Carbide burrs are essential tools in material shaping and finishing. Carbide burrs come in various shapes and cuts, each tailored for specific materials and applications.
Understanding the unique features and applications of each type of carbide burr allows for efficient and precise work, enhancing the longevity and quality of the tools. Proper use and selection of carbide burrs are crucial for achieving optimal results in any material removal or finishing task. Here is a detailed look at the various types of carbide burrs.
Comparison Table of 7 Common Shapes of Carbide Burrs
|
Different Shapes |
Key Features |
Uses |
|
Cylinder Tungsten Carbide Burrs |
With a flat end and no cutting face on either side. |
Commonly used with small lathes and die grinders. |
|
Cylinder Tungsten Carbide Burrs With End Cut |
A cylindrical shape with an end cut. |
Used with interior contour work, face milling, and peripheral milling. |
|
Ball-Nosed Cylinder Tungsten Carbide Burrs |
With a ball-shaped nose to make concave cuts and shape rounded edges. |
Used with interior contour work, peripheral milling, and face milling. |
|
Ball Tungsten Carbide Burrs |
With a spherical or ball-shaped head. |
Hollowing out workpieces, creating concave cuts, deburring bores, and preparing surfaces for welding build-up |
|
Oval Tungsten Carbide Burrs |
With an oval-shaped head. |
Rounding off edges,creating smooth, concave cuts, and removing material from curved surfaces. |
|
Ball-nose tree tungsten carbide burrs |
With a ball nose. |
Used with interior contouring work, peripheral milling, and face milling |
|
Tree tungsten carbide burrs |
A tree-like shape but with a pointed nose. |
Making tapered cuts, rounding off edges, and working in confined spaces. |
Types of Carbide Burrs
Single-cut carbide burrs
Single-cut carbide burrs have a single right-hand (up-cut) spiral flute, often referred to as a single flute. These burrs are versatile and commonly used for general-purpose tasks. They are ideal for working with ferrous metals such as chrome steel, copper, hardened steel, and cast iron. Single-cut burrs excel in heavy material removal, deburring, milling, and cleaning tasks. They produce long chips and provide smooth finishes on the workpiece.
Double-cut carbide burrs
Double-cut carbide burrs, also known as diamond-cut burrs or a cross-cut, are the most widely used type of carbide burr cut in modern industry and are suitable for the great majority of applications. These burrs are widely used for working with both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including aluminum and soft steel, as well as non-metallic materials like hardwood, plastics, stone, and ceramics. They feature two flutes cut across each other and are able to produce a smoother surface finish and remove material faster because of more cutting edges compared to single-cut burrs. They are ideal for medium-light material removal, deburring, fine finishing, and cleaning tasks.
Aluminum-cut carbide burrs
The right-hand spiral design of aluminum-cut burrs enables rapid stock removal, making them ideal for efficient processing of non-ferrous metals. These burrs are perfect for cutting softer materials like aluminum, magnesium, copper, and various non-metallic substances. They are also suitable for tough materials such as steel, cast iron, ceramic, stone, acrylics, porcelain, fiberglass, hardwood, and reinforced plastics.
Shapes of Carbide Burrs
Each type of carbide burr has a specific shape and application, allowing for precise and efficient work in metalworking, woodworking, and other applications. Here, we will explain the different types of tungsten carbide burrs, focusing on their shapes and unique uses.
A Shape: Cylinder tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The A-shape carbide burr has a cylindrical shape with a flat end and no cutting face on either side. This type of burr makes it suitable for surface finishing, deburring, flat surface grinding, removal of material from cylindrical surfaces, and processing of right-angled corners. The flat end allows even contact with the workpiece, ensuring a consistent and uniform finish. They are commonly used with small lathes and die grinders. For the best results, minimize chatter by positioning the shaft of your tool as far inside the collet as possible.
