¨
A. Finkl & Sons Co.
Holder And Cavity Steel
DATA SHEET
Carbon 0.50
Molybdenum 0.50
Chromium 1.15 Silicon 0.25
Manganese 0.85 Nickel 0.90
Micro-alloy additions*
Chemistry
The selective use of micro-alloying additions in a fully
vacuum degassed heat results in an excellent inclusion
shape control and produces the highest mechanical properties
attainable in the temperature range of 70° to 300°F.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Finkl FX-XTRA is a remarkably tough, long lasting,
Ni-Cr-Mo steel with excellent high temperature physical
properties. Special machining quality reduces machining
costs and machine loads making it possible to
sink FX-XTRA as hard as 477 BHN. FX-XTRA has
earned an unparalleled reputation in the industry for
replacement machine parts such as gears, pinions, pistons,
and crank shafts.
FX
®
-XTRA
®
and FS® (Fx-Annealed) Die Steels
Cleanest . . . Toughest . . . Most Machinable
Available only by Patented* Vacuum Arc Degassing (VAD) Process and
Balanced Deoxidation Techniques Enhanced with Micro-Alloy Additions *
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Hammer Dies Hammer Rams
Press Dies Coining Dies
Sow Blocks Knockout Pins
Punches Insert Dies
Headers Insert Die Holders
Gripper Dies Hammer Guides
Gripper Die Inserts Piston Heads
Guide Pins Hammer Keys
Extrusion Press-Backup Tools
† Patent No. 5,496,516
* Produced under one or more of the following patents: 5,496,516;
4,894,087; 4,780,134; 4,655,826; 4,600,427; 4,541,862;
4,318,739; 3,929,423; others pending
© Right is reserved to change chemistry at any time to improve
product
© Copyright 1998, A. Finkl & Sons Co.
FX-XTRA HOT HARDNESS
(After 100 hours at testing temperature)
Testing
Tempering Temperature (°F)
°F
Brinell Hardness Number
Temperature
1000 1100 1150 1200
____________________________________________
70
388
363
341
311
700
341
311
293
269
800
331
302
285
269
900
311
293
269
255
1000
285
269
241
229
WELDING
Welding of FX-XTRA or FS weakens the parts. A
weakened die or other part can fail or disintegrate
resulting in property damage and/or personal injury.
Finkl recommends against the practice of welding.
User assumes all risk of injury to persons or damage
to property attributable to welding.
SPECIAL MACHINING QUALITY
HARDNESS RANGES AVAILABLE
Finkl FX-XTRA is furnished in the prehardened condition
ready for sinking. In the case of special customer
requirements it can be supplied in the annealed state,
such as FS.
When specified, shanks of Hammer Dies up to 36" 48"
can be softened approximately one temper range to
facilitate machining and prevent cracking.
Temper
BID
BHN
HRC
XH©©
2.65-2.75
534-495
54-51
H
2.80-2.90
477-444
50-47
1
2.95-3.05
429-401
46-43
2
3.10-3.25
388-352
42-38
3
3.30-3.45
341-311
37-33
4
3.50-3.65
302-277
32-29
Annealed 4.00
229 (approx.)20
©©Special applications with Finkl approval only.
HEAT TREATMENT OF FX-XTRA OR FS
Critical Temperatures at a Rate of 200°F/hr:
Ac3/Ar3 360/1340°F
Ac1/Ar1 840/720°F
Annealing (FX-XTRA, or FS after hardening)
1. Charge into a furnace that is at 600°F or lower. Heat
evenly at a rate of 200°F per hour to 1440/1460°F.
2. Soak at this temperature for 1 hour per inch of least
dimension or a maximum of 6 hours.
3. Seal furnace and allow to cool to 1220°F. Hold at
this temperature for 4 hours and furnace cool to
800°F. This annealing cycle should yield a hardness
of approximately 229 BHN.
Hardening
1 .The face of the die and all vital machined surfaces
must be protected from oxidation and decarburization
by one of the following methods:
Controlled Atmosphere
Salt Bath
Sealed Container Using 95% Charcoal and 5%
Spent Carburizer Packing.
2. Charge into the furnace at a temperature of 600°F or
lower. Heat evenly at a rate of 200°F per hour to
1550/1600°F.
3. Soak at this temperature for 1 hour per inch of least
dimension. If the packing method is used soak at
1550/1600°F for 1 hour per inch of least container
dimension. Be sure to heat material thoroughly at
this temperature.
4. After soaking is complete, drop furnace temperature
rapidly to 1450°F and hold there for 1 to 4 hours
depending on the part size. This drop in temperature
will reduce quenching hazards, such as breakage
and warpage.
5 .Oil quench from 1450°F. Totally immerse die working
face down over a strong geyser of oil so that gas
pockets are swept out of the impression.
6. When die temperature is sufficiently low to avoid
flash, the shank portion may be raised above the
level of the bath in order to avoid cracking.
