Illinois Engraving is highly reputed for excellent craftsmanship and precision results for designing custom steel stamps. We use only the best quality tool steel to manufacture your steel stamps to produce the final product most suitable to your particular applications. Our goal is to increase the quality and value of your final products and minimize costs incurred in your manufacturing process due to tooling break downs.

Tool Steels for Strength and Durability

During the manufacturing process we use combinations of carbon and alloy steels that are ideal for their distinctive hardness, ability to hold an edge and resistance to abrasion, wear and tear. They also have the ability to maintain the integrity of the steel stamps even under elevated temperatures.

We use only tool steels that have been produced under stringently controlled conditions to produce the superior raw material needed for creating the accuracy and hardness required. The carbon content is generally held between 0.7% and 1.4%.

For certain tool steels, in order to reduce the potential for cracking during hardening and to increase the toughness various alloy metals are combined with iron. We use better quality tool steels that are appropriate for oil quenching (oil hardening 0-1) since these are generally appropriate for hand stamps and steel stamps.

Accommodating Tougher Marking Applications

We also use various grades of air-hardening grades of steel (A-2, D-2, M-2, M-4) for your tougher marking needs. The M grades of tool steel are best for stamping products where the hardness and strength must endure when temperatures exceed 760 °C (1,400 °F).

Where the stamp is going to be used in a forging process we use hot-working grades of steel (H-13). This type of steel can withstand prolonged exposure to very high temperatures. It is made with a significant level of carbide forming alloys with 5% chromium content. We also use other special purpose grades or powered metals such as CPM 10V or CPM 15V for custom applications.

Solid Background Serving the Custom Engraving Industry

Illinois Engraving is proud of our 79 years of service in the industry specializing in custom engraved steel stamps manufactured exactly to your specifications. We employ the latest in engraving technologies including CAD/CAM, CNC, and Plunge EDM to expedite your order quickly and accurately. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.

Historically oil hardening steels (0-1) have been used for manufacturing hand stamps and steel stamps where the stamp will be used in a low stress application. Low tensile strength metals in this case can sufficiently handle the job required. The heat treat temperature used to create this type of steel runs from 1450 to 1600 °F with a resulting hardness of Rockwell 56 – 62c.

Oil Hardened Tool Steel for All-Purpose Use

Oil hardening steels are typically used in the manufacturing of reamers, taps, shear blades, knurling tools, coining dies, trimming dies and drills. They have the tendency to undergo reduced distortion during the quench operation although a minimal amount does occur. The oil hardening operation of the steel is more thorough than happens with water hardening grades and less than with the air hardening steels. It is a fine, all-purpose steel with super wear resistance and strength, and excellent machinability.

Low Cost and Durability

01 tool steel has a good resistance to abrasion and a high enough level of toughness to handle the stress load required for steel stamps. It is the cheapest and most readily available stool steel on the market with the capability of holding a keen edge, such as demanded in the manufacturing of knives and razors.

Chemical Composition of 01 Tool Steel

• Iron 97.1%
• Carbon 0.90%
• Chromium 0.50%
• Manganese 1.00%
• Tungsten 0.50%

The alloying elements in tool steel improve the over quality and durability of the final product. Increasing the carbon content results in slightly harder steel and improves the wear resistance considerably. The chromium adds to the toughness and wear resistance of the steel as well as raising its ability to harden. The manganese in small quantities decreases the brittleness of the steel and makes it easier to forge. In greater amounts it increases the hardenability, permits the steel to be quenched in oil and cuts down on deformation of the steel during quenching. The tungsten greatly improves the “hot-hardness” of the tool steel.

Illinois Engraving for Precision and Exceptional Service

We set ourselves apart from the competition in the steel stamps industry with over 75 years of experience and exceptional adherence to detail using the best materials on the market. We can accurately reproduce your logos and drawings with the assurance our stamps will give you the toughness and long lasting durability you need. We emphasize quality through every step of the manufacturing process. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.

When steel stamps are made from tool steels, the inherent characteristics of the steel plus the changes that are affected from its manufacturing process and heat treatment dramatically influence its long lasting durability. The chemical composition is of the utmost importance. With the correct balance of alloy metals, marking or stamping instruments provide the service life that ensures the integrity of your final products and keeps your manufacturing costs down.

A-2 Air Hardening Steels Provide Increased Toughness

Air hardening (A-2) tool steel can be used in the same applications where water and oil hardening steels are used. Some of these include cold chisels, blacksmith tools, cold forming tools, hand  punches, scissors, shears, razors, knives, taps, trimming dies, shear blades, knurling tools, drills, woodworking chisels, embossing dies and of course, steel stamps. The difference between this and other tool steel lies in the fact it has deeper hardenability and less tendency to deform during heat treatment. It is used in applications where greater accuracy is necessary.

