BLT revolutionizes tungsten carbide 3D printing

In early 2023, the Chinese company Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) officially launched the 3D printing process using tungsten carbide. This revolutionary method eliminates production problems of components made of tungsten steel with complex geometries, which is a challenge when using conventional techniques. BLT’s innovative additive manufacturing process takes tungsten carbide applications to a whole new level.

Tungsten steel, also called tungsten carbide, is used, among others, in the production of micro drills, durable, self-sharpening rotary cutting blades and rocket engine nozzles. Tungsten carbide is characterized by extraordinary hardness, impressive wear resistance and the ability to effectively prevent corrosion. However, the increased content of tungsten in the alloy creates a problem – the brittleness of the manufactured part with increased susceptibility to cracking.

To overcome this challenge, BLT implemented a tungsten carbide additive manufacturing process. This innovative approach serves as a remedy to the common problem of crack defects, providing a particularly advantageous solution for the fabrication of complex structures such as flow channels and nozzles.

BLT specializes in the production of tungsten steel nozzles tailored specifically for laser solder ball jet welding equipment, featuring a complex hollow internal cone design. These precision engineered tungsten steel nozzles not only meet the stringent high temperature and corrosion resistance requirements of tin laser jet welding applications, but also feature a flawlessly smooth interior wall finish that resists clogging. Remarkably, these nozzles achieve a minimum micropore size of 200 μm, which highlights their exceptional precision and efficiency.

Hot runner tips are key components of the mold’s hot runner system. Made from tungsten steel by BLT, they feature exceptional properties including impressive thermal conductivity, extraordinary wear resistance and excellent corrosion resistance, which collectively contribute to extending the life of the hot runner mold. Internal cavities, proportions and tip angles can be adjusted to suit a variety of scenarios.

BLT has developed the specific parameters of the tungsten steel forming process, and the size of the 3D printed tungsten steel nozzle is only φ 15 mm × 10 mm and contains a complex arrangement of dozens of micropores. The nozzle is corrosion and drug resistant and can be used in a variety of spraying, fogging, oil spraying and other equipment.

Source: BLT press materials