In manufacturing industries such as plastic injection molding, die casting, and forging, molds are subjected to harsh conditions of high temperature, high pressure, strong impact, and frequent hot and cold cycles. If the material selection is inappropriate, problems such as hot cracking, corner collapse, accelerated wear, and dimensional instability can easily occur, leading to shortened mold life, frequent downtime for maintenance, and even the scrapping of batches of products. Therefore, mold materials must not only possess sufficient high-temperature strength and wear resistance, but also maintain good toughness and dimensional stability under repeated thermal cycling to ensure molding accuracy and production continuity. Among various hot work die steels, H13 steel (also known as hot work die steel) has gradually become the industry standard steel for die casting molds, hot forging molds, hot extrusion molds, and high-end injection molds due to its balanced comprehensive performance, high service stability, and strong process adaptability. The following will systematically analyze the advantages of H13 as the preferred material for hot work dies from several key characteristics, including material properties, thermal cycling adaptability, and processing and maintenance characteristics.
Main Content
In metal processing, choosing the right milling machine is critical for efficiency and precision. How to decide between a horizontal milling machine’s deep cutting power and a vertical milling machine’s precision and flexibility? This condensed guide helps you avoid mistakes quickly.
1. Core Logic: Spindle Direction Defines Use
The key difference lies in spindle orientation, splitting into two scenarios:
- Horizontal Milling Machine: Horizontal spindle, transverse tool movement – ideal for deep cutting, multi-surface processing, and heavy industry mass production.
- Vertical Milling Machine: Vertical spindle, vertical tool movement – focuses on precision cutting and flexibility, perfect for small workshops and mold making.
- Modern CNC models offer ±0.005mm-±0.02mm tolerance, meeting most precision needs.
2. Core Differences at a Glance
| Comparison Dimension | Horizontal Milling Machine | Vertical Milling Machine |
| Processing Limit | Max deep cutting 300mm; high efficiency for hard metals (stainless steel/alloy) | Max deep cutting 150mm; suitable for precision cutting of light materials (aluminum alloy/plastic) |
| Precision Grade | IT6-IT7; CNC tolerance ±0.005mm-±0.01mm | IT7-IT8; tolerance ±0.01mm-±0.02mm |
| Ideal Scenarios | Aerospace, automotive heavy industry (engine blocks), mass production | Small workshops, mold making, prototype development, small-batch precision cutting |
| Investment & Maintenance | 120k-350k RMB/unit; professional training required; annual maintenance ~8k RMB | 80k-180k RMB/unit; easy for beginners; annual maintenance ~3k RMB |
3. Targeted Solutions
(1) CNC Horizontal Milling Deep Cutting Optimization
To solve core issues like low efficiency, poor chip removal, and fast tool wear:
- Opt for CNC models with spindle power ≥5.5kW + carbide-tipped tools, boosting deep cutting speed by 30%-35% (ideal for stainless steel/alloy processing);
- Equip automatic chip removal and high-pressure cooling systems to improve surface finish to Ra 0.8-1.6µm and reduce tool wear by 25%;
- Adopt 3-5 axis CNC systems for multi-surface simultaneous processing, cutting process time, and increasing mass production capacity by ~40%.
(2) Vertical Milling Selection & Usage
Tips for Small Workshops: For budget constraints, limited expertise, and diverse needs:
- Match parameters to demands: Choose models with 1000-8000rpm spindle speed and IT7 precision for light materials (aluminum/plastic), saving 30% on equipment costs;
- Prioritize modular designs with upgrade interfaces (e.g., automatic feeding) to avoid repeated investments;
- Select models with universal parts (standard tools, common lubricants) to cut annual maintenance costs to 70% of the industry average; beginners can start production within 7 days after short training.
4. FAQ
Q: Which is for hard metal processing?
A: Horizontal milling – higher deep cutting efficiency, 25% less tool wear.
Q: Priority for budget-limited small workshops?
A: Vertical milling – low investment/maintenance, cost recovery in 6-8 months.
Q: Is customization available?
A: Yes! 100+ custom cases across aerospace, automotive, and mold industries.