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Abstract Since early 2025, global prices of cemented carbide tools have been rising continuously and hitting record highs frequently. Driven by the sharp surge in raw material costs, tight supply, strong downstream demand and policy control, the price increase has spread across the entire industrial chain, forcing tool manufacturers to raise prices repeatedly.   This paper analyzes the core drivers behind the price surge, assesses its impact on the industrial chain, and predicts the future price trend. 1. Introduction Cemented carbide tools, known as the "teeth of industry", are essential consumables for precision machining in auto parts, aerospace, 3C electronics, mold manufacturing and other fields. They account for only 1%–4% of total machining costs but determine processing efficiency and product quality. Since 2025, the industry has witnessed an unprecedented round of price hikes. Leading manufacturers have issued multiple price-adjustment notices, with cumulative increases of 15%–60% for standard products and even higher for high-end precision tools. This round of price rise is not a short-term fluctuation but a structural shift caused by the reconstruction of supply and demand in the tungsten industry chain. 2. Core Drivers of Price Increase 2.1 Skyrocketing Prices of Core Raw Materials Tungsten powder, tungsten carbide powder and cobalt powder are the basic materials of cemented carbide, accounting for 60%–80% of the total production cost of tools. Tungsten powder rose from about 316 CNY/kg in early 2025 to 1,800 CNY/kg by February 2026, a surge of 470% within just over one year. Tungsten carbide powder increased by nearly 300% in the same period. Cobalt, as a key binder, rose by more than 200% due to supply disruptions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The cost surge has been directly passed downstream, becoming the most fundamental reason for tool price increases. 2.2 Supply Contraction at the Upper Reaches Global tungsten resources are highly concentrated, with China supplying more than 80% of the world’s output. The Chinese government has tightened the total annual mining quota of tungsten concentrate, with a year-on-year reduction of about 6.5% in 2025. Stricter environmental protection and safety inspections have shut down a large number of small and irregular mines. Export controls on tungsten-related products have been upgraded, reducing global supply availability. Industry inventories are at historically low levels, and many enterprises have less than 15 days of raw material stock, far below the 30-day safety line. The rigid supply shortage supports high raw material prices. 2.3 Strong and Resilient Downstream Demand Demand for cemented carbide tools remains robust despite price increases: Rapid growth in new energy vehicles, aerospace, robotics and precision molds has boosted demand for high-performance tools. Tool consumption is rigid in industrial production; the small proportion in total costs makes end users less sensitive to price. Global manufacturing recovery and capacity expansion further lift consumption. Strong demand prevents price corrections and reinforces the upward cycle. 2.4 Rising Comprehensive Operational Costs In addition to raw materials, other costs have risen markedly: Energy prices and logistics costs remain high worldwide. Labor costs and R&D investment in high-end tools continue to increase. Small and medium-sized manufacturers face financing difficulties and reduced production efficiency. These factors further push up the final product prices. 3. Industry Impact and Structural Changes 3.1 Frequent Price Adjustments by Tool Enterprises Leading tool companies have implemented 3–5 rounds of price increases since late 2025, with adjustments ranging from 10% to 25% each time. International brands such as Seco Tools and domestic leaders including Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools and Huirui Precision have all joined the price hike wave. 3.2 Industry Consolidation and Clearance Large enterprises with raw material stockpiling, scale effects and stable supply chains maintain stable delivery and profitability. Many small and medium-sized factories suspend production due to lack of raw materials, leading to industry concentration improvement. The market shifts from price competition to competition in technology, quality and supply stability. 3.3 Passive Cost Bearing by Downstream Manufacturers Although tools account for a small share of total costs, continuous price increases have raised processing costs for automotive, mold and machinery enterprises, which in turn squeeze their profit margins. 4. Future Price Trend Outlook In the short to medium term, prices of cemented carbide tools will remain high and fluctuate upward for three reasons: Tungsten mining and smelting cycles are long (3–5 years), and new supply is difficult to launch quickly. Strategic positioning of tungsten resources will keep policies tight, suppressing supply growth. Downstream demand from high-end manufacturing will continue to grow, supporting rigid consumption. Prices are unlikely to drop sharply in 2026. Instead, they will stay at high levels with periodic adjustments. 5. Conclusions and Suggestions The continuous price rise of cemented carbide tools is a comprehensive result of raw material cost surges, supply contraction, strong demand and policy controls. It has promoted industry upgrading and concentration while bringing cost pressure to downstream manufacturing. For enterprises: Manufacturers should optimize raw material procurement, lock in costs through long-term contracts and stockpiling. Develop high-efficiency and long-life tools to reduce customer usage consumption. Promote recycled tungsten and alternative materials to ease resource dependence. For downstream users: Choose high-performance tools to improve processing efficiency and offset cost increases. Establish long-term cooperative relationships with stable suppliers to ensure supply security.   In the long run, the industry will move toward high-endization, intensification and green recycling, and price stability will gradually return as supply and demand rebalance.

