Shearing Machine Blade Materials

Shearing machine blades are core parts for cutting sheet metal. They need high hardness, wear resistance, toughness and good hardenability. These help them handle impact and friction when shearing. Choose blade materials based on: sheet metal type, thickness and production volume. Below are common materials and their uses.

I. Common Blade Materials & Performance

1. 9CrSi (Low-Alloy Tool Steel)

• Performance: Good hardenability and tempering stability. Hardness is usually HRC 57-60.

• Best Uses: Cuts ordinary low-carbon steel (e.g., Q235), thin sheets or non-ferrous metals.

• Limitations: Quite brittle. Chips easily on stainless steel or high-hardness sheets. Moderate service life.

2. Cr12MoV / SKD11 (Same Material, Different Designations)

• Note: Cr12MoV and SKD11 are the same cold work die steel. They have the same alloy composition and performance. The only difference is their designations (Cr12MoV is the Chinese standard, SKD11 is the Japanese standard).

• Core Performance: Hardness reaches 58~64HRC after quenching. Good wear resistance and hardenability. Little deformation after heat treatment. Molybdenum and vanadium make it tough and less likely to chip.

• Applications: Cuts ordinary carbon steel, cold-rolled sheets, aluminum sheets (≤12mm thick), high-strength steel, stainless steel and galvanized sheets (≤20mm thick). Suitable for small to medium batches and high-volume, high-load shearing. Cost-effective and ideal for lines needing long blade life.

3. H13, H13K

• Core Performance: Hardness 52~58HRC. Excellent toughness and thermal fatigue resistance. Handles heavy impact when cutting thick plates. Doesn’t break easily.

• Applications: Cuts thick steel plates (≥20mm), hot-rolled plates or high-hardness alloy plates (intermittent cutting). Good for heavy-duty machines. Prioritizes impact resistance over extreme wear resistance.

4. Carbide (e.g., WC-Co)

• Core Performance: Hardness up to 89~93HRA. Much better wear resistance than tool steel. Service life is over 10x that of Cr12MoV/SKD11.

• Applications: Mass cuts thin stainless steel strips, color-coated plates and other wear-prone materials.

• Disadvantages: Poor toughness and impact resistance. Only for precision cutting of thin plates. Never use for thick or hard materials.

II. Principles for Choosing Blade Materials

1. Based on Sheet Metal Material

• Ordinary carbon steel/aluminum plate → Cr12MoV/SKD11 (cost-effective)

• Stainless steel/high-strength steel → H13/H13K (wear-resistant, anti-chipping)

• Thick steel plate/hot-rolled plate → H13 (prioritizes strength and toughness)

• Precision thin plate/alloy plate → High-speed steel/carbide (high precision, long life)

2. Based on Production Batch

• Small batch, intermittent shearing → Cr12MoV/SKD11 (saves cost)

• Large batch, continuous production → Cr12MoV/SKD11/high-speed steel (fewer blade changes)

3. Based on Shearing Machine Type

• Small hydraulic shearing machine → Cr12MoV/SKD11

• Medium CNC shearing machine → Cr12MoV/SKD11

• Heavy-duty guillotine shearing machine → H13

• Precision pneumatic shearing machine → High-speed steel/carbide

III. Tips to Extend Blade Life

• Treat blades with overall quenching + low-temperature tempering. This ensures uniform hardness. It prevents local soft spots that cause quick wear.

• Finely grind and polish the cutting edge. This reduces friction between the blade and material when shearing.

• Adjust proper clearance when shearing. Clearance should be 5% to 10% of material thickness. Too much clearance causes burrs. Too little speeds up wear.

IV. More Information

Key Notes for Shearing Machine Blade Use

• Blade material affects shearing efficiency and cost. Choose based on your actual needs.

• Regular maintenance (grinding, tempering) extends blade life. It reduces replacement costs.

• Clearance adjustment is key. It ensures clean cuts and protects blades from extra wear.