Tungsten carbide machining, grinding, EDM, and finished-part routing
Tungsten carbide parts are usually routed around the features the finished component needs to hold. Some work starts from a blank and moves through grinding. Some needs EDM, careful feature work, inspection, and finishing before it is ready for production use.
Use this page to decide what to send with a machining request. The fastest review includes the drawing, grade or material direction, critical tolerances, finish, quantity, and the reason the part is being made from carbide instead of steel or another material.
How to route a carbide machining request
The best route depends on geometry, tolerance, finish, and whether the part is still a blank or already near finished size.
| Need | Likely route | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Round OD control | Centerless grinding or CNC cylindrical grinding | Diameter, length, straightness, finish, end detail, quantity, and inspection notes. |
| Flatness or controlled faces | Precision surface grinding | Flatness, parallelism, surface finish, stock allowance, and critical faces. |
| Profiles, holes, or special features | Carbide-specific machining, EDM, and finishing review | Drawing, feature priority, edge condition, tolerance, and any mating part details. |
| Identification or traceability | Laser etching and inspection review | Marking text, location, size, documentation needs, and whether markings contact the working surface. |
Start with the finished function
Carbide machining decisions should follow the failure mode. A punch, pin, guide, die, insert, bushing, or wear pad may need a different grade, support, finish, and inspection path even when the print looks simple. If the part is replacing steel, include what wore out, chipped, bent, galled, or drifted out of tolerance.
What to send with the RFQ
- Drawing, CAD file, sketch, or sample part photos.
- Known carbide grade, equivalent grade, or the application details needed to review grade fit.
- Finished dimensions, tolerance, finish, flatness, straightness, edge, and inspection requirements.
- Quantity, delivery target, current failure mode, contact material, load, speed, and operating environment.
If the part starts as a blank, review carbide blanks and the density and weight calculator before sending quote details.
Wire EDM, grinding, and micro-feature routing for carbide
Machining a carbide part usually means planning the blank, grade, grind stock, EDM path, and final inspection together. Wire EDM can be useful for profiles, slots, and complex geometry, while grinding, lapping, and polishing often control the final size and surface.
| Process route | Best use | Quote detail to include |
|---|---|---|
| Carbide grinding | Flatness, OD/ID size, straightness, surface finish, and final dimensional control. | Tolerance, finish callout, grind allowance, inspection method, and whether edges need break or radius. |
| Wire EDM on carbide | Profiles, slots, windows, and geometries that are not practical to grind directly. | Feature size, corner radius, recast or finish expectations, start-hole needs, and post-EDM finishing requirements. |
| Sinker EDM or micro-EDM | Small holes, pockets, details, and features that require electrode access or controlled fine geometry. | Hole size, depth, aspect ratio, edge condition, number of features, and whether sample inspection is required. |
| Near-net blank plus finish machining | Reducing material removal, lead time, and risk before final grinding or EDM. | Starting blank form, grade, oversize allowance, quantity, finished print, and any current supplier issue. |
Practical RFQ note: Send the finished drawing and identify which dimensions are functional. Extramet can review whether a tungsten carbide blank, flat-stock or preform route, grinding, EDM, or a combined path is the better starting point.
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Precision Carbide Machining Services Tungsten Carbide Machined to Your Exact Drawing Diamond grinding and EDM for custom wear parts, tooling components, and precision carbide parts. ISO 9001:2015 certified. Tolerances to ±0.0002″.
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Extramet Products provides precision tungsten carbide machining services for custom wear parts, tooling components, and high-performance industrial applications. Because of its extreme hardness (85–95 HRA), tungsten carbide cannot be machined using conventional cutting tools. We utilize specialized diamond grinding and Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) processes to shape, cut, and finish carbide components to exacting specifications.
From prototype development to high-volume production runs, we machine both our own stock carbide material and customer-supplied blanks, delivering consistent precision, superior surface finishes, and fast turnaround under our ISO 9001:2015 quality system.
Tungsten Carbide Machining Capabilities
Our facility is equipped to handle the unique challenges of machining hard, brittle materials. We offer a complete suite of carbide machining processes to achieve complex geometries, tight tolerances, and mirror finishes.
| Machining Process | Best Used For | Typical Tolerance | Surface Finish (Ra) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centerless Grinding | High-volume OD grinding of rods, pins, and simple cylinders | ±0.0002″ | 2–4 µin (Polish) |
| CNC Cylindrical Grinding | Complex OD profiles, multiple diameters, tight concentricity | ±0.0002″ | 4–8 µin |
| Surface Grinding | Flat surfaces, squaring blocks, parallel faces, and wear plates | ±0.0002″ | 4–8 µin |
| Wire EDM | Complex 2D profiles, through-holes, slots, and extrusion dies | ±0.0005″ | 12–16 µin |
| Sinker EDM | Blind cavities, hex holes, internal splines, and complex 3D shapes | ±0.0005″ | 16–32 µin |
Custom Tungsten Carbide Parts & Components
Extramet machines custom tungsten carbide parts to drawing, quantity, tolerance, and application specification. We work from your CAD files or dimensioned sketches to deliver precision carbide components for the most demanding wear and tooling applications.
