86-15852949220      mt@alasmachinery.com
NANJING ALAS INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
You are here: Home » ALAS Resources » » Raw Material & Tool Steel Options FAQ

ALAS Smart Search: Find Answers for Industrial Tooling & Blade

Raw Material & Tool Steel Options FAQ

  • Can your universal blades cut stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum, and copper with just one single set?

    Yes, our H13 and D2 blades can handle different materials without changing the blade itself. Just remember: when you switch materials, you must readjust the blade gap. That's the one thing that ensures a clean cut and protects the edge.

  • What common shop floor mistakes shorten industrial blade service life drastically?

    The top five blade killers are:

    Incorrect blade gap (clearance) settings;

    Uneven or incorrectly torqued locking bolts;

    Overloading the machine beyond its rated capacity;

    Feeding material contaminated with hidden hard metal or slag;

    Insufficient daily lubrication and cleaning.

  • How do I calculate the mathematically correct blade clearance gap for my cutting thickness?

    Enforce the following standardized industrial clearance percentages based on your workpiece thickness: 5% to 8% for mild carbon steel, 3% to 5% for aluminum, and 8% to 10% for stainless steel to overcome intense work-hardening. ALAS can provide a customized clearance optimization chart tailored to your specific material range.

  • Should I choose solid steel blades or Carbide-Tipped (TCT) blades for my production line?

    Solid alloy steel (D2/H13/6CrW2Si) is highly cost-effective, versatile, and easily ground for general carbon steel cutting workshop applications. Carbide-Tipped (TCT) blades last 3 to 5 times longer when processing hard rebar, high-tensile steel, and highly abrasive materials. They are engineered to sustain razor-sharpness under high-volume, automated continuous production.

  • What is the structural difference between DC53 and D2 shear blade materials?

    DC53 delivers a massive upgrade in fracture toughness, drastically reducing the risk of sudden edge cracking compared to D2 under high-impact, intermittent cutting conditions. While its pure abrasive wear resistance is slightly lower than D2, DC53 uniformly distributes carbides to eliminate stress concentrations, making it the premier choice for easy-chipping working environments.
  • What is the difference between H13 and 6CrW2Si shear blades?

    6CrW2Si is a tough cold‑work steel built for impact. It’s the go‑to for mechanical flywheel shears—where the shock load is sudden and heavy—because it absorbs that kind of punishment without cracking.
    H13 (1.2344), on the other hand, is a hot‑work steel. It stays hard at elevated temperatures, so it’s what we recommend for hydraulic shears, hot cutting, and thick plate work—basically any job where friction heat builds up fast.
  • What is the comprehensive metallurgical difference between D2 and SKD11 steel for industrial shear blades?

    D2 and SKD11 are essentially the same grade—chemically they're almost identical. What sets ALAS apart is our tighter control over trace elements during melting and forging. While both grades share a nearly identical standard chemical specification, ALAS differentiates them through micro-alloying optimizations. Our D2 line is enhanced for maximum carbide high-density distribution, which gives it slightly better wear resistance, making it a good fit for thin stainless steel shearing. Our SKD11, on the other hand, is refined for a finer grain structure, which translates to better impact toughness—ideal for high‑frequency, intermittent cutting operations.
  • How many times can ALAS shearing blades be resharpened after they become dull?

    It depends strictly on your initial blade thickness and the effective depth of the hardened layer. Because ALAS implements a deep, computer-controlled vacuum heat treatment protocol, our tools secure a 100% uniform hardness matrix from the core to the working surface. This enables the knives to undergo multiple precision regrinds (typically removing 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm per pass under flood coolant) without experiencing any drop in pure wear resistance or mechanical performance.
  • How long do industrial metal sheet shearing blades last under normal shop floor operations?

    The operational service life depends strictly on workpiece hardness, cutting frequency, and blade material. With routine edge lubrication, clean feedstock — free from hidden hard contaminants — and proper daily clearance calibration, total tool life can range from several months to several years of stable, clean shearing performance.

     
  • What are the common raw material grades utilized for ALAS metal shearing and scrap recycling blades?

    We maintain a robust and certified warehouse inventory of premium global tool steels and alloy steels. We dynamically match these chemistries to your precise cutting tonnage, edge profile, and feedstock tensile properties. Our standard availability includes: 9CrSi, Cr12MoV, SKD11, D2, H13, H13K, LD, and DC53.

  • Material Selection Guide: When should I choose D2 versus H13 steel for ALAS shear blades?

    The optimal choice depends strictly on your workpiece thickness, cutting temperature, and impact loads:
    Choose D2: Best suited for shearing stainless steel sheets and light‑to‑medium carbon steel plates under 4 mm. D2 contains high carbon and chromium content, forming massive, hard chromium carbides that deliver superior edge retention and prolonged resistance to dulling.
    Choose H13 (1.2344) or 6CrW2Si: Designed for thick steel plate shearing, heavy scrap processing, and high‑impact conditions. These shock‑resistant hot‑work tool steels offer extreme fracture toughness to absorb severe dynamic loads without cracking. 

    For D2: Ideal for punch press operations and slitting lines where continuous friction and abrasive wear dominate.
    For H13/6CrW2Si: Preferred for guillotine shears and scrap shredders where sudden shock and heavy section thickness are the primary failure risks.
200
Phone:
86-15852949220
Address:
Jiangning District, Nanjing
About Us

Nanjing Alas International Co., Ltd. is a professional industrial tooling manufacturer focused on shear blades, bending dies, shredder blades, and custom wear parts. We offer full application engineering, material selection, setup guidance, and after-sales support to global customers.
Tell us your requirements, and our engineering team will provide professional solutions for blade specification, tool life optimization, and cost-effective production.

Subscribe
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news.
Copyright © 2021-2026 NANJING ALAS INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD 苏ICP备2021025144