The toughness of A-2 steel is due to higher levels of carbon and chromium. A typical chemical composition of the type of steel is this:

• Carbon 1.00%
• Silicon 0.30%
• Molybdenum 1.10%
• Manganese 0.80%
• Chromium 5.25%
• Vanadium 0.21%
• Iron – balance

Various steel alloys are combined with iron to produce the quality and toughness of A-2 steel for steel stamps. Raising the carbon content produces slightly harder steel and improves the wear resistance to a higher standard. The chromium adds value in terms of toughness and wear resistance of the steel in addition to further hardenability. The greater amount of manganese develops the hardenability, permits it to be oil quenched and decreased the distortion of the steel during quenching. The silicon is beneficial for the overall toughness and durability and makes it shock resistant. The vanadium refines the carbide structure of the steel and makes it a better metal to forge with improved hardness and resistance to wear.

Illinois Engraving Improves Your Bottom Line

The Illinois Engraving craftsmen take pride in the precise art of engraved tooling. With a dedication to designing with accuracy and using superior quality tool steels we assure the best products to suit your applications. We can suggest production techniques that reduce your overhead and increase your productivity. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.

There are several key mechanical properties steel stamps must possess to make them suitable for a given application. The tool steel from which the stamp is manufactured must have specific hardness, heat resistance, toughness and wear resistance in the final heat-treated product. The most important element in an alloy steel is the carbon. It provides the essential hardness in the tool steel and adds the necessary attribute of wear resistance.

D-2 Tool Steel for Added Strength

D-2 air hardening tool steels are used in applications where greater tensile strength is required. This is the amount of stress or pulling force the metal can withstand before the tool becomes permanently distorted in shape. In marking tools the ability of the tool steel to maintain its integrity and its resiliency is critical. It represents the ability of the steel stamps to mark with precision over a long lasting service life for more intensive applications. These typically involve increased tensile strength metals such as stainless steel.

The heat treat temperature for D-2 air hardening tool steel is 1600-1650 °F and it is has a hardness of Rockwell 60c-62c. It has high resistance to wear and tear with reduced distortion. It is ideal for tools that must have long lasting durability. It includes the following elements:

• Carbon 1.55 %
• Chromium 12.00%
• Molybdenum 0.80%
• Vanadium 0.90%

The high level of chrome (12%) along with the high volume of high carbides in the steel matrix makes this tool steel strongly impervious to abrasion and deterioration. It is offers dimensional integrity or stability and has high compressive strength or is not easily crushed by pushing forces.

D-2 steel has a high level of carbon for strength and hardness. The very high level of chrome greatly improves its hardenability, toughness and resistance to wear. The molybdenum increases the deep hardening nature of the steel and helps to cut down on the costs, being less expensive then tungsten. The vanadium improves the overall quality of the steel’s carbide structure and develops its forgeability.

Illinois Engraving Provides Superb Workmanship

Regardless of the size of your operation, Illinois Engraving is competent to handle your individual needs. Our workmanship is superb, with acute attention to detail in every step of the process of creating your steel stamps. We use your drawing, CAD-CAM file, graphics file, sample or specification to accurately reproduce your logo or any character style. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.

One of the strongest and most durable materials that can be cut or shaped with ease is sheet metal. It is used for electrical components due to its good conductivity and resistance to rust and corrosion. In the manufacturing of sheet metal objects and parts, steel stamps are used to imprint the name of the manufacturer as well as other pertinent information.

Products that are intended to be functional while adding aesthetic appeal to an environment depend on the quality afforded by high quality sheet metal. These products often include the companies brand logo as part of the artistic appearance. Custom steel stamps are used to brand a product line.

We see the products of the sheet metal manufacturing industry in consumer products everywhere. It can also be used in aesthetic design in construction. The exterior of New York City’s Chrysler Building is finished with sheets of stainless steel. It is made by forcing a red-hot block of metal between rollers to make it thinner. The sheets are stamped to form specific products.

Steel is the most common metal stamped, although gold and superalloys are stamped for use in the aerospace industry. There are hundreds steel types that used in sheet metal. Precision products require precision markings and that is where Illinois Engraving excels with superior steel stamps.
Other metals that can be made into sheet metal include:

• Aluminum
• Copper
• Brass
• Tin

Silver, gold and platinum are used to make decorative objects and jewelry. Custom steel stamps are made to imprint a design on metal jewelry.