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Wear Parts & Liners Carbide wear parts for high-abrasion environments: nozzles, liners, bushings, and wear plates machined to your exact geometry. |
Tooling Components Punches, dies, inserts, and tooling blanks machined to tight tolerances for stamping, forming, and cutting operations. |
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Precision Cylindrical Parts Rods, pins, rolls, and sleeves ground to precision OD tolerances for gauging, metering, and high-precision assembly applications. |
Valve & Flow Components Valve seats, flow restrictors, and orifice components for oil and gas, chemical processing, and high-pressure applications. |
Industries Served
Extramet’s tungsten carbide machining capabilities support demanding applications across a wide range of industries where hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional precision are critical.
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Aerospace & Defense Precision wear components, tooling, and structural parts to tight spec |
Oil & Gas Valve seats, nozzles, and flow restrictors for high-pressure environments |
Medical Devices Surgical tooling, implant components, and precision instrument parts |
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Metalworking & Tooling Dies, punches, inserts, and forming tools for stamping and cutting |
Mining & Energy Wear-resistant components for drilling, crushing, and abrasive environments |
Food & Packaging Corrosion-resistant carbide parts for processing and packaging equipment |
Carbide Grades & Material Selection
The cobalt binder content of a tungsten carbide grade directly affects its hardness, toughness, and machinability. Extramet works with a broad range of carbide grades and can machine from supplied material, in-house preforms, or Extramet blanks.
| Grade Type | Cobalt Content | Hardness (HRA) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-fine grain | 6–8% | 92–93 | Precision wear parts, cutting edges, gauging |
| Fine grain | 8–10% | 91–92 | General wear parts, dies, punches, nozzles |
| Medium grain | 10–13% | 89–91 | Mining, oil & gas, impact-resistant wear parts |
| Coarse grain | 13–16% | 86–89 | Heavy impact applications, rock drilling, forming dies |
Not sure which grade is right for your application? Our team can help you select the optimal carbide grade based on your wear environment, load conditions, and dimensional requirements. View our full carbide grades guide →
Why Choose Extramet for Carbide Machining?
Tungsten carbide machining demands a specialist — not a general machine shop. Extramet has focused exclusively on tungsten carbide since our founding, giving us process depth and material expertise that generalist shops cannot match.
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Carbide-Only Expertise We work exclusively with tungsten carbide. Our operators, equipment, and processes are optimized for the unique properties of cemented carbide — not adapted from general metalworking. |
Drawing-Based Quoting Submit your CAD file or dimensioned sketch and receive a detailed quote. We review every drawing for machinability and flag any issues before production begins. |
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ISO 9001:2015 Quality System Every part is produced and inspected under our ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system, with full dimensional documentation available on request. |
Prototype to Production We support the full product lifecycle — from single-piece prototypes to high-volume production runs — with consistent quality and lead times across all quantities. |
Related Services & Resources
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Centerless Grinding |
Cylindrical Grinding |
Carbide Grades Guide |
Carbide Blanks & Preforms |
Tungsten Carbide Machining — FAQ
Request a Tungsten Carbide Machining Quote
Tell us about your part. Submit your drawing and requirements — we’ll respond with a detailed quote, typically within one business day.
Or call us at 800-862-7066 | [email protected]
This page was reviewed for technical accuracy and alignment with Extramet’s current tungsten carbide manufacturing, machining, and finishing capabilities.
About Extramet | View ISO 9001:2015 Certification
Need help choosing diamond grinding, EDM, or another finishing route for a carbide part? Send the print and application notes so our Latrobe carbide team can review fit, tolerance, and timing.
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ISO 9001:2015 certified. For proof before quoting, review customer feedback or Extramet certification.
Carbide does not machine like steel
When people ask whether tungsten carbide can be machined, they are usually asking what process can hold the feature without cracking, chipping, or losing size control. The answer depends on the grade, geometry, stock allowance, finish, and how much material must be removed.
Many carbide parts start as blanks or rods and then move through diamond grinding, EDM, or other finishing steps. Round OD features may belong on the CNC cylindrical grinding page; formed or irregular details need a print review before a process is chosen.
- Send the drawing, grade or application, starting stock size, finished dimensions, tolerance, finish, and quantity.
- Note any current failure: edge chipping, abrasive wear, corrosion, impact, galling, heat, or size drift.
- Ask early if the drawing was designed around steel. Carbide may need different reliefs, radii, or finishing allowances.