NAK80 Mold Steel
Achieving an optimal balance between pre-hardened core steel strength, pinhole-free EDM spark-eroded finishes, and mirror-level surface polishability without post-machining heat treatment distortion requires a precipitation-hardened alloy, which NAK80 mold steel delivers. Age-hardened at the mill to a uniform 37–43 HRC, NAK80 (Cu-Al-Ni alloyed steel) provides exceptional machinability, uniform grain structure, and high weldability. At Jucheng Precision, a certified ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 contract manufacturer, we specialize in 5-axis CNC machining and precision EDM eroding of NAK80 steel mold inserts. Delivering tool shot lives exceeding 500,000 cycles, our NAK80 molds produce high-gloss cosmetic enclosures and clear optical lenses verified by Zeiss CMM inspection.
High-precision NAK80 Mold Steel cavity manufacturing for high-aesthetic electronic enclosures and transparent plastic parts. Age-hardened at the steel mill to 37–43 HRC, Daido NAK80 (Cu-Al-Ni alloyed) steel delivers exceptional machinability, zero heat-treatment distortion, and pinhole-free EDM spark erosion surfaces across 500,000+ production cycles.
NAK80 Mold Steel Age-Hardening & Polishability Profile
NAK80 is a unique precipitation-hardened tool steel engineered by Daido Steel, designed to provide high core hardness without quench distortion:
| Metallurgical Attribute | NAK80 Steel Spec Metric | High-Aesthetic Tooling Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Hardened Age Hardening | 37 – 43 HRC (Pre-Hardened) | Pre-hardened via intermetallic precipitation, eliminating post-machining heat-treatment distortion while delivering higher wear resistance than P20. |
| Uniform Cu-Al-Ni Microstructure | Precipitation Hardened Alloy | Homogeneous fine-grain structure guarantees uniform spark erosion during EDM machining, leaving zero micro-pinhole defects. |
| Superior EDM & Polishability | Up to SPI A-2 / VDI 18 Finish | Accepts diamond mirror polishing and fine EDM textures easily, highly recommended for piano-black and high-gloss consumer electronics. |
NAK80 Steel Polymer Compatibility & Application Matrix
NAK80 pre-hardened steel is the gold standard for high-aesthetic, high-gloss plastic housings in Plastic Injection Molding:
| High-Aesthetic Resin Class | Compatible Polymer Chemistry | NAK80 Tooling Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| High-Gloss Consumer Electronics | ABS, Polycarbonate (PC), PC/ABS Alloys | Takes SPI Polishing A-2 diamond polish directly, producing piano-black cosmetic surfaces for gaming controllers and smart-home hubs. |
| Transparent & Optical Packaging | PMMA(Acrylic), Transparent PC, SAN | High-purity core structure enables high light transmission on cosmetic jar lids, indicator lenses, and transparent containers. |
| Complex Textured Enclosures | Polyamide (PA/Nylon), Modified Thermoplastics | Reacts uniformly to EDM spark erosion, providing clean Texture & EDM Finish (VDI 12 to 24) on complex internal ribs. |
NAK80 Mold Steel Tooling Engineering & EDM Blueprint
Executing precision NAK80 steel Custom Mold Making requires careful CNC cutting feeds, EDM copper electrode profiling, and hand polishing:
Pre-Hardened 40 HRC Core
Pre-hardened via precipitation age-hardening to 37–43 HRC. This eliminates post-machining quench distortion, allowing Jucheng to cut true-to-CAD cavity dimensions directly on 5-axis CNCs.
Pinhole-Free EDM Sparking
NAK80’s uniform copper-aluminum-nickel alloy structure responds predictably to sinker EDM spark erosion. It produces clean, even VDI matte textures without microscopic pinholes or carbon buildup.
Laser Weldability & Maintenance
NAK80 features excellent weldability. In the event of engineering changes (ECOs) or parting line wear, our toolmakers deposit matching NAK80 wire using micro-laser welders without causing local heat distortion.
Key Application Fields for NAK80 Steel Molds
- High-Aesthetic Consumer Electronics: High-gloss piano-black gaming console shells, remote controls, smart home hubs, printer covers, and cosmetic enclosures.
- Automotive Interior Controls (IATF 16949): High-gloss Production Injection Mold tools for ambient light bezels, air conditioning louvers, steering wheel buttons, and Two-Shot Injection Molding key fobs.
- Medical Device Housings (ISO 13485 Certified): High-finish Cleanroom Injection Molding tools for medical monitor bezels, handheld diagnostic casings, and pharmaceutical containers.
Properties
| Density (Daido NAK80 Steel) | 7.78 g/cm³ |
| Hardness Range (Pre-Hardened Age-Hardened) | 37 - 43 HRC |
| Brinell Hardness Equivalent | 370 - 400 HB |
| Tensile Yield Strength | 1,010 MPa |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 1,260 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 16 % |
| Flexural Modulus | 200 GPa |
| Thermal Conductivity (20°C) | 41.3 W/(m·K) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20-100°C) | 11.3 10⁻⁶/K |
| SPI Polishing Surface Capability | SPI A-2 / B-1 (Mirror Polish) - |
| Spark EDM Finish Capability | VDI 12 - 24 (Pinhole-Free) - |
| Guaranteed Tool Shot Life | 500,000+ Cycles |
| Maximum Mold Cavity Block Size | 1800 x 1200 mm |
| Minimum Machining Tolerance | +/- 0.005 |