One of the most easily recognized forms of sheet metal is stainless steel and it is manufactured in various grades. Certain grades contain properties conducive to forming for use in products such as kitchen sinks. Other grades are highly resistant to heat and corrosion. Illinois Engraving specializes in steel stamps for marking stainless steel items such as knives and surgical tools that are hardened after they are stamped.

Once your product is ready to roll off the assembly line you need identification that will last the lifetime of the product.  Illinois Engraving custom designs steel stamps that create impressions impossible to wear out or become faded.  Customers will be able to identify the product for as long as they own it. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.

The demand in the U.S. for disposable medical supplies is expected to grow at a rate of around 5% per year through 2011. Currently it is a $71 billion industry. The most popular products include prefilled syringes, dry powder inhalers, blood glucose test strips for diabetes monitoring, transdermal patches for drug delivery, daily contact lenses and tissue sealants for wound closure. Most of these items require precision markings made with steel stamps to correctly identify the source and specifics of the product.

Every aspect of the medical industry has moved to using disposable plastic components rather than risking passing infections and disease via instruments that are not correctly sterilized. Plastic forceps, wound drainage systems, speculums and other hygienic devices require marking with steel stamps.

As the number of treated patients increases the demand for disposable products are used in the following medical fields:

• Urology
• Gastro Entrology
• Anesthesia
• Gynecology and Pediatric
• Transfusion and Blood Management
• General Surgery

For a number of reasons there is increased incidence of nosocomial infections (infections as a result of treatment in a hospital or healthcare facility) secondary to the condition for which the patient was originally admitted. This has forced suppliers of medical products to look at alternative methods of manufacturing. Plastic disposable components have been the most effective solution to reducing the risk of infection. Industry expectations require specific information to be clearly identified and the precision available with the use of steel stamps has increased the marketability of these products.

There is also tremendous growth in the industry due to the rapid expansion of self-treatment and preventative measures taken by patients at home. Medical practitioners are leaning toward making the range of services available to home patients much more accessible and this is broadly supported by disposable medical supplies. Precision steel stamps are an integral part of the manufacturing process for these products.

This also applies to dental equipment. There will always be a varied market for products in the medical field that uphold the prevention of infection. Quality steel stamps increase the feasibility of disposable medical products.

Manufacturers of disposable medical equipment rely on excellent quality craftsmanship of the steel stamps they use to mark their products with unmistakably clear identification. Needless to say errors in usage of these products can be fatal so the steel stamps used to mark them must be impeccable.

Illinois Engraving is the leading U.S. manufacturer of steel stamps used to identify disposable medical supplies. Call 1-800-528-2050 today.

The techniques involved in contemporary architectural ironwork have retained many similarities to those used by the traditional village blacksmith, although modern technology has improved the quality of the end pieces and speed of production. The malleability of heated metal makes it easy to be formed into ironwork that increases the aesthetics of a building. Steel stamps have been used from the beginning of ironwork production to identify the manufacturer or artisan.

Architectural ironwork is more than wrought iron fixtures and fittings. It includes any forged work where the metal is heated and worked into shape. It is not directly a part of the construction of a building but falls into the category of ornamentation. Steel stamps are used to mark relevant data on the finished works.

Wherever artistic appeal is important architectural forges works are used for their beauty and durability. Forged metal can be designed to incorporate both aesthetic appeal and strength with a tremendous load bearing capability. It can be custom created by skilled craftsmen or manufactured on a production line using molds. It adds to the value of any structure.

• Balconies. A wrought iron balcony can create a spectacular effect to the interior or exterior of your home or office. It can add functionality or simply add a decorative accent.
• Railings. Architectural ironwork can be used to create traditional or contemporary accents in a home or commercial building. Using various styles of spindles a necessary structure can add drama and aesthetic appeal to a building. Artisans that develop custom designs typically use steel stamps to imprint their signature on their work.
• Stairs. Wrought iron adds a finishing touch to wood or spiral stairs and can be incorporated into a stair remodel. It instantly upgrades the value of a building regardless if the stairs are interior or exterior.
• Gates. The first impression given by a private home or commercial building using a security wall or fence is the gate into the entrance. They are completely functional as added security while adding style and elegance.
• Fences. The grounds of any building are transformed with a well-designed wrought iron fence. It adds privacy and discourages traffic where you don’t want it or from undesirable sources. Steel stamps are used on iron fences to identify the manufacturer.

Illinois Engraving designs precision, custom steel stamps to enhance the visual appeal of architectural ironworks. Please call us today at 1-800-528-2050 to order your custom steel stamps.