| In the tool and die world, carbide progressive dies | | | | to be stamped. For applications requiring very high |
| have several key advantages for certain precision | | | | volumes, carbide tooling may be a good selection. |
| metal stamping operations requiring long life and | | | | Examples of this would be applications such as: |
| high volume stamping runs. Carbide is harder than | | | | lamination for the rotors/stators in motors or for |
| steel, is highly wear resistant, and can withstand | | | | transformers, surgical components, bearings, |
| very high compressive loading. | | | | electronic connector pins, and many other |
| Tungsten carbide is a cemented carbide made up | | | | applications. |
| of Tungsten (W), Carbon (C), and a binder such | | | | The benefits of using carbide tooling for certain |
| as cobalt or nickel. By changing the amount of | | | | progressive die applications include: higher wear |
| binder, the properties of Tungsten Carbide can be | | | | resistance, reduced die maintenance, and less |
| adjusted to obtain specific properties needed for | | | | downtime. These three benefits are inherently |
| various applications. For example, increasing the | | | | due to the higher wear resistance provided by |
| amount of binder results in higher impact | | | | the use of tungsten carbide. Higher wear |
| resistance, but less wear resistance. Conversely, | | | | resistance results in longer running times between |
| decreasing the amount of binder results in higher | | | | necessary maintenance for a carbide progressive |
| hardness, but less fracture toughness. Hence, a | | | | die as compared to a steel progressive die. |
| proper understanding of the various grades of | | | | Although carbide tooling still requires preventive |
| carbide can increase the chances of having a | | | | maintenance, the less frequent maintenance |
| successfully designed carbide progressive die. | | | | intervals oftentimes result in a lower life cycle |
| The selection of a carbide progressive die (over a | | | | (total) cost for certain precision stamped |
| steel die) is a consideration that should be made | | | | components. |
| during the design stage of the component that is | | | | |