Titanium alloy is widely used in aerospace, medical, automotive and other high-end manufacturing fields due to its excellent properties such as high specific strength, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, its poor machinability—characterized by high cutting temperature, severe tool wear, and easy work hardening—poses great challenges to machining processes. To improve machining efficiency, reduce tool consumption and ensure workpiece quality, mastering the following three key points is essential, with a focus on coating selection and cutting parameter optimization.   Key Point 1: Understand the Machinability of Titanium Alloy   Before selecting coatings and setting cutting parameters, it is necessary to clarify the intrinsic characteristics of titanium alloy that affect machining, which is the basis for subsequent optimization:   • Low thermal conductivity: The thermal conductivity of titanium alloy is only 1/4~1/5 of that of steel. During cutting, most of the heat generated accumulates in the cutting zone (tool tip and workpiece contact area) instead of being dissipated through chips or workpieces, leading to extremely high local temperature (up to 800~1000℃), which accelerates tool wear and workpiece deformation. • High chemical activity: At high temperatures, titanium alloy is easy to react with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon in the air to form hard and brittle compounds (such as TiO₂, TiN, TiC), which will increase cutting force and cause abrasive wear of tools. It may also bond with the tool material, resulting in adhesive wear. • Work hardening tendency: Titanium alloy has a high yield strength and obvious work hardening effect. During cutting, the surface of the workpiece is prone to hardening layers (hardness can be increased by 20%~50%), which will scratch the tool and affect the surface quality of the subsequent machining.   Note: The P1 can be a comparison chart of thermal conductivity between titanium alloy and common metals, or a microscopic diagram of work hardening layer of titanium alloy after cutting.   Key Point 2: Rational Selection of Tool Coatings Tool coatings play a crucial role in titanium alloy machining by reducing friction, isolating high temperature, improving chemical stability and enhancing wear resistance. The selection of coatings should be based on the type of titanium alloy (such as Ti-6Al-4V, pure titanium), machining method (milling, turning, drilling) and machining requirements (roughing, finishing). Common high-performance coatings for titanium alloy machining are as follows:   2.1 Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coating TiN coating is a traditional hard coating with a hardness of about 2000~2500 HV and a low friction coefficient (0.4~0.6). It has good wear resistance and adhesion, and can effectively reduce adhesive wear between the tool and titanium alloy. However, its oxidation resistance is poor, and it will oxidize and fail when the temperature exceeds 500℃. It is suitable for low-speed roughing of pure titanium and low-alloy titanium, or machining scenarios with low cutting temperature.   2.2 Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN) Coating TiCN coating is an improved version of TiN, with a hardness of 2500~3000 HV, higher wear resistance and thermal stability than TiN. The addition of carbon element enhances the coating's resistance to adhesive wear and abrasive wear, and its oxidation resistance temperature is increased to 600~650℃. It is suitable for medium-speed turning and milling of Ti-6Al-4V and other commonly used titanium alloys, and can balance machining efficiency and tool life.   2.3 Aluminum Titanium Nitride (AlTiN) Coating AlTiN coating is a high-temperature resistant coating with excellent comprehensive performance, with a hardness of 3000~3500 HV and oxidation resistance temperature up to 800~900℃. The aluminum element in the coating forms a dense Al₂O₃ film at high temperature, which can effectively isolate the chemical reaction between titanium alloy and the tool substrate (such as carbide), and significantly reduce thermal wear and chemical wear. It is the preferred coating for high-speed finishing and semi-finishing of titanium alloy, especially suitable for high-temperature machining scenarios such as high-speed milling and deep-hole drilling.   2.4 Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coating   DLC coating has an extremely low friction coefficient (0.1~0.2) and high hardness (1500~2500 HV), which can minimize the friction and adhesion between the tool and titanium alloy, and avoid work hardening caused by excessive cutting force. However, its thermal stability is poor (oxidation failure above 400℃) and it is brittle, so it is only suitable for low-speed, low-temperature finishing of pure titanium and soft titanium alloys (such as Ti-Gr2), and not for high-temperature roughing.   Note: The P2 can be a performance comparison table of different coatings (hardness, oxidation temperature, applicable scenario) or a physical diagram of coated tools for titanium alloy machining.   