In the cutting industry, metal cutting tools can be your best ally or your worst enemy. There is no middle ground for making perfect turnings, drilling, etc. For this reason, having tools such as tungsten carbide cutting bits or cutters is essential for impeccable work.
Tungsten carbide cutting bits with hydraulic control valve
Although there are other materials for metal cutting tools that can get you out of trouble, many of them do not have the resistance that some materials require.
Problems such as rapid loss of edge, deformation, or even breaking of the piece are common when the correct material to work with is not chosen.
It is clear that not only metals are worked with in the cutting industry, but also solid wood, sawmills, etc. And, even in the tungsten carbide cutting bits with a hydraulic control valve, a corresponding degree of hardness must be chosen. Of course, different degrees of hardness depend on the type of grain with which the tungsten carbide tools are made. Knowing their classifications will allow you to choose the perfect tungsten carbide cutters for your job.
Advantages of metal cutting tools
Now, why do tungsten carbide cutting bits outperform other materials? Next, we will mention its most notable advantages when working with it.
They do not deform
Metal cutting tools must be at a high speed to perform perfect turning or grinding. Therefore, this causes them to overheat, and some materials can be affected, ending with deformations. With tungsten carbide cutting bits, this is practically impossible. For the heat to affect the tungsten, it needs to reach 3,422C. Therefore, in this sense, you should not worry about your tool having slight deformations.
They don’t lose their edge.
The lifespan of tungsten carbide cutting tools is very long, so you can use tungsten carbide cutting bits repeatedly without the fear that they will lose their edge after just two uses. This is much more noticeable when working with metals such as titanium alloys, reinforced steels, etc. (Of course, for this type of material, a hardness degree of MH10F is needed).
They are Resistant
Thanks to its extreme hardness, tungsten carbide does not break and is extremely resistant. It is worth mentioning that the Mohs scale is between 9 and 9.5; to size it, we compare it with the diamond, whose scale is 10.
What not to do with tungsten carbide cutting bits
Of course, it can chip if hit with a blunt object. This is one of the cares we suggest so that tools such as cylindrical bars have a long, useful life.
Why does this happen? The fact that it is very hard, dense, and does not deform means that it is a very rigid metal, so trying to smash it against another heavier object may not be the best idea.
Tungsten metal cutting tools for perfect jobs
Placing your trust in tungsten carbide is one of the best decisions you can make to give the right direction to your work. To make CNC cuts, turning, drilling, etc., the material of excellence is tungsten carbide. Although, we always recommend that you know the degree of hardness you require for the material you will be working with.
Tools to cut your losses
The most commonly used metal cutting tool, the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), is a material for cutting metals that are difficult to machine, such as those used at high temperatures and hardened ferrous alloys.
High-carbon steel is the most used in manufacturing metal-cutting tools. Due to its low cost and simple heat treatment, this material has been the most used throughout history. It is used for low-speed machining operations and cutting tools for wood and plastics.
High carbon steels allow different heat intensities to be applied to achieve different degrees of hardness. In this sense, an intensity higher than the critical temperature is applied, cooling them in water or oil.
High-speed steel doubles cutting speed
A third classification within cutting materials would be those called 14-4-1, or high-speed steels, whose main quality is to allow it to retain its hardness at a higher temperature than simple carbon steels since this type of material has 18% tungsten. They are called high-speed steel because they allow the tool cutting speed to be doubled, increasing durability and sharpening times. Even faster tools, which are used especially for cutting metallic and non-metallic materials, were manufactured.
Within this classification, the so-called super high-speed or high-speed cobalt steels also stand out, which are very resistant to heat thanks to 10% cobalt.
Currently, tungsten metal cutting tools are found in the cutting industry and many others due to their properties. We invite you to try and get to know it if you don’t already work with it.
