Material Group According to DIN / ISO 513 and VDI 3323

There is a wide variety of cutting tools on the market. Each one is ideal for use with one or more workpirce materials that have their own unique characteristics.

In order to make the choice of tools easier , workpiece materials are divided into six major groups, in accordance with ISO standards, and each group has unique properties regarding machinability:

ISO Material Hardness HB Hardness HRC
P Non Alloy Steel
Cast Steel
Free Cutting Steels		 125~200 <15
M Stainless Steel
Cast Steel		 180~240 10~23
K Cast Iron
Gray Cast Iron
Malleable Cast Iron		 130~260 <26
N Aluminum
Copper, Brass, Electrolitic Copper
Duroplastics, Fiber Plastics, Hard Rubber		 60~130  
S High Temperature Alloys
Titanium
Titanium Alloys		 200~350 15~38
H Hardened Steel
Chilled Cast Iron
Cast Iron		   50~60