Can tungsten carbide be spark eroded?

[slim_boy_fat]

@Woody.v8 Can you drill a suitably sized hole [at least half the diameter], measured to stop just before the full depth, def not all the way through!!!

Then pour home-made 'hot ice' into the hole - this might freeze it enough to shrink it so that a left-hand extractor will wind it out?
Just thinking outside the box.....

 

[Woody.v8]

My Diesinker would easily pop that out BUT the tank size is severely limited so a full size engine block won't fit in it

The block isn't massive @ 230mm high X 340 mm long X 220mm wide

 

[Woody.v8]

@Woody.v8 Can you drill a suitably sized hole [at least half the diameter], measured to stop just before the full depth, def not all the way through!!!

Then pour home-made 'hot ice' into the hole - this might freeze it enough to shrink it so that a left -hand extractor will wind it out?
Just thinking outside the box.....

Good idea , but , I've got to find a way of drilling tungsten carbide first!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Good idea , but , I've got to find a way of drilling tungsten carbide first!

Would a diamond drill [as suggested by someone ^^] be up to the job?

A random eBay search, perhaps not great durability but you'll only be hoping to use it the once.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diamond-...hash=item41c13c9bbc:m:mbIz-ugJ-jKrrRhrkAwfmig

 

[Hood]

I think diamond is more suited to non-metals, CBN as mentioned by @pressbrake1 would likely be a better choice but not sure if you get anything small enough for that.

 

[Sammy7]

Company in Penistone north of Sheffield could spark it out no problem they have 7 machines of suitable size to get the whole block in. If you want I could negotiate a mates rate with them Monday when back at work.

 

[Sammy7]

No association etc etc. Just one of our sub contractors. Company is Eroda tools

 

[Woody.v8]

Company in Penistone north of Sheffield could spark it out no problem they have 7 machines of suitable size to get the whole block in. If you want I could negotiate a mates rate with them Monday when back at work.

Sounds good let me know
Do your best on price , I'm not from Yorkshire but I've got honorary status

 

[Sammy7]

Will do. PM your details and I’ll let you know

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Sounds good let me know
Do your best on price , I'm not from Yorkshire but I've got honorary status

If I detect a northern accent when visiting a job il bung a bit on top of the quote.
Means after haggling I'm where I need to be and the customers happy as he got a bargain.

 

[Melvyn Best]

What are the chances of welding Tungsten Carbide ? Weld a nut onto the remains ? I vaguely remember reading about removing broken taps from brass by soaking the tap in alum? which is available from chemists, don’t know if it would work on an ally block but it might be worth trying if your not in a great hurry?

 

[Kram]

Can not be rotated free with a punch?

Dimond drills will do it. I would use the sintered type over the plated. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163833034737

Cobalt is usually the binder for sintered/solid carbide tools. Battery acid should passivate the aluminium and dissolve the cobalt/carbide bit. Do a test with some scrap. Doublt alum would work but worth trying.
You'd need to build a good dam with sealant to protect the cylinder liner.

 

[Woody.v8]

What are the chances of welding Tungsten Carbide ? Weld a nut onto the remains ? I vaguely remember reading about removing broken taps from brass by soaking the tap in alum? which is available from chemists, don’t know if it would work on an ally block but it might be worth trying if your not in a great hurry?

I've tried welding a washer to the cutter then a nut to that ,its a no go as it snaps off really easily as its so brittle.
I did think about alum but was concerned about it wrecking to ally block as its caustic.

 

[Woody.v8]

Can not be rotated free with a punch?

Dimond drills will do it. I would use the sintered type over the plated. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163833034737

Cobalt is usually the binder for sintered/solid carbide tools. Battery acid should passivate the aluminium and dissolve the cobalt/carbide bit. Do a test with some scrap. Doublt alum would work but worth trying.
You'd need to build a good dam with sealant to protect the cylinder liner.

I had the same thought about a chisel/punch, again no go its in proper.

 

[JohnRUFC]

I spent a good 10 years working for a Carbide tool manufacturing company. You can drill carbide with diamond coated drills but you need flood coolant.

 

[Johnnybravo]

My Diesinker would easily pop that out BUT the tank size is severely limited so a full size engine block won't fit in it

You have no ambition....Or you don’t break many drills
Make a dam around the hole with plastercine,fill with edm fluid and away you go. Dogleg electrode holder with block on the floor next to the machine. It’s not a precision job,so flushing not super critical. Bung a bit of copper tube in as an electrode,and Bobs your Auntie...

 

[JEZGUZ]

I broke an easyout in a stud and drilled it out with a diamond burr in a dremel, it was only a cheap ebay set but it did the job.

 

[jordan1]

Would it be possible to use a small diamond slitting disc and use an impact driver?.

 

[Sammy7]

Sounds good let me know
Do your best on price , I'm not from Yorkshire but I've got honorary status

They stated minimum £50.00 to cover setup etc. I did try haggling but they are Yorkshire people as well

 

[Woody.v8]

They stated minimum £50.00 to cover setup etc. I did try haggling but they are Yorkshire people as well

I could handle that sort of price, pm me the details and i will contact them