B Shape: Cylinder tungsten carbide burrs with end cut
Use: End-cut cylinder burrs also have a cylindrical shape but include an end cut, making them useful for interior contour work, face milling, and peripheral milling. The addition of the end cut allows for more versatile use in detailed applications. They are versatile for various precision tasks requiring precise edge and internal work.
C Shape: Ball-nosed cylinder tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The C-shape carbide burr combines the functionality of cylindrical burrs with the ability to make concave cuts and shape rounded edges. This type of burr allows for efficient interior contour work, peripheral milling, and face milling. The ball-shaped nose enables the burr to follow and blend complex contours, making it useful for a variety of shaping and contouring applications.
D Shape: Ball tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The D-shape carbide burr has a spherical or ball-shaped head. This shape creates a concave cut when used on the workpiece, making it ideal for hollowing out workpieces, creating concave cuts, deburring bores, and preparing surfaces for welding build-up. The ball shape also allows for contouring and milling in tight spaces.
E Shape: Oval tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The E-shape carbide burr has an oval-shaped head. Oval-shaped tungsten carbide burrs are effective for rounding off edges, creating smooth, concave cuts, and removing material from curved surfaces. They provide smooth and precise edge rounding, making them suitable for various finishing tasks.
F Shape: Ball-nose tree tungsten carbide burrs
Use: Tree-shaped burrs with a ball nose are used for rounding off edges and making precise concave cuts. They are effective for shaping and smoothing in tight or confined areas, providing a combination of round and tapered cutting capabilities. They are typically utilized for interior contouring work, peripheral milling, and face milling.
G Shape: Tree tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The G-shape carbide burr also has a tree-like shape but with a pointed nose, which can reach hard-to-cut areas and narrow contours. They are suitable for making tapered cuts, rounding off edges, and working in confined spaces.
H Shape: Flame tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The H-shape carbide burr has a cylindrical shape with a tapered, flame-like tip. This type of burr is effective for creating long, concave cuts, shaping, and smoothing in various materials.
J Shape: 60°conical tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The J-shape carbide burr has a 60-degree conical shape. This type of burr is ideal for beveling, chamfering, deburring, and making angled cuts in materials. They are suitable for working on angles, grooves, and tapered holes, providing precise and detailed metal removal.
K Shape: 90°tungsten carbide burrs
Use: These burrs have a 90°conical shape and are used for making right-angled cuts, chamfering, deburring, and creating V-shaped cuts. They are also suitable for engraving and detailed work on various materials, ensuring sharp and clean cuts.
L Shape: Ball nose cone tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The L-shape carbide burr has a cone shape with a rounded, ball-shaped nose. This type of burr is effective for making angled cuts with a rounded finish, suitable for detailed and precise work.
M Shape: Cone tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The M-shape carbide burr has a conical shape with a pointed nose. This type of carbide burr allows for precision work in hard-to-reach areas and is used for beveling, counter-sinking, and making precise angled cuts.
N Shape: Inverted tungsten carbide burrs
Use: The N-shape carbide burr has an inverted cone shape with a flat upper surface. With the pointed tip facing downward, these burrs are ideal for making V-cuts, rear side chamfering in hard-to-reach areas, and working on areas that require an inverted angle.
Final Thoughts
Carbide burrs should be operated within specific RPM ranges to ensure optimal performance and longevity. The RPM range depends on the material being worked on and burr size. Generally, smaller burrs require higher RPMs, while larger burrs need lower RPMs to prevent tool damage and ensure a smooth cut.
The choice of carbide burr type depends on factors such as the material being worked, the desired finish, the accessibility of the workpiece, and the specific requirements of the job. Understanding the unique characteristics and intended uses of each type of carbide burr is crucial for selecting the right tool for the job and achieving the desired results.
FindBuyTool Tungsten Carbide Burrs are trusted globally in industries from crafting to engineering. Years of development, testing, and feedback under strict quality controls have built our solid reputation. We offer a full line of tungsten carbide burr types and shapes, as well as carbide burr sets, available from shape A to shape N, which can significantly satisfy your specific needs, such as coating, flute design, cutting geometry, and desired finish.
