Carbide burrs are a product of a rigid metal called tungsten carbide. Unlike conventional steel, it is readily employable in extreme temperatures. The burrs made from tungsten carbide show excellent resistance, all credit to its hardness. They manage to maintain shape and sharper edges for a very long time.
The tungsten carbide burrs are crucial for many industries. For example, the mechanical industry can’t imagine finishing their projects without these magic tools called carbide burrs.
Understanding Different Types of Carbide Burr Shanks
Structurally carbide burrs have two significant parts: The shank and the head. The size of the shank runs proportionate to the size of the hand tool/ rotary tool in operation. And for the size of the head, it’s the procedure that dictates things. As far as the selection is in question, it’s the shanks that can make the job difficult.
The path to select the right shank goes through the understanding of it. Therefore, the better you know the tool, the better your choice will be.
So, let’s look at all its prominent types of shanks and learn how one is different from the other.
1. Standard Length Shank
The standard length of the shank, i.e., friction grip shank, suits best to high-speed hand tools. They require unique contra-angle friction group heads to operate efficiently. Contrary to the handpieces, they need low-speed burr heads.
The friction grip shank has a standard diameter of 1.6mm, which is the smallest among its peer group. On the other hand, the standard length shanks have a standard length of 19mm. The most popular case of these standard length shanks is their deployment in workspaces as operative burrs.
2. Friction Grip Short Shank
The diameter of friction grip short shanks is about the same as the same standard length shanks, but they are shorter in length. That’s because they have a standardized measurement of 16mm compared to 19mm in standard friction group shanks.
Short friction group shanks also work with high-speed handpieces, but they use relatively more minor heads compared to what goes with standard shanks. Nevertheless, they are effective in places where reach is a constraint. For example, in dentistry, when dentists struggle to access the posterior part of the mouth, they prefer these shanks.
3. Long Straight Shank
The long straight shanks play a critical role in diamond cutting procedures. Also, their use is widespread in surgical procedures. They operate with low-speed handpieces. In the industry, these shanks are widely popular as HP.
They also have a similar diameter to standard shanks. But as their name suggests, they are a lot longer (about 30%) than standard friction grip shanks. They are 25mm long and keep a diameter of 1.6mm.
4. Surgical Shank
As mentioned in the above point, long straight shanks participate in surgical procedures. But there are dedicated surgical shanks available in the market.
The shanks are also a part of the friction grip superset. Many people recognize them as friction grip surgical shanks. Lengthwise, they are even longer than long straight shanks. They have a length of 30mm while they retain the standard diameter, which is 1.66mm.
5. Latch-type Shank
The latch-type shanks are probably the best shanks to operate with low-speed contra-angle handpieces.
The shanks have a bigger diameter than the friction grip set, which is about 2.35mm. At the same time, they are shorter than the standard friction grip shank and have a length of 20mm. In contrast, they are not significantly different in terms of shapes if you compare them with friction grip shanks.
An Overview to Carbide Burr Shapes
The shape of a burr is nothing but the style of their cutting.
All other variables remain intact when the form of a burr changes.
For different tasks, you need differently shaped burrs.
A. Shape
The list of burr shapes is long, and it continues to evolve. But you certainly don’t need all these burrs. It all comes down to recognizing your objective and selecting the right burr. Most of the tasks are achievable by employing round, inverted cone, pear, straight fissure, and tapered shapes.
B. Flutes
Another major factor that affects the shape of burrs is flute angle. It’s because cutting characteristics change as flute angle changes. You can do specific tasks more effectively if you align them with the flute angle and get a matching burr.
The burrs used in general operation and creating cavity tend to have wide flute angles. The wide flute angle per se allows the burr to function at higher speeds. Also, for cavity preparation, engineers prefer to use plain or cross-cut burrs. The plain or straight-blade burrs have a reputation for offering a smooth-cutting experience. At the same time, cross-cut burrs with the presence of extra blades can cut at higher speeds.
C. Finishing Ability
Then comes the job of trimming and finishing burr. These burrs are different from operative and have more cutting blades. And the edges in these burrs tend to have closer to each other. Closer blades allow the burrs to cut with more precision and smoothly.
What Are Carbide Burrs Used for These Days?
1. Metalworking
Metalworking is a word that people often end up using very loosely. But the scope of metalworking is a lot wider than the word signifies. Metalworking involves creating parts of large engineering machines, assembling those parts to creating giant structures.
And the carbide tungsten burrs have a role to play in all those operations.
2. Jewelry Making
Carbide burrs are a crucial part of the handmade jewelry industry. The superset of handcrafted jewelry is broader than what people think. Any jewelry product made fusing hand tool comes under handcrafted jewelry.
The industry employs these carbide burrs for deep engraving, pendant drilling, and designing.
3. Welding
Welding is the process of joining materials. It works for both metals as well as thermoplastics. The most popular method to weld material is still coalescence.
Welding requires a particular environment. An intense source of energy, and it could be a gas flame or electric arc. And to work around the material, engineers need tools that can stand up to the challenge posed by heat produced. The carbide tungsten burrs are perfect for that operation. They can easily accommodate that heat without any chipping.
4. Milling
The process of milling is nothing but giving a shape to a material. It involves removing some part of the material. And there are materials like a diamond prone to damages but require a vital energy force to cut through it.
That’s when carbide tungsten burr chips in; they can operate at high speed, and that too without damaging the material.
5. Deburring
Deburring is an essential activity of the mechanical manufacturing process. It is the deburring that gives the end product a final finish.
Engineers use deburring to eliminate excess material off the metal they are working on and clean it.
6. Grinding
The process of grinding is similar to the operation of deburring. But it is more of an abrasive process employed to fine-tune workpieces. Engineers use carbide tungsten burrs in grinding to make fine cuts, finishing, and other similar precision operations.
7. Dentistry
The invention of carbide burrs brought a period of renaissance that changed how dental surgeons go about their business. Dentists use carbide tungsten burrs for creating cavities in the tooth, cutting through other hard tissues.
For precision works, they use friction grip short shank. While for standard cutting procedures, dentists prefer to use specialized surgical burrs.
Final Thoughts!
The invention of the carbide tungsten burr was not a mere adjustment for the mechanical industry. It changed the way how industries operate and manufacture.
We discussed the processes where these burrs make an impact. The burrs make things happen that were not possible without them or too difficult to imagine. It’s time that more industries come through and take advantage of these carbide tungsten burrs.
So, what tasks do you perform with the help of carbide burrs? Are you looking for a specific carbide burr to accomplish a demanding task? Well, reach to us by filling this short contact us form. Or view our products to find the most suitable carbide burr for your application.