Starrett 57521 A2 Tool Steel Flat Stock 3/16x7x18 in

Product Description

The STARRETT 57521 is an A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock bar used in tool and die making, jig and fixture fabrication, and precision machining applications. It measures 3/16 inches thick, 7 inches wide, and 18 inches long, with a weight of 6.69 pounds. Tolerances are held tight across all dimensions: thickness and squareness are held to plus or minus 0.001 inches, width to plus 0.000 minus 0.005 inches, and length to plus 0.250 inches. A2 tool steel offers excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability through the air-hardening process, making it a reliable choice for toolmakers and machinists who need consistent pre-hardened or anneal-and-harden stock.

This flat stock is suited for use in machine shops, tool rooms, and manufacturing environments where precision steel blanks are cut, ground, and heat-treated into punches, dies, gauges, and similar tooling components. The 7-inch width and 18-inch length provide practical stock dimensions for medium-scale tooling layouts. A2 material is commonly specified where moderate toughness combined with good wear resistance is required, and is appropriate for both light production runs and prototype tooling. Licensed machinists and toolmakers are the primary installers and fabricators of this type of stock material.

Key Features

• AISI Type A2 air-hardening tool steel for consistent heat-treat response
• Tight thickness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches for precision layout work
• Width tolerance held to plus 0.000 minus 0.005 inches
• Squareness tolerance of plus or minus 0.001 inches
• Length tolerance of plus 0.250 inches allows for face-off and finish grinding
• Ready-to-machine flat stock format reduces prep time in tool room applications

Compatibility

Designed as a standard AISI A2 air-hardening tool steel flat stock blank suitable for general tool and die, jig, fixture, and precision machining applications requiring A2-grade material.

Installation Notes

Cutting and machining of tool steel flat stock should be performed by qualified machinists using appropriate metalworking equipment. When heat treating A2 tool steel, follow the material manufacturer's recommended hardening and tempering cycle for the intended application. Allow the stock to reach ambient temperature before final grinding to finished dimensions. Proper eye protection, machine guarding, and workholding practices should be observed throughout all cutting and grinding operations.