Tungsten Carbide Punches vs Tool Steel Punches

Which Is Better for Precision Stamping Applications?

In precision metal stamping, punch materials impact tool life, stamping stability, maintenance cost and overall production efficiency. Tungsten carbide punches and tool steel punches are widely used. In this article, we will explain the key differences between tunsten carbide and tool steel punches to help engineers to choose the right material.

1. Overview of Punch Materials in Stamping Dies

Stamping die punches are long suffered from repeated impact, friction, and wear. Different punch materials are required depending on the stamping material, production volume, and die structure.

Tool steel punches and tungsten carbide punches have their different advantages and limitations.

2. Tool Steel Punches

Tool steel punches are widely used because of their good balance of hardness, toughness and cost. Their key benefits include:

Good toughness and resistance to chipping

Easier to machine and modify

Lower material and manufacturing cost

Suitable for complex punch geometries

Common tool steels:

SKD11 / D2 – general-purpose stamping punches

DC53 – improved toughness and wear resistance

SKH51 (HSS) – better performance for higher loads

Typical Applications:

Low to medium production volume

Thicker or softer stamping materials

Dies requiring frequent modification or adjustment

Applications where cost control is important

3.Tungsten Carbide Punches

Tungsten carbide punches offer extremely high hardness and wear resistance. They are ideal for stamping conditions. Their key benefits include:

Excellent wear resistance

Long tool life in high-volume production

High dimensional stability

Ideal for micro punches and narrow punch widths

It’s worth noting that carbide is more brittle than tool steel and requires precise manufacturing control.

Typical Applications:

High-speed and high-volume stamping

Thin materials with abrasive properties

Progressive dies with long production runs

Micro punches and precision profiles

Applications where downtime must be minimized

4. Tungsten Carbide vs Tool Steel

Item	Tungsten Carbide Punch	Tool Steel Punch
Hardness	Very high	Medium to high
Wear Resistance	Excellent	Good
Toughness	Lower	Higher
Tool Life	Very long	Moderate
Cost	Higher	Lower
Machinability	Difficult	Easier
Best for	High-volume, precision	General stamping

5. Value of PG Profile Grinding in Punch Performance

Regardless of material choice, manufacturing process plays a critical role in punch performance.

Critical Applications for PG Profile Grinding:

Non-standard punch shapes
Tight tolerance requirements
Micro punches (2–3 mm or smaller)
Replacement punches requiring high repeatability

PG grinding allows precise control of:

Punch profile geometry
Edge straightness
Surface finish
Dimensional accuracy

PG grinding is particularly critical for tungsten carbide punches, as other conventional machining methods may not provide sufficient accuracy or consistency.

6. How to Choose the Right Punch Material

When selecting between tungsten carbide and tool steel punches, following factors are considerable :

Stamping material type and thickness

Production volume

Punch geometry and size

Die structure and clearance

Maintenance and replacement frequency

Yes it shows, tool steel punches are suitable for trial dies or lower-volume production. Tungsten carbide punches provide better long-term value in mass production environments.

7. Drawing-Based Customization Matters

For non-standard punches, material selection should never be isolated from punch design. A reliable punch supplier should:

Recommend materials based on application conditions

Manufacture strictly according to customer drawings

Ensure repeatability for replacement punches

Combine EDM, CNC grinding, and PG profile grinding when necessary

Conclusion

In stamping industry, there is no single “best” punch material for all applications.
Tool steel punches offer flexibility and cost advantages, while tungsten carbide punches excel in wear resistance and long-term stability.

By combining the right material selection with PG Profile Grinding, precision punch performance can be significantly improved, helping reduce downtime, improve part consistency, and extend die life.