7 .When surface temperature of die or tool has dropped
to approximately 500- 600°F withdraw from oil bath
and immediately place in tempering furnace at 400°F.
Tempering
1. Allow temperature of die to equalize at 400°F.
2. Heat die uniformly to tempering temperature.
3 .Soak at tempering temperature for 1 hour per inch of
least dimension. Since part size, furnace and quench-
ing media affect the final hardness, only approximate
tempering temperatures can be recommended as a
guide for specific hardness:
Temperature (°F) BHN
HRC Scleroscope
450
555
55
73
880
477-444
50-47
66-63
1020
429-401
46-43
61-58
1120
388-352
42-38
56-51
1180
341-311
37-33
50-46
1220
302-277
32-29
45-41
A second temper is always beneficial to promote a
homogeneous structure and increased ductility. FS
should always be thoroughly annealed between quench-
ing operations.
The shanks of dies and mandrels are likely to be
undesirably hard if the body of the die or tool is tem-
pered below 900°F. In this case a differential temper
of the shank is recommended either by hot plate,
lead, or salt bath.
T E S T
T E NS IL E
Y IE L D
E L ONG A T ION
R E DUC T ION
T E MP E R
T E MP E R A T UR E
S T R E NG T H
S T R E NG T H
2" G A UG E
OF A R E A
(¡ F )
(ks i)
♦♦♦
(ks i)
♦♦♦
(%)
♦♦♦
(%)
♦♦♦
H (High S ide)
80
233
213
10.9
36.7
(477Ð444 B HN)
600
207
175
15.5
41.8
800
169
156
16.2
55.2
80
218
202
12.5
41.2
H (Low S ide)
300
207
178
12
39.1
(477Ð444 B HN)
600
196
160
15
38.1
800
165
142
16
55.2
80
205
187
12.7
34.0
300
196
166
12.5
35.1
1
600
183
150
13.0
36.3
(429Ð401 B HN)
800
156
133
15.2
55.1
900
137
123
17.0
61.1
1000
109
95
24.0
66.2
80
165
144
15.5
49.7
300
157
128
15.8
47.5
600
147
119
17.2
47.1
2
700
144
113
16.5
55.5
(388Ð352 B HN)
800
130
105
18.2
63.8
900
113
97
20.5
70.5
1000
94
78
23.8
77.5
1100
52
39
22.8
64.3
80
145
126
18.2
49.8
300
137
111
17.5
48.6
400
136
102
19.0
48.4
500
136
103
22.0
43.4
3
600
134
95
21.8
48.5
(341Ð311 B HN)
700
121
89
22.0
55.1
800
108
82
24.2
62.6
900
93
78
28.0
75.1
1000
75
67
36.8
83.8
1100
55
46
53.5
86.3
80
134
115
21.0
52.8
600
129
92
24.0
51.3
4
800
103
75
24.0
51.3
(302Ð277 B HN)
900
88
73
26.8
74.0
1000
72
60
38.0
83.5
1100
53
44
48.0
84.9
1200
28
19
62.8
70.0
F X-XT R A T E NS IL E P R OP E R T IE S ♦♦♦
♦♦♦
T est bar results
F X MA C HINA B IL IT Y
Dry Cutting
Tool: K4H SNG 633
Feed: 0.01 in per revolution
Depth: 0.125 in
Flank Wear: 0.024 in
363 BHN: Cutting Speed x Time =4934
461 BHN: Cutting Speed x Time =1582
C
u
tt
in
g
S
p
ee
d
(f
ee
t/
m
in
)
Cutting Time (minutes)
363
BH
N
461 B
HN
60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
F X
¨
IS OT HE R MA L T R A NS F OR MA T ION
HR c
19
8
20
27
35
42
51
54
60
60
62
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0.1
0.2
0.4 0.7 1
2
4
10
20
40 1
2
4
7 10
20
40 1
2
4
7 10
201
2
4
1 1.5
WE E K S
DA Y S
HOUR S
MINUT E S
S E C ONDS
A US T E NIT E
P E A R L IT E
50%
90%
99%
B A INIT E
MA R T E NS IT E A ND A US T E NIT E
50%
1%
90%
1%10%50%90% 99%
Ms = 500¡F
D
eg
re
es
°
F
A Finkl & Sons Co
One Finkl Plaza
(2011 N Southport Ave.)
Chicago, IL 60614-4079
Phone: 773/975-2510
FAX 773/348-5347
Toll free phone:
1-800-DIE-BLOCK
PRODUCT WARRANTY
The material herein merely constitutes instructions furnished gratuitously for your consideration. These instructions are intended as suggestions only and do not purport to be complete or to
replace or to constitute normal shop practices. A. Finkl & Sons Co. makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied with respect to the matters covered herein, whether
as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, reproducibility of properties and results set out herein, or any other matter.
EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES-THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITYAND FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE ARE EXCLUDED.
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