IMU offers 2 different die versions: Standard & Superdie.

These 2 versions differ in respect to employed high speed steel, heat treatment and coating. There is no difference in geometrical accuracy between the 2 versions. Eventual requirements of special tolerances on dies are dealt with in a separate section.

To simplify, Standard dies are defined as those which are M2-coated and Superdies, those which are M42-coated. Different variations of these two basic versions are offered, usually depending on customer application or - at times - on die-upgrades dictated by IMU's intensive research program. Some IMU dies, for example, may be marked or labelled "Superdie 1" or "Superdie 2" in reference to metallurgical specifications which pertain only to that die variation. Material type, hardness and tensile strength of the rolled blank determine whether Standard dies or Superdies should be employed.

STANDARD

IMU does not purchase steel from just any source; it provides its own specifications by which a designated vendor must manufacture the steel. Standard dies are built out of AISI M2 steel manufactured to IMU specifications. IMU performs heat treatment & coating "in-house" following proprietary procedures which undergo continuous refinement. Standard dies are typically offered with average hardness of 64.5 HRC.

Standard dies are suggested on the following applications:

SUPERDIE

The Superdie is the result of IMU' s most advanced technology. The intensive research program behind the Superdie is driven by the need to roll the toughest alloys or hardened parts above the upper 30 HRCs. This challenge is brought by fasteners designed for aircraft applications as well as those for certain automotive & hi-tech applications.

Superdies are built out of AISI M42 steel manufactured to IMU specifications. Special heat treatment procedures and coatings are applied; both are subject to constant development, thus giving birth to different generations of Superdies. Two conditions determine whether these developmental updates are applied to Superdies carried in general stock: consistency of the manufacturing process and customer feedback. Both are based on a significant amount of tests.

Superdies are typically offered with average hardness of 67.5 HRC. Superdies are recommended for the following applications:

This graph shows how the Superdie out-performs the Standard die as the rolled parts get harder. Figures below are based on tests with M10x1.25 heat treated parts rolled with # 30, 2" single face dies, boltmaker lead.