About Raw Materials
Engineering Raw Material Selection — Quick Reference
Raw materials = stock-shape engineering material for toolroom + maintenance + prototype work. Selection by material grade matched to service (cutting tool / shaft / wear plate / bearing).
| Material | Best For | Stock Shapes |
|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Steel (HSS — M2) | Cutting tools + form tools + punches | Round / square / flat bar — metric + imperial |
| Silver Steel (W1 / Ground Tool Steel) | Precision-ground bar — punches + pins + shafts | 3-25mm round — pre-ground to tolerance |
| Bronze Bar (Phosphor / Aluminium) | Bearing + bushing + wear plate manufacture | See bronze bars |
| Tool Steel (A2 / D2 / O1 / H13 / S7) | Die + mould + cutter blanks | See tool steels |
| Key Steel | Precision-ground keyway stock | See key steel |
| Mild Steel (1020 / EN3B) | General machining + brackets + structural | Round / square / flat — workshop standard |
| Stainless Steel (304 / 316 / 416) | Corrosion-resistant + food/marine applications | Round + flat bar |
| 4140 Alloy Steel | Shafts + gears + axles + structural | Through-hardenable workshop bar |
| Aluminium (6061 / 7075) | Lightweight + machined components | Round + plate |
Selection logic: wear application = HSS / tool steel | wear+corrosion = stainless or bronze | structural = mild + alloy steel | precision shaft = silver steel (pre-ground) | light + machined = aluminium. Brands: Erasteel, Maxigear. Companion: key steel, bronze bars, tool steels.
Raw Materials
AIMS Industrial stocks a focused range of engineering raw materials including high-speed steel (HSS), silver steel and bronze bar — the essential stock shapes for toolroom, maintenance and prototype work. Our range comes from trusted suppliers Erasteel and Maxigear.
High-Speed Steel (HSS) Tool Steel
Maxigear HSS tool steel is available in round, square and flat bar sections in metric and imperial sizes. M2 grade HSS is the standard choice for general tool making, while M42 Cobalt HSS offers improved heat resistance and longer tool life in harder materials. These are the go-to materials for custom cutting tools, form tools, lathe tools and punches.
Silver Steel
Erasteel silver steel rounds are precision ground, water-hardening tool steel supplied in metric and imperial sizes. Silver steel is widely used for making small punches, pins, reamers and gauges due to its consistent diameter tolerance and good machinability before hardening.
Bronze Bar
Bronze solid bar and hollow bar in imperial sizes are available for machining bushes, bearings and wear components. Bronze offers excellent bearing properties, corrosion resistance and machinability — a practical choice for maintenance and engineering applications.
For help selecting the right material specification, size or quantity, contact our team. AIMS Industrial has been supporting Australian industry since 1988.