Lõiketeras

Lõiketeras is a category of steel alloys designed for tools and components that cut or shear materials. These steels are engineered to combine hardness and wear resistance with sufficient toughness to withstand cutting stresses. They are widely used to produce blades, cutters and other cutting tools used in metalworking and woodworking.

Composition and heat treatment: Lõiketeras typically contains carbon and alloying elements such as chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and tungsten, which form carbides that resist wear. Many grades are heat-treated (hardened and tempered) to obtain a surface hardness of roughly 60–66 HRC, while maintaining core toughness. High-speed steels (HSS) are a key subgroup intended for high cutting speeds and good edge retention.

Types and examples: The category includes carbon tool steels, alloy tool steels and high-speed steels. Grades vary in carbon content and alloying, balancing hardness, wear resistance and toughness for different cutting applications. Some grades emphasize extreme wear resistance, others prioritize toughness for impact loading.

Applications: Used to manufacture circular and band saw blades, milling cutters, drill bits, punches, dies, knives and other cutting tools. Lõiketeras is also employed in components that experience cutting or shearing forces, where a sharp, durable edge is essential.

Manufacturing and standards: Produced as ingots or billets, then formed by forging or rolling and subjected to heat treatment to achieve desired hardness and toughness. Standards for tool steels are published by international and regional bodies (for example EN tool steels, AISI/SAE classifications), providing guide values for composition and mechanical properties.