Tungsten carbide is an exceptionally hard, yet fragile material with a wide range of applications in the machining industry. One of the main uses of this material is to create a cutting tool known as a carbide bur.

Carbide burs are an essential tool, available in varying shapes and sizes, each carefully designed to fulfill a specific purpose. The most prevalent forms of carbide burs are:

1. Carbide burs with a cylindrical form
2. Orbicular carbide burs
3. Carbide burs shaped like a flame
4. Carbide burs that taper off

Amongst the various types of carbide burs, cylindrical ones are by far the most popular. Their myriad applications span tasks such as drilling, reaming, and boring.

For contouring and completing, round carbide burs are employed. If cutting and forming is desired, flame-shaped carbide burs are employed. Tapering carbide burs, on the other hand, are used when drilling or reaming is necessary.

In machining, the razor-sharp edges of carbide burs succumb to wear-and-tear much faster due to the intense cutting speeds and pressures involved. Consequently, when they are no longer sharp, new carbide burs must be employed or existing ones must be sharpened.

Instead of incurring expense to replace carbide burs, a more financially feasible decision would be to sharpen them. This can be achieved in-house with a carbide bur sharpener, allowing factories to avoid any gaps in production.

To maintain the sharp edges of carbide burs, a specialised carbide bur sharpener is employed, boasting diamond-tipped grinding wheels as its main component. The rotational spindle supports the grinding wheels, with the carbide bur securely tucked into a chuck.

At the commencement of the process, the operator sets the engine in motion and applies the specialized bur to the rotating grinding wheel. This wheel hones the delicate cutting edge of the bur, creating a flawless tip with razor-sharp precision.

An operator inspects their honed carbide bur for any harm it may have suffered. If the bur is unharmed, it can be used again; however, if there is any sign of wear and tear, it must be ditched for a new one.

Maintaining the carbide bur’s integrity is key when performing the sharpening process. Doing it hastily can lead to irreversible tool wear and may even cause it to fracture.

Although they need to be changed eventually, a carbide bur may be reground multiple times before wearing out. How many times depends on the structure of the bur itself as well as the efficacy of the diamond grindstone used.

Enhancing the lifespan of carbide burs requires their proper operation – something that barely involves any effort! To ensure optimal performance, these tools should be used in conjunction with coolant to minimize both heat and friction.

Working with carbide burs at too high a temperature can cause them to crack or shatter. To avoid this, it’s essential to keep the speed of your cuts consistent and thereby hold down the heat build-up.

To ensure that the carbide bur performs at its best, it is important to give it a break now and then by cooling it off. This can be done by immersing it in a coolant or by spraying it with a cooling agent. Make sure you wait until the carbide bur completely cools down before you resume the procedure.

To summarise, carbide burs are craft instruments made from tungsten carbide. Depending on their intended purpose, they come in several shapes, one of the most frequent forms being cylindrical, ball-facade, torch-shaped and tapered.

When their cutting edges become blunted due to wear, carbide burs are less effective and must be treated. Sharpening them as opposed to purchasing new ones is more economical and can be done easily in-house with a specialized bur sharpener.

To maintain the ability of carbide burs to endure through their life-span, they must be properly lubricated with coolant while they are being operated at a uniform speed. When the carbide bur is becoming too warm, it can be chilled in some coolant or simply sprayed with a cooling agent to reduce its temperature.

Related Product