Tungsten Copper CNC Processing — Tool Selection

Tungsten copper is a kind of alloy that composed of tungsten (W) and copper (Cu), which not only has high density, high strength, high melting point, but also has excellent wear and corrosion resistance, has been widely used in aerospace and some high-temperature material fields. But tungsten copper material has bad performance in cutting property and belongs to brittle materials (only at room temperature tensile strength of porous tungsten skeleton 50-120MPa, Cu tensile strength of 240MPa). In the machining process, the tool was badly abrased, and it can easily produce cracks, collapses and other defects. In order to solve these problems, relevant researchers continue to explore in the actual production process of tungsten copper workpiece, especially focused on tool selection, cutting parameters, cutting fluid selection and CNC milling pass route arrangements.

In terms of tool selection, it requires the material has high hardness, good toughness, high strength, excellent hot hardness and heat dissipation. For the best selection of three-flute tungsten carbide end mill, which requires smooth flank, sharp edge, and for multi-point tool should be controlled runout cutting edge. Viewed from the geometry of tungsten copper machining tools, except the requirement of larger posterior horn, the other no special requirements manufactured according to finished tool geometry. For cutting parameters selection, it will produce higher temperature and cutting heat diffusion is not easy, which will accelerate the wear of tool. So choose appropriate cutting speed, cutting depth, feeding rate not only can effectively improve the efficiency, but also can reduce the production costs and extend the service life. In addition, for CNC machining copper tungsten carbide tool cutting workpiece temperature should be controlled between 600 ℃ - 800 ℃. And there is a difference in cutting parameters between tungsten carbide mills and end mills when tungsten copper machining process.

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