Recknagel - Steel Glossary: Toolox 33

Chemical Composition

	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Cr	Mo	V	Ni
Max.	0.24%	1.1%	0.8%	0.01%	0.003%	1.2%	0.3%	0.11%	1.0%
Min.	0.22%	0.6%	-	-	-	1.0%	-	0.10%	-

Toolox 33 is a hardened and tempered tool steel designed to have minimal residual stresses, resulting in excellent dimensional stability during machining. This material combines very good machinability with a hardness of 300 HBW. It is specifically intended for use in plastic molds and is highly suitable for polishing and etching.

Other applications of Toolox 33 include rubber molds, bending tools, wear parts, and structural components in mechanical engineering.

Toolox 33 replaces materials 1.2311 / 1.2312 / 1.2738 / 1.7225 and unhardened 1.2842.
Hardness (Guaranteed Value)	HBW 275 - 325 (equivalent to approximately 26 - 32.5 HRC)
Impact Toughness (Guaranteed Value)	Test Temperature 20°C	Impact Toughness Charpy-V at transverse direction ≤ 130mm min. 35 J
Tensile Strength (Converted Value)	Tensile Strength approximately 860 - 1,010 MPa
Ultrasonic Testing (Guaranteed Value)	According to EN 10 160 (plates) or EN 10 228-3 (forged parts) and additional requirements as per SSAB V6.
Etching Properties (Warranty Obligation)	Toolox 33 meets the requirements according to NADCA 207–2006.
Dimensions	Toolox 33 is supplied in sheet thicknesses of 6 - 130mm.
Delivery Condition	Hardened and tempered at a minimum of 590°C.
Heat Treatment	Nitriding or coating is possible at temperatures below 590°C. Toolox 33 is not intended for further heat treatment. If this material undergoes further heat treatment above 590°C after delivery, the properties are no longer guaranteed.
Testing	Testing according to EN 10 025 and EN ISO 6506-1. Hardness tested on a milled surface 0.5 - 2mm below the sheet surface.
Tolerances	Sheet: According to EN 10 029 and SSAB AccuRollTech™. Round steel: EN 10 060
Products	Precision flat steel (standard and special dimensions), EcoPlan, P-Plates, VarioPlan and raw material blanks. Machine parts and guide rails made to your specifications and drawings.

Metallurgical Information

Hardness Profile

Nitriding Depth (NHD) according to DIN 50190-3 at core hardness +50 HV

Inclusions Content (Typical Values)

Inclusion Rate (Equivalent Diameter)	6 μm
Area Fraction	0.015%
Length-Width Ratio	1.2

Physical Properties (Typical Values)

Thermal Expansion Coefficient [10^-6/K]

+20 – 200°C: 13.1

Thermal Conductivity [W/mK]

+20°C	35.0
+200°C	35.0
+400°C	30.0

Short-Term

Diffusion zone, no compound layer

Long-Term

Diffusion zone, compound layer 36 μm

Surface Technology

Tool Life in Face Milling

Mechanical Properties (typical values^*)

	Guaranteed Hardness [HBW]	Guaranteed Charpy Impact Toughness Min [J]	Typical Charpy Impact Toughness [J]^*	Typical Yield Strength R_p0.2 [MPa]^*	Typical Tensile Strength R_m [MPa]^*	Typical Elongation A_s [%]^*	Typical Compressive Yield Strength [MPa]^*	Thickness [mm]
-40°C			27					6 - 130
-20°C			45
+20°C	275 - 325	35	100	850	980	16	800
+200°C			170	800	900	12	750
+300°C			180				700
+400°C			180				590
+500°C							560

Toolox is tested for hardness and Charpy impact toughness at room temperature.

All other values provided are from supplementary tests and are for information purposes only, but not guaranteed.

^* Approximate values for informational purposes only.

Ultrasound Testing

Each sheet is extensively tested, and 3.1 certificates are available. Internal standards are often more stringent than the industry standard.

Surface Inspection¹⁾

According to EN 10 160	Distance between parallel test lines [mm]	Minimum error area to be considered [mm²]	Maximum permissible error area [mm²]	Maximum number of local errors [number/m²]	Corresponding steel delivery conditions
-	100	1,000	10,000	1	SEL 072 Class 5
S₀	100	1,000	5,000	20	-
S₁	100	100	1,000	15	SEL 072 Class 3
S₂	50	50	100	10	SEL 072 Class 2
S₃	50	20	50	10	SEL 072 Class 1

Edge zone inspection²⁾

According to EN 10 160	Edge zone width²⁾ [mm]	Minimum defect length to consider [mm]	Maximum permissible defect length [mm]	Maximum permissible defect area [mm²]	Maximum number of defects per meter length	Corresponding steel-iron delivery conditions
E₀	50 - 100	50	100	2000	6	-
E₁	50 - 100	25	50	1000	5	SEL 072 Class 3
E₂	50 - 100	20	40	500	4	SEL 072 Class 2
E₃	50 - 100	15	30	100	3	SEL 072 Class 1
E₄	50 - 100	10	20	50	2	-

¹⁾ The inspection can be ordered and performed as a complete inspection, for example, E₁S₁ or E₂S₂, or as edge zone or surface-only inspection, for example, E₁ or S₁.

