Tungsten dice - Laser Pointer Forums

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-26-2009, 03:50 AM

I'm contacting a few companies that do custom metal work, to see if anyone can make for me some custom tungsten dice. I'd most likely want to go for 12mm base instead of 16mm base, since it would probably be cheaper because there's a LOT less material used (and they'll be so dense and heavy, I wouldn't want that much weight). So far, I have no idea what it would cost, or when I could get them, or anything, but is anyone interested? I'm sure I could manage 7-piece d20, or 10d10 for White Wolf or whatever else you might want that for. It would certainly be expensive, probably $60+/set, but I don't actually know, it's likely to depend largely on the number of each die to be made. But, since these things aren't mass produced, you just might have the coolest thing in the whole game shop! And it's possible (and probable) that neither you nor anyone you meet will ever see another set of dice like these.

And what about a tungsten-copper mix? That would be less expensive and easier to machine.
It could look like this, or perhaps a little more coppery, or less, but I like it just about here, maybe a little less. Have a look:
http://www.bridgat.com/files/tungste...r_alloys_2.jpg

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-26-2009, 06:51 AM

I got an E-mail from one company that said they can do it. I have some friends, and friends of friends, who are very interested, so this is pretty likely to go through. And I tried to do a GB of MS ProDUOs before, but there just weren't enough people interested, so this is the first GB I'm going to make sure I get done (unless it's like $200/set of dice). Since I don't really have any rep, I'm not a big time poster, and I don't have any past experience doing GBs, I'd like to reassure everyone that I'll pick up any and all costs if this starts to fall through (which I'm pretty sure it won't, at least not once we get to the financial stage of it). I'll post again when I have a cost per set estimate.

pullbangdead · 06-26-2009, 07:02 AM

Machining tungsten? Good luck. Sounds awesome, but as I'm sure you're aware, that stuff is very tough to machine.

Are you contacting any places that do powder metallurgy, or just machine shops? Especially with stuff like tungsten, powder metallurgy might even be easier or cheaper than machining.

Also, then it'll likely be easier get tungsten carbide, which is much shinier/prettier.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-26-2009, 07:19 AM

I'm contacting places that do custom metal work. I really don't know. I've gotten a response from a second company now who is confident they can do it, too. I know tungsten is hard to machine. I'll ask about that specific process, and about tungsten carbide, too. Is pure tungsten or tungsten carbide more expensive? One of the companies is Tungsten.com, so I'm sure they'll have powder metallurgy available, and possibly tungsten carbide.

EDIT: What about tungsten-copper, with a low percentage of copper, maybe 40% or less? Sound interesting? Here's how it might look:
http://www.bridgat.com/files/tungste...r_alloys_2.jpg

I think it could look pretty cool, with that copper hue to it.

k1kb0t · 06-26-2009, 03:08 PM

The tungsten / copper blend might work better. I think dice should have a bounce to them that give them their randomness. If they are all Tungsten they might be a bit heavy and not have that nice spring to them.

Jon

phoenix77 · 06-26-2009, 04:18 PM

Depending on the cost involved of course, I might be interested in a set, or maybe a single die for a keychain...................rob

chipdouglas · 06-26-2009, 06:14 PM

I might be interested. Also i heard a long time ago about wire edm'ing tungsten :/ i am a skeptic about this process though. i have never seen it done with tungsten just heard about it.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-26-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipdouglas

I might be interested. Also i heard a long time ago about wire edm'ing tungsten :/ i am a skeptic about this process though. i have never seen it done with tungsten just heard about it.

Wire EDM? What's that?

And about powder metallurgy: one company said it would be $2500/mold.

scopeguy20 · 06-26-2009, 07:04 PM

EDM uses high voltage charges to machine parts, stands for Electro-dynamic-machining iirc. These often use an electrode that goes up, and down a small amount and the electricity arcs and burns the pattern into the surface, could be good to mark the dice's spots. -Glenn

digital_blue · 06-26-2009, 07:11 PM

EDM actually stands for "electrical discharge machining".

