The bending machine mold is a tool used in the bending machine to shape and process sheet metal. This type of mold is composed of various parts, and different molds are made up of different parts. It mainly achieves the processing of the shape of the item by changing the physical state of the formed material. It is used as a tool to transform workpieces into components with specific shapes and dimensions under the pressure of the bending machine.
Different materials used for bending machine molds exhibit different performance characteristics. Generally, molds are made of materials such as T8 or T10, T10A, and higher-quality 42CrMo. Another excellent material option is Cr12MoV.
So, which material is most suitable for manufacturing bending machine molds? There is no definitive answer to this question because different materials are used in different production fields. Here, I will compare several commonly used materials in terms of their advantages and disadvantages.
Alloy structural steel: Pure metal has good toughness, but its application is limited because it lacks metals with high hardness, elasticity, and strength. Various alloy steels can meet diverse requirements. Therefore, alloy structural steel is suitable for making bending machine molds.
High-carbon structural steel and low-carbon alloy steel: Within alloy structural steel, there is a distinction between high-carbon and low-carbon.
High-carbon structural steel: It has lower elasticity and relatively low hardenability after heat treatment. The hardness generally reaches around HRC30-35. It is generally suitable for ordinary bending machine molds. The main representative is 85-grade steel, which has slightly higher strength and hardness compared to other 75/70/80 steels. Therefore, 85-grade steel can meet the requirements for workpieces with low bending demands.
Low-carbon alloy steel: Generally, low-carbon alloy steel exhibits higher hardness and toughness compared to high-carbon steel. This is due to the addition of trace metal elements such as chromium and molybdenum during the smelting process, significantly improving its performance.
42CrMo steel is a high-performing low-carbon alloy steel. After heat treatment, its hardness can reach around HRC48±2, making it suitable for the production of high-precision, wear-resistant bending machine molds. Nowadays, 42CrMo is widely used both domestically and internationally, with a broad application range.
Cr12MoV steel is also a low-carbon alloy steel, widely used in stamping molds. It is well-applied in punching molds due to its high hardness, wear resistance, and excellent quenching performance. With the development of the industry, this type of steel has gradually been used in the production of bending machine molds as well. After heat treatment, its hardness ranges from HRC55-60. Its high hardness and wear resistance make Cr12MoV steel highly suitable for specific fields.
There are many other materials that can be used for bending machine molds, but these three steels offer significant advantages in terms of comprehensive performance, price, and processing complexity. Therefore, the choice of material has a considerable impact on bending machine molds. When purchasing or customizing bending machine molds, it is essential to consider the scope of mold usage, the required wear resistance, and whether the hardness can meet the bending requirements of the workpieces.
