Steel F1 · heat-treated state · default condition
Steel F1-ANN
Properties of the ANN condition, compared with the other F1 tempers.
Standard stock condition for machining, sawing and shaping tool blanks before water hardening.
What is F1-ANN?
F1-ANN is F1 heat treated to ANN — standard stock condition for machining, sawing and shaping tool blanks before water hardening. F1-ANN has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). F1-ANN has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 94% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 77% of steel grades
F1-ANN properties
Typical room-temperature values for F1-ANN — 16 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every F1 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
F1-ANN has a density of 7.8 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
F1-ANN has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
F1-ANN is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 44 W/m·K (25.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 57% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.5 µm/m·K (6.39 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
F1-ANN conducts electricity at 9.5 % IACS, better than 74% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of F1-ANN takes about 33 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
F1-ANN's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other F1 tempers and conditions
F1 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the F1 overview.
- ANNDefaultStandard stock condition for machining, sawing and shaping tool blanks before water hardening.420 MPa yield · 197 HB
- HT-64Maximum hardness and wear resistance for paper/leather knives, engraving tools and light blanking punches; minimum toughness.1,900 MPa yield · 63 HRC
- HT-60Balanced hardening condition for punches, dies, woodworking cutters and taps needing some shock resistance.1,750 MPa yield · 60 HRC
- HT-56Highest-toughness hardened condition for shock-loaded light tooling; upper practical tempering limit for this grade.1,600 MPa yield · 57 HRC
- CD-ANNPick for close-tolerance, bright-finish small bar used for taps, punches and pins with minimal pre-machining.600 MPa yield · 217 HB
Working with F1-ANN
Is F1 easy to machine?
Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~75 % of AISI 1212) with sharp HSS/carbide and steady feeds; after water hardening it must be ground with soft, free-cutting wheels and ample coolant to avoid grinding cracks.
Can F1 be welded?
Essentially non-weldable for structural joints; repair only with preheat 300–400 °C, matched high-carbon filler, immediate stress relief and re-hardening — cracking and soft zones are otherwise certain.
Can F1 be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1010→860 °C then slow cool and spheroidize anneal at 760–790 °C; cold forming limited to mild bending of annealed strip. Harden from 790–845 °C with brine/water quench (allow ~1.5–4 mm case) and temper immediately at 150–260 °C — never above 260 °C.
What surface finishes work on F1?
Takes a fine polish for cutting edges; provide corrosion protection by oiling, black oxide, phosphate or thin hard chrome — no anodizing, and any plating bake-out must stay below the tempering temperature.
F1 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A686 F1 | 0.95 – 1.25 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Si | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Wprincipal carbide former for wear resistance | 1 – 1.75 | 1.25 |
| Croptional/residual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Voptional/residual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
F1-ANN — frequently asked
What is F1-ANN used for?
F1-ANN is typically used for taps, reamers, light punches, small dies and hand tools. In short: water-hardening tungsten grade; shallow case, tough core; best machinability of family.
What is the yield strength of F1-ANN?
F1-ANN has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is F1-ANN easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machine only in the spheroidize-annealed condition (~75 % of AISI 1212) with sharp HSS/carbide and steady feeds; after water hardening it must be ground with soft, free-cutting wheels and ample coolant to avoid grinding cracks.
Can F1-ANN be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Essentially non-weldable for structural joints; repair only with preheat 300–400 °C, matched high-carbon filler, immediate stress relief and re-hardening — cracking and soft zones are otherwise certain.
What surface finishes work on F1-ANN?
Takes a fine polish for cutting edges; provide corrosion protection by oiling, black oxide, phosphate or thin hard chrome — no anodizing, and any plating bake-out must stay below the tempering temperature.
Can F1-ANN be formed, bent or molded?
Hot forge 1010→860 °C then slow cool and spheroidize anneal at 760–790 °C; cold forming limited to mild bending of annealed strip. Harden from 790–845 °C with brine/water quench (allow ~1.5–4 mm case) and temper immediately at 150–260 °C — never above 260 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of F1-ANN?
F1-ANN is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between F1-ANN and F1 HT-64?
ANN is the default condition — standard stock condition for machining, sawing and shaping tool blanks before water hardening. HT-64: maximum hardness and wear resistance for paper/leather knives, engraving tools and light blanking punches; minimum toughness. Yield strength is 420 MPa in ANN versus 1,900 MPa in HT-64.
Sources
- ASTM A686 — Standard Specification for Carbon Tool Steels — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (Tool Steels) — ASM International (1990)
- Tool Steels, 5th ed. (Roberts, Krauss, Kennedy) — ASM International (1998)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16: Machining — ASM International (1989)
- SAE J437/J438 — Tool and Die Steels — SAE International (2015)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.