Tool Steel 3D Printing Materials

Tool steel 3D printing materials such as 18Ni300, H13 and S136 are used for high-strength tooling, mold inserts, conformal cooling channels, die casting tools, injection molds and durable production fixtures. They are ideal when engineers need complex internal cooling, high hardness and reliable wear performance.

Why Use Tool Steel for Metal 3D Printing?

Tool steel additive manufacturing is valuable when a tool, insert or mold requires geometry that is difficult to machine, especially internal conformal cooling channels, complex cavities and lightweight tooling structures.

Built for Tooling Performance

Tool steels provide high hardness, strength and wear resistance for injection mold inserts, die casting molds, forming tools, fixtures and functional production aids.

Designed for Conformal Cooling

Metal 3D printing allows cooling channels to follow the shape of the molded part, improving heat transfer, cycle time, temperature control and part quality.

Common Tool Steel 3D Printing Grades

Select the grade based on hardness target, thermal loading, corrosion needs, polishing requirements and the type of mold or tooling application.

18Ni300 Tool Steel

18Ni300 is widely used for high-strength metal 3D printed mold inserts, tooling, jigs and fixtures. It responds well to aging heat treatment and can reach high strength and hardness.

H13 Tool Steel

H13 is a hot-work tool steel for applications involving thermal fatigue, impact and elevated-temperature service, including die casting tools, hot forming tools and mold inserts.

S136 Tool Steel

S136 is used for mold components that require corrosion resistance, good polishability and stable performance, especially in plastic injection mold applications.

Which Tool Steel Should You Choose?

Choose 18Ni300 for high-strength mold inserts and fixtures, H13 for hot-work tooling and thermal fatigue resistance, and S136 for injection mold parts that need corrosion resistance and polishing.

Choose 18Ni300 for strength

Best for high-strength tooling, mold inserts, fixtures and parts that require aging heat treatment after metal 3D printing.

Choose H13 for hot-work tools

Suitable for die casting inserts, hot forming tooling, high-temperature molds and parts exposed to thermal cycling.

Choose S136 for polished molds

Useful for plastic injection mold components where corrosion resistance, surface finish and polishability are important.

Choose tool steel for conformal cooling

Use metal 3D printing when internal cooling channels, complex inserts or cycle-time reduction are the main project goals.

Tool Steel 3D Printing Material Comparison

This quick comparison helps identify the right tool steel material before detailed engineering review, heat treatment planning and quotation.

Grade	Material Type	Main Advantage	Typical Applications	Post-Processing
18Ni300	Maraging steel	High strength after aging heat treatment	Mold inserts, jigs, fixtures, tooling parts	Stress relief, aging, CNC machining, polishing
H13	Hot-work tool steel	Thermal fatigue resistance and hot-work capability	Die casting inserts, hot forming tools, hot molds	Heat treatment, machining, EDM, surface finishing
S136	Corrosion-resistant mold steel	Polishability and corrosion resistance for molds	Injection mold inserts, plastic molds, precision tooling	Polishing, heat treatment, CNC machining

Tool Steel 3d Printing and Post-Processing Workflow

Tool steel parts usually require careful design review, stress relief, heat treatment and precision finishing to meet mold or tooling requirements.

Tooling Review

We review the mold function, cooling target, working temperature, expected wear, polish requirement and tolerance needs.

Printability Check

Engineers evaluate channel diameter, wall thickness, support access, deformation risk, machining allowance and orientation.

Metal 3d Printing

Tool steel parts are produced layer by layer using optimized metal powder bed fusion parameters for density and stability.

Final Finishing

Options include stress relief, aging, hardening, CNC machining, EDM, polishing, blasting and surface coating.

Design Considerations for 3D Print Tool Steel Parts

Good tooling results depend not only on the material, but also on channel design, machining allowance, heat treatment and surface finishing strategy.

Conformal Cooling Channels

Keep cooling channels smooth, accessible and suitable for powder removal. Avoid sharp turns when possible and leave enough wall thickness around the channel.

Machining Allowance

Add stock for precision areas such as parting surfaces, locating features, sealing faces, ejector areas and critical mold interfaces.

Heat Treatment Planning

Plan heat treatment early because hardness, dimensional change and final machining sequence affect the tool’s service performance.

Applications of Tool Steel 3D Printing

Tool steel additive manufacturing is most valuable where internal cooling, low-volume tooling or complex tool geometry creates a clear production benefit.

Conformal Cooling Mold Inserts

Printed inserts can place cooling channels closer to the cavity surface, improving temperature control and reducing injection molding cycle time.

Die Casting Inserts

H13 tool steel can be used for hot-work tooling exposed to thermal cycling, high temperature and repeated production loading.

Injection Mold Components

S136 and 18Ni300 are suitable for mold components that need precise geometry, finishing, polishing and stable performance.

Jigs and Fixtures

18Ni300 can be used for strong, durable fixtures, custom tooling aids and production support parts with complex shapes.

Prototype Tooling

Metal 3D printed tool steel can shorten tooling development for pilot production, design validation and low-volume manufacturing.

Special Cutting and Forming Tools

Tool steel 3d printing supports complex internal structures, weight reduction and functional features that are hard to produce by machining alone.

FAQ

What tool steel materials can be 3D printed?

Common tool steel 3D printing materials include 18Ni300 maraging steel, H13 hot-work tool steel and S136 mold steel. They are used for mold inserts, conformal cooling tools, fixtures, die casting tooling and injection mold components.

Which tool steel is best for conformal cooling molds?

18Ni300 is commonly used for conformal cooling mold inserts because it offers high strength after aging heat treatment and can be printed with complex internal cooling channels. H13 may be selected when hot-work temperature resistance is more important.

Is H13 suitable for metal 3D printed die casting tools?

Yes. H13 is a hot-work tool steel used for die casting inserts, hot forming tools and applications exposed to thermal cycling. Final performance depends on print parameters, heat treatment, machining and surface finishing.

What is the difference between 18Ni300 and H13 in 3d print?

18Ni300 is a maraging steel known for high strength after aging heat treatment, while H13 is a hot-work tool steel selected for elevated-temperature tooling and thermal fatigue resistance. The right choice depends on whether strength or hot-work performance is the priority.

Do 3D printed tool steel parts need post-processing?

Yes. Most tool steel 3D printed parts require support removal, stress relief, heat treatment, CNC machining, EDM, polishing or surface finishing to meet mold and tooling requirements.

Can tool steel 3D printing reduce mold cycle time?

It can help reduce cycle time when conformal cooling channels improve heat transfer and temperature uniformity. The actual improvement depends on channel design, cooling layout, mold material, plastic material and process conditions.

Contact Us

Need Stronger Molds & Tooling?

Tool steel 3D printing enables conformal cooling channels and durable mold inserts that are hard to machine. Choose 18Ni300 (high strength), H13 (hot-work), or S136 (corrosion resistance) for injection molds, die casting tools, and fixtures.

Send your CAD file for a printability review and quote today.

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