What's the difference between White steel cutters and Carbide tungsten milling cutter

What's the difference between White steel cutters(HSS) and Carbide tungsten milling cutter?

The technical team from Chiko Precision has analyzed and summrized it as bleow.

White steel cutters are also known as high-speed steel milling cutters, and tungsten steel milling cutters are also known as carbide milling cutters. What are the differences and differences between white steel and tungsten steel milling cutters in terms of material, structure, and performance? Under what processing conditions should white steel cutters be used? In which case does a tungsten steel milling cutter need to be used?

1.Difference between white steel milling cutter and tungsten steel milling cutter

(1) Differences in materials:

The white steel cutter is made of high-speed steel bars, usually made of M42 material, with a low vanadium content (1%) and a high cobalt content (8%);

Tungsten steel cutters are CNC tools made of tungsten steel (cemented carbide, also known as tungsten titanium alloy);

(2) Processing performance differences;

The hardness of high-speed steel tools at room temperature is 62~70HRC, while that of tungsten steel tools is 89.5~92.5HRC at room temperature. The heat resistance of the surface layer of the tool reaches 1000 ℃. The cutting speed of tungsten steel tools can be increased by 50%~100% compared to white steel tools, and the durability of the tool can be improved by 2~10 times.

Compared to white steel cutters, tungsten steel cutters are more suitable for high-speed, efficient, and high-temperature machining. Tungsten steel products have a high melting point, high hardness, high elastic modulus, good chemical stability, and good thermal stability. Their hardness, wear resistance, and heat resistance are far higher than those of white steel tools.

Hardness: tungsten steel cutters 89~94HRA, high-speed steel cutters 83~86.5HRA;

Heat resistance: tungsten steel cutters 800~1000 ℃, white steel cutters 600~650 ℃;

Abrasion resistance: The abrasion resistance of tungsten steel cutting tools is 15-20 times that of high-speed steel;

Cutting speed: The speed of tungsten steel cutters is 4 to 10 times that of white steel;

2. When will white steel and tungsten steel be used?

Tungsten steel milling cutters are not necessarily required in all machining situations, as different machining processes, cost control, and other differences allow flexible use of various materials of cutters. When processing hardness is low, processing accuracy requirements are not high, and low-end machine tools are used, with a small number of products and low profits, high-speed steel cutters can be used. Even some difficult to process materials, high-speed steel products can be competent, but their cutting speed, wear resistance, and durability are not excellent enough. Chiko Precision team feels that in most cases, especially in high-speed, efficient, and mass processing, it is even more necessary to use tungsten steel tools, even ceramic and diamond tools. The high cost of a single tool does not mean high processing costs. In many cases, the processing cost of using "high priced" imported tools is also smaller than that of domestic high-speed steel tools.