Key Point 3: Scientific Setting of Cutting Parameters   Cutting parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut) directly affect cutting temperature, cutting force, tool wear and workpiece quality. For titanium alloy machining, the core principle of parameter setting is "low cutting speed, moderate feed rate, small depth of cut", so as to control cutting temperature and reduce work hardening. The following are the recommended parameters for common machining methods (taking Ti-6Al-4V, the most widely used titanium alloy, and carbide tools as examples):   3.1 Turning Parameters   • Cutting speed (vc): For roughing, the speed is 30~60 m/min; for finishing, it is 60~100 m/min. If using AlTiN coated tools, the speed can be appropriately increased to 80~120 m/min; for pure titanium, the speed should be reduced by 20%~30% to avoid excessive adhesion. • Feed rate (f): The feed rate is 0.1~0.3 mm/r for roughing and 0.05~0.15 mm/r for finishing. Too high feed rate will increase cutting force and work hardening; too low feed rate will cause the tool to rub against the workpiece, accelerating wear. • Depth of cut (ap): The depth of cut for roughing is 1~3 mm, and for finishing is 0.1~0.5 mm. It is not recommended to use a depth of cut less than 0.1 mm, because the tool will slide on the hardened layer of the workpiece, resulting in severe abrasive wear.   3.2 Milling Parameters   • Cutting speed (vc): For peripheral milling (roughing), the speed is 20~50 m/min; for finishing, it is 50~80 m/min. For face milling, the speed can be slightly higher, 40~70 m/min for roughing and 70~100 m/min for finishing. Coated tools can increase the speed by 10%~20%. • Feed rate per tooth (fz): The feed rate per tooth is 0.05~0.15 mm/tooth for roughing and 0.02~0.08 mm/tooth for finishing. For end milling of thin-walled workpieces, the feed rate should be reduced to avoid workpiece deformation. • Depth of cut (ap/ae): The axial depth of cut (ap) for roughing is 0.5~2 mm, and for finishing is 0.1~0.3 mm; the radial depth of cut (ae) is generally 50%~100% of the tool diameter.   3.3 Drilling Parameters   Drilling titanium alloy is prone to problems such as chip clogging, tool breakage and poor hole quality. The parameters should be set to facilitate chip removal:   • Cutting speed (vc): 10~30 m/min, which is lower than turning and milling, to reduce the temperature of the drill tip. • Feed rate (f): 0.1~0.2 mm/r, ensuring that chips can be discharged smoothly without clogging the drill flute. • Auxiliary measures: Use internal cooling drills to spray cutting fluid directly to the drill tip, which can effectively reduce temperature and flush chips; adopt intermittent drilling (drill in and out repeatedly) to avoid chip accumulation.   Note: The P3 can be a parameter setting diagram for turning/milling/drilling, or a curve diagram of the relationship between cutting speed and tool life.   Summary The key to successful titanium alloy machining lies in three aspects: first, fully understanding the machinability characteristics of titanium alloy to target optimization; second, selecting the appropriate tool coating according to machining scenarios to improve tool wear resistance and high-temperature stability; third, setting scientific cutting parameters to control cutting temperature and reduce work hardening. In actual production, it is also necessary to match with high-quality cutting fluid (preferred for water-based cutting fluid with good cooling performance, or oil-based cutting fluid for low-speed machining) and reasonable tool geometry, so as to achieve the best machining effect.  

In the pursuit of ultimate efficiency and precision in the field of modern machining, tool performance directly determines production efficiency and product quality. Our newly developed high-performance end mills provide you with a full range of precision machining solutions with innovative technology and excellent quality.     Core technology, excellent performance adopts advanced nano-coating technology, which significantly improves tool wear resistance and heat resistance, effectively reduces cutting resistance and extends service life; unique helical flute geometric design optimizes the chip path, reduces chip accumulation, and ensures stable and smooth machining; high-precision flute grinding process realizes micron-level machining accuracy, which meets the demanding machining requirements of complex curved surfaces and thin-walled parts. High-precision edge grinding process realizes micron-level machining accuracy, which meets the severe machining requirements of complex curved surfaces and thin-walled parts.     Multiple Advantages for Efficient Production Quiet and Low Vibration: The dynamically optimized design controls cutting vibration to a very low range, reduces operating noise by 30%, reduces equipment loss, and enhances the comfort of the operating environment. High-gloss surface: With precision cutting edge and chip removal performance, the surface roughness of the workpiece after machining can reach 0.8μm or less, eliminating the need for secondary polishing and saving machining time and cost. Ultra-long life: Tested, under the same working conditions, the tool life is 120% higher than traditional end mills, which reduces the frequency of tool change and improves the utilization of equipment.     Widely used to meet diversified needs Whether it is titanium alloy parts machining in the aerospace field, mold manufacturing in the automotive industry, or aluminum alloy precision parts production for 3C products, our end mills can perform stably, and cope with all kinds of complex materials and machining scenarios with excellent performance, which helps enterprises break through the technological bottlenecks and enhance the competitiveness of their products.     Professional service, worry-free From product selection to process optimization, our technical team provides one-to-one professional support; perfect after-sales protection system ensures quick response and problem solving, so that your production is worry-free. Choosing our end mills means choosing higher machining efficiency, lower overall cost and more reliable quality assurance. Contact us now to start a new experience of precision machining!