A hard steel used for metal cutting tools as it remains hard even at dull red temperatures. It normally contains: Tungsten 12 to 18%, Chromium up to 5% and Carbon 0.4 to 0.7%. Search for machine tool books on Amazon.co.uk
tool steel able to cut at twice the speed of carbon steel. Most commonly used in lathe bits, drills, and end mills. Note that, as a general rule, the harder the tool steel the higher the cutting speed that can be obtained.
(HSS): Hardened steel used in cutters, blades, bits and knives.
HSS. Steel containing carbides of tungsten, vanadium, molybdenum and/or cobalt which has a high hardness and wear resistance. It will remain hard at very high temperatures. It is not to be confused with "carbide" as in carbide tipped tools or "tungsten carbide" etc. Most HSS turning tools are made in Sheffield, England from M2 high speed steel which contains (by percentage) 0.85 carbon, 4.0 chromium, 6.3 tungsten, 5.0 molybdenum, 1.9 vanadium and the rest iron.
The term `high speed steel' was derived from the fact that it is capable of cutting metal at a much higher rate than carbon tool steel and continues to cut and retain its hardness even when the point of the tool is heated to a low red temperature. Tungsten is the major alloying element but it is also combined with molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt in varying amounts. Although replaced by cemented carbides for many applications it is still widely used for the manufacture of taps, dies, twist drills, reamers, saw blades and other cutting tools.
High Speed Steel (sometimes called speed steel) is designated as hss. It is heat-treated, hardened steel alloyed from various mixes of chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten and cobalt. Hss is used in many types of drill bits and cutting tools which bore metal because its content allows it to remain hard at high temperatures, resisting drilling friction heat. HSS provides more durable performance than carbon steel.
High speed steel (HSS) is a material usually used in the manufacture of machine tool bits and other cutters. It is often used in power saw blades and drill bits. It is superior to the older high carbon steel tools used extensively through the 1940's in that it can withstand higher temperatures without losing its temper (hardness).