SKD61 Steel Date Marked Pins for Die Casting

These date marked pins are designed for die casting tooling, where consistent, readable year/date engraving must be maintained across long production runs. Installed as press-fit inserts with a flange stopper mount, they help maintain stable positioning during assembly and subsequent thermal cycles.

In large automotive die casting, they are commonly used on tooling sets that require traceable production dates on cast components or die areas. The flange stopper assists with repeatable location, improving engraving legibility despite vibration and handling.

• Die/component traceability markings: year/date engraving that must remain clear for QA and audit workflows.
• Stable mounting in large molds: the flange stopper limits insert drift during press-fit installation.
• Continuous die casting environments: SKD61 steel supports wear resistance where pins experience contact and rubbing near engraved features.

This product is made from SKD61, a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium hot-work tool steel commonly used for high-load die casting components. In practice, SKD61 is frequently treated as equivalent to AISI H13-class hot-work tooling steel for heat-treat planning.

For durability, the typical balance targets high wear resistance while retaining toughness to survive repeated heating/cooling. If pins are quenched and tempered, hardness is usually set in the range of about 48–52 HRC (process-dependent), improving resistance to abrasion at the engraving interface.

• Wear vs. toughness trade-off: higher hardness improves abrasion resistance but can reduce impact toughness.
• Heat treatment state: quenched & tempered condition is standard; nitriding is optional in specialized cases where surface hardness is prioritized.

When comparing alternatives, SKD61-class steels are generally preferred over lower-alloy tool steels because they better withstand hot-working conditions and cyclical thermal stress.

Selection starts with the shaft diameter (D) and the fixed length (L). This series is available with D = 8, 10, or 12 mm, while L is fixed at 30 to 100 mm.

To match your mold cavity/core requirements, choose the pin diameter based on the diameter of the mating press-fit hole or boss in the die component. Then select the L dimension to provide the required projection and seating depth so the flange stopper bears against the intended reference surface.

• Fit considerations: press-fit performance depends on interference; follow your press-fit tolerance band for the D selection to prevent loosening or excessive insertion stress.
• Engraving alignment: stable seating from the flange stopper mount helps preserve the year/date position during assembly.
• Fixed vs. configurable: L is provided as a fixed range (30–100 mm), and D is the configurable size option (8/10/12 mm).

Verify that your groove/engraving feature clearance accommodates the selected shaft diameter without contacting nearby die steel surfaces during thermal expansion.