Tungsten Carbide Inserts Fitting Introduce

Many inserts for mining tools are made of tungsten carbide. Mining and tunneling cutting tools are fitted with tungsten carbide tips so it is called "Button Bits". Only man-made diamond may replace the tungsten carbide buttons when conditions are ideal, but as rock drilling is a tough task, tungsten carbide button bits remain the most used type throughout the world.

Tungsten carbide inserts fitting is often in the form of a small insert for a larger tipped tool whose shank is made of another material, usually carbon tool steel. This gives the benefit of using tungsten carbide at the cutting interface without the high cost and brittleness of making the entire tool out of carbide. Most modern face mills use carbide inserts, as well as many lathe tools and end mills. In recent decades, though, solid-carbide end mills have also become more commonly used, wherever the application's characteristics make the pros outweigh the cons.