Machining of Tungsten

• Oct 19, 2004

• #2

swall

Materials

Sep 30, 2003

2,764

I've got some very old literature in my files from Fansteel Metallurgical, the old time experts in Tungsten processing. I'll did it out tomorrow and take a look.

 

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• Oct 20, 2004

• #3

swall

Materials

Sep 30, 2003

2,764

Rakes--I dug out the Fansteel tungsten literature but all it had on machining was "can be machined with carbide or diamond tools" .Not much help. I think I would just treat it like alloy steel of similar hardness and go from there.

 

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• Oct 23, 2004

• Thread starter
• #4

rakes

Aerospace

Jul 6, 2001

25

It is Tungsten and not Tungsten-Carbide.
Thanks guys, for giving me a start. Shall try with "Tungsten-Carbide" tools and let you know.

regards
rakes

 

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• Oct 23, 2004

• #5

CarlPugh

Electrical

Jul 16, 2002

142

Visited company that was making electrodes for arc lamps. The person that showed us through went to great lengths to explain that some tungsten was radioactive and they only used tungsten that was radioactive.

Safety aspects should be researched.

 

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• Oct 25, 2004

• #6

swall

Materials

Sep 30, 2003

2,764

Just found a comment in the ASM Desk Top Handbook. For turning operations,carbide tools should be ground with a "negative back rake, 15 degree lead and 0 degree side rake". Also on the radiactovity--that would only apply to the thoriated tungsten alloys.

 

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