Questions to Ask Your Heat Treatment Partner

What is the steel producer’s suggested course of heat treatment?
What special considerations are necessary for my tool’s application to avoid premature failure?
What other properties will you optimize in addition to hardness?
Is stress relieving required for my tool?
How much machining stock should I leave on my tool before hardening?
What else should I consider in the manufacturing process to support effective heat treatment?
What measures will you take to minimize dimensional changes during the hardening process?
What is your recommended quenching process for my particular tool?
How many tempers do you recommend for my tool based on the intended application?
What is a realistic timeline to achieve my goals for heat treatment?