The object of this study is to improve the straightness in tubular shaft production. Die bearings of 1, 2 and 3 were inserted onto the lower die, respectively. In this study, the tubular shafts at the stage 5 were modelled as the standard and error cases. The error case assumes the production error of raw material. The coefficient of friction was set to the Oil_Cold conditions as referring to the analysis library. In the results, the effective stress was observed homogeneously on the distribution at yoke top in standard case. However, the effective stress was observed on the distribution at long section of yoke in case of the raw material with error. The metal flow line was stretched straight in standard case. On the other hand, the metal flow line was bent in all of error cases. The biggest displacement occurred when only one die bearing was applied. The smallest displacement occurred when two die bearings were applied in lower die.
P/M high speed steel (1.26% C, 4.42% Cr, 6.54% W, 4.92% Mo, 3.21 % V, 8.77% Co, bal. Fe) was applied to hot former die. It showed that the die life became 2.7 times higher than that of cast/wrought SKH 55 tool steel which is commercially used. The increase of die life was corresponding to the improved hardness and transverse rupture strength of PM high speed steel due to the finer grain and carbide as well as the uniform carbide distribution. The P/M high speed steel with the promoted die life could be an alternative to the conventional SKH55.