²⁾ The width of the edge zone in the edge zone inspection varies depending on the thickness of the sheet.

The Thickness Tolerances of the sheets according to AccuRollTech™ are tighter than DIN EN 10 029.

Nominal Thickness [mm]			Toolox Tolerance Class C [mm]		Maximum Thickness Variation in Sheet [mm]
			min	max
	-	4.9	-0.0	+0.7	0.5
5.0	-	7.9	-0.0	+0.8	0.6
8.0	-	14.9	-0.0	+1.0	0.7
15.0	-	24.9	-0.0	+1.2	0.8
25.0	-	39.9	-0.0	+1.5	1.0
40.0	-	79.9	-0.0	+2.4	1.1
80	-		-0.0	+3.2	1.2

Toolox sheets have an astonishing flatness.

		5.0-7.9	8.0-14.9	15.0-24.9	25.0-99.9	100.0-155.0
Toolox 33	Quarto-Sheet Class S Measuring Length 1,000mm	4mm	3mm	3mm	3mm	4mm
Toolox 33	Quarto-Sheet Class S Measuring Length 2,000mm	8mm	6mm	6mm	6mm	8mm

Toolox sheets come with a standard rust protection coating and individual sheet identification.

Processing of Toolox

All significant tool manufacturers are prepared for processing Toolox. It is advisable to seek advice on suitable tools and cutting data. These recommendations should be followed in a textbook-like manner to achieve optimal results and productive performance. It is essential to avoid reducing the feed rate out of misguided caution. Good chip formation leads to success, and Toolox rewards you with long tool life and faster processing.

Drilling

Drilling with HSS tools is reserved for less stable machines and low quantities. HSS-Co tools with the cutting data provided below have proven to be effective. Pay attention to continuous machine feed and sharp tools. A pointed cross edge would be advantageous to ensure optimal chip formation.

	Toolox 33
Speed: v [m/min]	~ 15
Diameter [mm]	Feed: f [mm/U] / Speed [1/min]
5	0.10/950
10	0.10/475
15	0.16/325
20	0.23/235
25	0.30/195
30	0.35/165
*35	0.40/136
*40	0.45/119

Drilling with solid carbide tools is productive and efficient. It is recommended to use internal coolant with a higher concentration. Make sure to drill with continuous feed (not lower than the tool manufacturer's recommendation).

	Toolox 33
Speed: v [m/min]	65–90
Diameter [mm]	Feed [mm/U]
Diameter [mm]	min.-max.	Starting Value
3.0 – 5.0	0.08 – 0.15	0.10
5.01 – 10.0	0.09 – 0.16	0.12
10.01 – 15.0	0.16 – 0.22	0.18
15.01 – 20.0	0.22 – 0.28	0.25

Replaceable solid carbide heads or brazed inserts are used for medium diameters. Refer to the table for cutting values.

	Toolox 33
Speed: v [m/min]	50-80
Diameter [mm]	Feed [mm/U]
Diameter [mm]	min.-max.	Starting Value
7.5 – 12.0	0.10–0.16	0.13
12.01 – 20.0	0.15–0.23	0.20
20.01 – 25.0	0.18–0.27	0.22
25.01 – 30.0	0.20–0.30	0.24

Long holes up to over 50 x D can also be produced very productively on machining centers with IKZ (internal coolant supply) by using solid carbide drills with a special geometry. The table below shows typical cutting values.

Material	Hardness	Dia.	Depth	Rel. Depth	Cutting Data			Coolant
Material	Hardness	d [mm]	l [mm]	l/d	v_c [m/min]	f [mm]	v_f [mm/min]	Emulsion
Toolox 33	300 HB	5	10	20	50	0.15	477	IK, p=20bar

Manufacturers' Data - Titex

Deep Drilling in Toolox presents a special challenge, which the renowned manufacturer Botek masters and solves economically with a special cutting edge geometry. The single-lip solid drilling tools Type 110 with special geometry for diameters up to 12.0mm, as well as single-lip deep drilling tools Type 01 with interchangeable cutting inserts and guide pads in special design from diameter 12.0mm, have proven to be excellent solutions.

For further information, please contact Botek Company and feel free to refer to us.

