Creating a custom tungsten carbide part is a precise process, not as simple as machining a piece of metal. It typically begins with a fine powder of tungsten carbide mixed with a binder, usually cobalt. This mixture is then pressed into a shape using a mold—a process called compaction. The resulting "green" part is soft and chalk-like.
The critical step is sintering. The pressed part is heated in a furnace to a temperature near the melting point of the binder (around 1,400°C or 2,550°F). This causes the cobalt to melt and flow, bonding the carbide particles together into an incredibly dense and hard solid. After sintering, the part may undergo final finishing processes like grinding, EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), or polishing to achieve the exact dimensional tolerances and surface finish required by the client.