surface

Surface Condition Gallery

Different surface conditions affect appearance, dimensional accuracy, and machining allowance. The images below show common delivery options (actual products may vary by size and batch).

Why Choose ZEICIN STEEL As Your M2 Manufacturer?
M2 / SKH51 (1.3343) high-speed steel offers excellent hot hardness and wear resistance, maintaining stable cutting performance under high-speed, high-temperature, and heavy-duty machining conditions.
Excellent Hot Hardness, Wear Resistance and Stable Cutting Performance
Produced through a mature and stable high-speed steel manufacturing process, M2 steel features a uniform microstructure with well-distributed carbides. Combined with proper heat treatment, it achieves high hardness, good thermal stability, and strong resistance to softening at elevated temperatures.
Mature Manufacturing Process and Reliable Heat Treatment Performance
With a well-balanced combination of hardness and toughness, this grade effectively reduces the risk of edge chipping and premature failure, making it suitable for continuous and heavy-duty cutting applications.
Balanced Toughness and Resistance to Failure
Strict quality control is applied throughout the production process to ensure consistent performance across different batches. M2 / SKH51 (1.3343) high-speed steel complies with major international standards including ASTM, DIN, JIS, and GB, and is widely used in the global cutting tool and tooling industry.
Stable Quality Control and International Standards Compliance
Technical Strength
To ensure stable supply and batch consistency, we build our capability on continuous R&D and process innovation.

ZEICIN STEEL invests in R&D for high-speed steels and martensitic stainless steels. Our focus is on cleaner steel, more uniform carbide distribution, and stable heat-treatment response to support longer service life and better batch consistency.

National-Level Program Participation & R&D Support

Our company research and development team:Our company is one Member of the key project of “the 13th five-year plan ”of the National ministry of science and technology, Our company enjoys National government support and financial subsidies.

Rapid-Solidification ESR Development (High Speed Steel)

Together with Shanghai University and a Beijing-based steel research institute, we have developed a rapid-solidification electroslag remelting (RS ESR) process route. This process helps improve steel cleanliness and carbide uniformity, supporting longer tool life and more stable performance.

Spray Forming HSS: Technical Cooperation & Capability Building

We work with Baosteel Group on spray forming technology. Our team supports process development and engineering validation for spray-formed HSS, helping meet high-performance material development and scale-up needs.

Awards & Honors Received
RS-ESR
Spray Forming HSS
Honorary certificate
Invention Patent Certificate
Environmental Management System Certification
Invention Patent Certificate
Utility Model Patent Certificate
Packaging & Shipping
Customer Feedback
Real customer feedback to show our performance in quality, and service .
HSS CLIENTS TEST FEEDBACK
HSS CLIENTS TEST FEEDBACK
HSS HOBS TEST FEEDBACK
Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We are a factory. ZEICIN STEEL produces high-quality, cost-effective special steels, including stainless steel, tool & die steel, and high-speed steel. We also have our own import/export license, so we can serve overseas customers directly and support stable supply with batch traceability.

Yes. For first-time cooperation, we can provide a limited quantity of samples for verification (such as grade confirmation, machining trials, or heat-treatment evaluation). Samples can be shipped by international courier, and the courier cost is paid by the buyer. We value honest cooperation and look forward to a long-term win-win partnership.

Our common international payment methods include T/T and L/C. For trade terms, we can also support options such as DDU based on the order. The final payment method and terms can be confirmed according to your country/region, order value, and delivery method.

 

Our products use standard industrial packaging to ensure safe transportation. If you need custom packaging, please let us know when placing your order.

If the products are in stock, delivery usually takes 5–7 days.
If the products are not in stock, delivery time is about 30–40 days, depending on the order quantity.

圆棒 30

Contact us for more information on steel materials and finished products.

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