Drill Diameter [mm]	3	4	5	6	7-8	9-10	11-12	>12
Cutting Speed [m/min]	50	50	50	50	40-50	40-50	40-50	40-50
Feed Rate [mm/U]	0.005	0.01	0.015	0.0175	0.02	0.03	0.04	0.1
Coolant Pressure [bar]	100	100	100	90	80	70	60	40
Center Drilling Distance [mm]	40	40	50	60	60	70	70	70
Center Drilling Feed [mm/U]	0.0025	0.005	0.0075	0.009	0.01	0.015	0.02	0.05

Data provided by Botek

Achievable tool life with oil: approx. 10 – 12 meters under optimal process conditions.

Miling

Toolox is particularly resistant to distortion due to extremely low residual stresses when machined with optimal parameters and without introducing unnecessary heat into the workpiece. Long tool life is achieved through clever milling strategies, stable clamping, and sufficient chip thickness. Toolox has a unique microstructure that facilitates machining despite its high hardness. The carbides in Toolox are very hard and wear-resistant microstructure components. Their microscopically fine, spherical form in the Toolox microstructure prevents the cutting edge damage typical in other tool steels. Sufficiently high tooth feed ensures the removal of the carbides along with the chip, while too low a feed would lead to intense abrasive wear on the cutting edge. Sharp cutting edges with positive geometry are optimal for machining Toolox. Choose tools specifically designed for machining high-alloyed steels. Tools for hard machining (up to 60 HRC) are unsuitable, as their cutting edges typically have negative rake angles.

Entry using "Roll-In" method

Wear after 800 passes

Straight entry into the workpiece

Wear after 390 passes

Introduction to the cutting process using the 'roll-in' method

Face Milling

Interrupted cuts are better milled with round inserts. Particularly high productivity can be achieved with HPC tools. Also, face mills are suitable for Toolox.

Recommendation for 45° cutters

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	180-220
Feed rate: f_z [mm/tooth]	min. – max.	Starting value
Insert grade P30	0.15–0.35	0.25

Recommendation for face milling cutters with round inserts

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	180-220
Feed rate: f_z [mm/tooth]	min. – max.	Starting value
Insert grade P30	0.10–0.25	0.15

Recommendation for face mills / face milling heads

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	180-220
Feed rate: f_z [mm/tooth]	min. – max.	Starting value
Insert grade P30	0.12–0.25	0.17

Cutting values for HPC copy and face mills

Material group	Material designation	Strength N/mm2	Copy Milling								Plunge / Boring Circular Milling
			Dry Machining				Wet Machining				Dry Machining				Wet Machining
			Preferred Cutting Material	V_c [m/min]			Preferred Cutting Material	V_c [m/min]			Preferred Cutting Material	V_c [m/min]			Preferred Cutting Material	V_c [m/min]
			Preferred Cutting Material	Min	Start	Max	Preferred Cutting Material	Min	Start	Max	Preferred Cutting Material	Min	Start	Max	Preferred Cutting Material	Min	Start	Max
8.2	Toolox 33 Tool steels	900–1100	F25M	120	140	160	F25M	110	130	150	F25M	80	90	100	F25M	70	85	100

End Milling

For slot milling, a depth per pass (ap) of 0.5 x D has proven to be effective, and sufficient chip space should be available. End milling, including trochoidal milling, is very productive with full cutting length ap and a feed per tooth (ae) of about 0.1 x D. Dry milling with compressed air cooling to remove chips helps avoid thermal shock and overload due to trapped chips.

Thread Milling

strong Both Toolox materials can be machined with machine taps. Experienced locksmiths often drill a slightly larger pilot hole. Cutting paste, cutting oil, or a richer emulsion have proven to be particularly effective.

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	7-10
Size	Speed [1/min]
M5	445–635
M6	370–530
M8	270–400
M10	220–320
M12	185–265
M16	140–200
M20	110–160

Thread milling is a productive method that offers high manufacturing reliability, especially for very small diameters and in situations where thread cutting is difficult.

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	80-110
Feed rate: f_z [mm/tooth]	0.03 – 0.06

Countersinking and Chamfering

Countersinking as well as chamfering can be easily achieved on machining centers using indexable insert tools. For less stable machines, countersinks with revolving centering pins have proven to be effective.

