A carbide is a compound developed by the combination of carbon with usually tungsten, titanium, or tantalum that is used in metal cutting tools for its hardness and wear resistance.
It is a common cutting tool material that is used to make both indexable inserts and solid cutting tools.
Common types of Carbide:
- tantalum carbide -A more recent material used in carbide cutting tools that offers improved hot hardness and reduced thermal deformation.
- titanium carbide (TiC) -A material used to make carbide cutting tools that offers improved chemical stability and crater resistance.
- tungsten carbide-The original carbide tool material. Tungsten carbide offers excellent hardness. However, it is somewhat expensive and tends to crater when machining steel.
Solid
Spiral
Carbides
Machining with carbide can be difficult, as carbide is more brittle than other tool materials, making it susceptible to chipping and breaking. To offset this, many manufacturers sell carbide inserts and matching insert holders. With this setup, the small carbide insert is held in place by a larger tool made of a less brittle material (usually steel). This gives the benefit of using carbide without the high cost of making the entire tool out of carbide. Most modern face mills use carbide inserts, as well as some lathe tools and endmills.
How To Mill Effectively
Solid carbide end mills are rapidly replacing high speed steel end mills because production costs can be reduced as a result of the extreme metal removal rates which can be achieved with solid carbide end mills. When combined with the appropriate coating and the correct set up, optimal performance may be achieved.
