Starrett 54568 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 3/16x1-1/4x36 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 54568 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar intended for toolmakers, machinists, and die makers who need precision-ground stock ready for layout, machining, and heat treatment. The bar measures 3/16 inch thick, 1-1/4 inches wide, and 36 inches long, with a thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches and a squareness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches. A2 tool steel offers a good balance of wear resistance and toughness and is commonly chosen when dimensional stability through heat treat is a priority. The bar ships at approximately 2.75 pounds.

This flat stock is used in toolroom, moldmaking, and maintenance machining applications where a precise, ready-to-use bar blank is needed. Typical uses include punch blanks, die sections, gages, and fixtures that will be hardened in-house after final machining. The 36-inch length allows multiple blanks to be cut from a single bar, making it practical for small-batch shop work. It is suited to both commercial toolrooms and in-house maintenance shops that perform their own heat treating.

Key Features

• A2 air-hardening tool steel for good dimensional stability during heat treatment
• Thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for consistent stock removal planning
• Width tolerance of plus 0.000 to 0.005 inches for controlled fit in fixtures
• Length tolerance of plus 0.25 inches provides material for facing operations
• Squareness held to plus or minus 0.001 inches; edge squareness 0.003 inches per inch
• Single 36-inch bar per package, minimum order quantity of 1

Compatibility

Designed as a standard toolroom flat stock blank suitable for use wherever AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel in 3/16 x 1-1/4 inch cross-section is specified.

Installation Notes

Cutting and machining of tool steel flat stock should be performed by qualified machinists using appropriate coolant and tooling rated for hardened or semi-hardened steels. Heat treatment of A2 steel should follow the material manufacturer's recommended austenitizing and quench cycle; air quench is standard for A2. Follow applicable shop safety practices when grinding or cutting tool steel, including eye protection and proper ventilation. Hardening and tempering operations should be performed by personnel familiar with tool steel metallurgy to achieve target hardness.