Solid Carbide Rods

Overview

Solid Carbide Rods are premium cylindrical blanks crafted from tungsten carbide (WC-Co) composites, renowned for their exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional precision. These rods serve as the foundational material for manufacturing high-performance cutting tools, dies, and precision components in industries demanding extreme durability. Available in a range of cobalt contents (3% to 20%) and grain sizes (0.5μm to 5μm), they balance toughness and hardness to suit applications from high-speed machining to heavy-duty forming.

Manufactured through isostatic pressing and sintering, Solid Carbide Rods exhibit uniform density and minimal porosity, ensuring consistent performance across the entire cross-section. Their ability to maintain cutting edge sharpness at elevated temperatures (up to 1,000°C) makes them indispensable for processing tough materials like stainless steel, titanium, and hardened alloys. Whether used in end mills, drills, or reamers, these rods set the standard for precision and reliability in modern manufacturing.

Features

Ultra-High Hardness: Ranging from 86 to 93 HRA, surpassing high-speed steel (HSS) and carbon steel, enabling efficient machining of materials up to 65 HRC.

Fine-Grain Technology: Submicron grain sizes (e.g., 0.8μm) enhance edge strength and wear resistance, ideal for intricate geometries and micro-machining applications.

Tight Dimensional Tolerances: Manufactured to ISO h6/h7 precision (±0.001–0.005mm), ensuring seamless integration into precision tooling systems without secondary grinding.

Thermal Stability: Low thermal expansion coefficient (4.5–5.5 x 10⁻⁶/°C) minimizes dimensional changes during high-speed machining, maintaining accuracy in thermal cycling environments.

Customizable Grades: Tailored cobalt content for specific needs—low cobalt (3–6%) for extreme hardness in non-ferrous machining, high cobalt (12–20%) for impact resistance in interrupted cutting.

Applications

Precision Cutting Tools: Raw material for end mills, drills, and router bits used in CNC machining of aerospace aluminum alloys, medical device titanium, and automotive powertrain components.

Mold & Die Making: Inserts for injection molds and stamping dies, resisting wear from abrasive plastics (e.g., glass-filled nylon) and high-strength steels.

Aerospace Component Machining: Micro-drilling and slotting of titanium alloy aircraft structures, where tool life and surface finish are paramount.

Woodworking & Composite Machining: Router bits for cutting carbon fiber composites and hardwoods, maintaining edge sharpness longer than HSS alternatives.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between submicron and standard grain carbide rods?

A: Submicron rods (grain size <1μm) offer higher hardness and better edge retention for fine machining, while standard grain (1–5μm) rods provide superior toughness for heavy-duty applications.

Q: Can these rods be coated for enhanced performance?

A: Yes, post-sintering coatings like TiN, TiAlN, or DLC (diamond-like carbon) can be applied to reduce friction, enhance wear resistance, and improve chip evacuation.

Q: What is the maximum recommended cutting speed for solid carbide tools?

A: Speed depends on material and application, but typical ranges are 80–300 m/min for steel, 200–500 m/min for aluminum, and 50–150 m/min for titanium. Consult our machining guidelines for specifics.

Q: Do you offer rods in non-standard lengths or diameters?

A: Yes, we provide custom lengths from 50mm to 3,000mm and diameters from 0.5mm to 100mm, with special processing for ultra-thin or oversized requirements.

X: delivery from stock, acc general conditions

Other: Special executions, grades or dimensions upon request