Tungsten carbide material is relatively expensive when compared to many tool steels on a per pound basis. In some cases, inserting a carbide insert into a steel holder can be cost effective because it reduces the size of the tungsten carbide portion of the component. This is especially true when dealing with relatively large parts.
When using carbide and steel in the same part, the manner in which the carbide is secured to the steel portion is one of the more important design considerations. Here are some methods of securing a carbide insert to a steel part.
• Using an interference or shrink fit to hold the carbide insert in place
• Securing the carbide insert using mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts
• Silver soldering the carbide insert to the steel portion of the part
• Using industrial adhesives to secure the carbide insert to the steel portion of the part