Carbide Blanks, Their Manufacturing, and Applications and Uses

What is Cemented Carbide?

Cemented carbide is a combination of metal composites. They are also called as Metal Matrix Composites or MMCs. The most common example is tungsten carbide (WC).

Properties of Cemented Carbide

• Highly resistant to deformation
• Impact proof composition.
• Resistant to corrosion, temperature related wear
• Very Hard, Tough and strong composition

Hence they are also called as hard metals and have found uses in both manufacturing and domestic industries. One more important property of carbide blanks is their chemical and physical properties vary as per their compositions. This further leads to stronger resistance to wear and tear, corrosion etc. A valve trim, which is a collection of internal elements of a valve may also be made of cemented carbides.

A Brief History

A well known scientist Scheele discovered tungsten in 1781.Then in early 1920s a German company invented a combination metal of tungsten mono carbide and cobalt. They initially used it in the dies used for production of tungsten wire. Within a decade or so, cemented carbide was being used for turning and milling of cast iron and steel milling. Within next few years cemented carbide metals found their uses in mining tools too.

Since the techniques of milling, drilling and sintering have also improved enormously, today cemented carbides are used for helping in smaller and smaller drills and increasing productivity.

So what are Carbide Blanks?

As the above paragraphs explain, carbide blank is used to manufacture finer drills. They are produced by combining varying quantities of tungsten mono carbide and cobalt. These variations further lead to varying degrees of toughness, hardness, density, strength, porosity rating, and microstructure uniformity. These properties are the ones user should consider when he/she has to order the specific carbide blanks.

Today, printed circuit boards have become the order of the day. Numerous PCBs are being manufactured. These PCBs require very fine holes. Also digital and electronic devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, laptops are becoming smaller and smaller. In turn they need to have PCBs with very fine and small holes. Drills for these holes are made of these blanks. Carbide tools can develop spindles with increasing rpm. Extremely fine grain sizes for the drills for smallest holes are now possible.

Cemented carbide is most commonly found for cutting tools in lathe machines and other similar industrial machines. These carbides can be used for materials such as quenched and tempered steels. Due to their stiff property, they are used to machine materials to high tolerances.

Different types of Blanks

• Blanks for PCB drills
• Blanks for End mills
• Ground Round Blanks
• Flat Blanks of various sizes

In addition to this, customers can order carbide blanks made to their specifications. One should also note that due to more demand and less supply, prices have increased world over.

About the Author

Machining Technologies of known worldwide for its a high-tech, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. We have progressively expanded our manufacturing and worldwide product line to include wear parts components, tungsten carbide, stainless steel balls, ball gages, plastic balls, cemented carbide, and plug gages.