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Inscribing lettering on Tungsten Carbide

2003

Dear Sirs,

First I would thank Ted Mooney and Lee Gearhart for their help on my subject copper tungsten.

Now I don't know if anybody could give me another hand? Now we will export tungsten carbide nozzles for oilfield(in manufacturing), and the problem is we have to inscribe number on nozzle head to indicate the nozzle size. We used to take EDM to inscribe the number for domestic customer, but the number worked out blurry and ugly, and we don't think it will be accepted by our foreign customers.

Any help or suggestion will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,

Beck Liu
- Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Look into laser marking.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

I agree with Mr. Watts. Investigate laser marking/etching.

Toby Padfield
- Troy, MI USA
2003

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Mr. Liu,

I assume you are producing the parts from tungsten carbide barstock, (otherwise, if you were sintering you could rise the markings in your mold, right?). Additionally to laser engraving another way can be chemical etching. The binder of WC is usually cobalt which is readily attacked by nitric acid and the proper resist. Contact an etching or texturing company like Melco, Mold-Tech or Nihon. All of them have branches in Asia.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2003

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2003

Dear Guillermo Marrufo,

We sinter the nozzle, not from barstock (if from barstock, grinding is impossible a work to finish), we have been trying make marks on the mold, but it doesn't work, because the number is too small, while opening the mold the number will be damaged.

I'm in searching for mold tech and other companies you listed. Thanks a lot for your help. Also thanks for the hlep from Toby Padfield and James Watts.

Beck Liu
- Chengdu, China