	Toolox 33
Cutting speed: v [m/min]	0.10-0.20
Diameter [mm]	Speed [1/min]
19	670–1340
24	530–1060
34	375–750
42	300–600
57	225–440

Polishing Toolox

Fine grinding with coarse abrasive (e.g., grit size 120). Completely remove all traces of processing or eroding. Preferably, use the flat side of the abrasive to achieve an absolutely flat surface. Vary the grinding direction in an X-pattern to create an efficient and time-saving process while obtaining a flat surface.
Repeat the fine grinding process from Step 1, but with a finer grit size, such as 320. Completely eliminate any remaining traces from the previous grinding.
Rough polishing with diamond paste on a piece of brass. Use a grit size of 45μm. Perform this rough polishing until all remaining traces and scratches from the previous step (Step 2) are completely removed.
Repeat the process from Step 3, but now with 15μm diamond paste, until all traces remaining from Step 3 are gone.
Proceed as in Step 4, but use a 7μm diamond paste. Continue this step until all traces from Step 4 are removed.
Polish with 7μm diamond paste on a fiber or plastic element. Continue until the last remaining irregularities from Step 5 are eliminated.
Proceed as in Step 6, but use a 3μm diamond paste instead of 7μm. Continue until the last subtle nuances of irregularities from Step 6 are removed. (We use the word "nuance" here because at this point, the surface is already so flat and fine that there are no visible scratches to the naked eye.)
Polish with 3μm diamond paste on a piece of felt until all remaining nuances from the previous step are gone.
As a final step, polish with 3μm diamond paste and cotton. This is a manual process to achieve the final shine. Continue until the entire surface exhibits a uniform shine.

Welding of Toolox

Toolox is well weldable if the following instructions are observed. The carbon equivalent for Toolox 33 is CE_IIW 0.62–0.71 / CET 0.4–0.44.
Suitable austenitic welding fillers for welding without preheating are AWS 307 or AWS 309. The strength achieved in the weld is approximately R_p0.2 = 500 MPa. Non-alloyed or low-alloyed welding fillers can achieve strengths of up to approximately R_p0.2 = 930 MPa and provide good toughness.

Preheat both sides of the weld joint, approximately 100 – 150mm on each side. The preheating temperature should be reached at the center of the plate. Maintain the preheating temperature throughout the entire welding process, especially during tack welding.

Use soft or stainless electrodes if possible. The electrodes must be dry. The maximum allowable hydrogen content is 5ml/100g of the welding material. To achieve optimal texture formation, welding should be done using the TIG process with a filler wire having the same chemical composition as the base material. The simplest method is to cut a rod from a leftover piece of the base material.
Weld with a heat input resulting in a Δt_8/5 value between 10 and 20s.
Before welding the next layer, the interpass temperature for Toolox 33 should not exceed *170°C.
Perform a post-weld heat treatment in the area of approximately 100 – 150mm on each side of the weld joint. The holding time should be 5 min / mm of plate thickness or at least 60 minutes. Normally, a holding time of 2 hours is sufficient. The start of the holding time is the point at which the temperature is uniform throughout the tempering volume.

* Post-weld heat treatment should be performed at a temperature of 150 – 200 °C if only low requirements for dimensional stability are needed.

* Post-weld heat treatment should be performed at a temperature of 560 – 580°C if high requirements for dimensional stability are needed, and the influence of the weld on the texture formation result should be minimized.

Hardness Comparison Table for Toolox and Hardox

Tensile Strength MPa	715	790	820	861	935	995	1011	1090	1169	1245	1328	1412	1494	1580	1758	1940	2130
Vickers Hardness HV	205	233	243	261	289	311	317	345	373	401	429	458	485	514	569	627	682
Brinell Hardness HBW	225	250	260	275	300	320	325	350	375	400	425	450	475	500	550	600	650
Rockwell HRC	19	22.5	24	26	29	32	32.5	35.5	38	40	42.5	44.5	46.5	49	52.5	55	57.5

Steel Glossary
Toolox 33

Metallurgical Information

Hardness Profile

Inclusions Content (Typical Values)

Physical Properties (Typical Values)

Short-Term

Long-Term

Surface Technology

Tool Life in Face Milling

Mechanical Properties (typical values^*)

Ultrasound Testing

Processing of Toolox

Drilling

Miling

Face Milling

Cutting values for HPC copy and face mills

End Milling

Thread Milling

Countersinking and Chamfering

Polishing Toolox

Welding of Toolox

Hardness Comparison Table for Toolox and Hardox

Available products made of this grade:

Downloads

Toolox 33

Steel GlossaryToolox 33

Metallurgical Information

Hardness Profile

Inclusions Content (Typical Values)

Physical Properties (Typical Values)

Short-Term

Long-Term

Surface Technology

Tool Life in Face Milling

Mechanical Properties (typical values*)

Ultrasound Testing

Processing of Toolox

Drilling

Miling

Face Milling

Cutting values for HPC copy and face mills

End Milling

Thread Milling

Countersinking and Chamfering

Polishing Toolox

Welding of Toolox

Hardness Comparison Table for Toolox and Hardox

Available products made of this grade:

Downloads

Toolox 33

Attention please!

Steel Glossary
Toolox 33

Mechanical Properties (typical values^*)