Flaminpyro · 06-26-2009, 07:35 PM

while working in a machine shop many years ago I had a 3-56 tap break off in a brass optical mounnt I was making, itsted of scrapping the piece I took it down to the main machine shop where they had a EDM back then that stood for electrical discharge machining the unit it self looked like a drill press with an insulated chuck which held a device connected to a coolant source and an electrical source, comming out of the bottom was a tungsten hollow needle. the cooling fluid flows down the needle as the electricty eats up the tap in the brass, the guy operating the EDM was so good he removed the tap with out damaging any of the threads that were made in the brass. I'm sure things have much progressed since that time.

BTW I also would be interested in a pair or maby just one if cost is realy high...

Thanks ! Best Regards Pyro...

MarioMaster · 06-26-2009, 07:51 PM

I'm interested but I probably won't get any unless the price is pretty low.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-26-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarioMaster

I'm interested but I probably won't get any unless the price is pretty low.

I'm hoping for a set of 7 to be less than $50, but I just don't know yet. It'd be worth the molds if I had the money and knew I'd be able to sell about a million sets, but that would take away part of the novelty that comes with the rarety of having such a set of dice. If I had Bill Gates' money, I'd pay someone to contact every custom metal working company in the nation and find the least expensive company for producing a few dozen or so sets.

MarioMaster · 06-26-2009, 10:27 PM

Well if price is in that general range then I'm game

jwc · 06-26-2009, 10:30 PM

I'm with MarioMaster on that one. I'd buy a set and I have a few friends who would too.

larrball · 06-26-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipdouglas

I might be interested. Also i heard a long time ago about wire edm'ing tungsten :/ i am a skeptic about this process though. i have never seen it done with tungsten just heard about it.

Chip,
At first glance i thought you ment to spell "wire welding tungsten"
and i about fliped a lid--lol (but i did see that's not the case)
I use tungsten electrodes all the time for welding pipe (Carbon and Stainless- 304,308,316)
Just thought it was funny.

Anyway, if the price is right i might take a look at a set.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-27-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwc

I'm with MarioMaster on that one. I'd buy a set and I have a few friends who would too.

Please, by all means, contact your friends and see if there interested.

I think I'll make a new thread once I've got a price estimate, and I'll need to know what everyone wants at that point, so I can tell the company about how many I'm looking at and they can give me a cost/die, and I'll do that rather than sets.

I'm also going to see if I can get a prototype of the six-sided die, since it should be relatively inexpensive. The d6 will be 70/30 WCu.

The new thread will include a poll with multiple choices, including what dice you're interested in (d20 set, 10d10 set, individual dice), and if you like the tungsten-copper, 70/30, or want 80/20, or 60/40.

Murudai · 06-27-2009, 05:34 AM

I might be interested, depending on what kinds of dice you can make. A D20 and a pair of D6 would be nice.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-27-2009, 06:26 AM

Sure. I plan on d4, d6, d8, d10, d10%, d12, and d20. They'll be available in d20 sets, or 10d10 sets.

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-27-2009, 06:38 AM

The 'd' is a reference to how many sides. d4 = A die with for sides
d10% is a 10-sided die that is numbered in tens, from 00, 10, 20, etc...up to 90. instead of rolling a 100-sided die that's so round it can roll forever, roll a standard d10 for the ones place, and d10% for the tens place. A standard d10 is numerals 0 through 9. All three zeros is 100%, but a zero and something in the tens, or a double zero and something in the ones, is just whatever non-zero numerical value is showed.

Eku · 06-27-2009, 06:49 AM

If they were a good price I'd get 2 or 4 d6.

heruursciences · 06-27-2009, 09:16 AM

Nickel bonded Tungsten carbide or copper tungsten would be a LOT CHEAPER. If you want pure tungsten dice you are in for a bit of a sticker shock. I had a company make a small tungsten "pig" before and the price was a few hundred bucks! Ye ounch!

Bearded_Galaxy · 06-27-2009, 09:25 AM

But I'm just doing basic uniform polygedrons, not complex shapes.

heruursciences · 06-28-2009, 06:32 AM

A pig is a metal cylinder with a hole in it and a lid, It is used to hold radioactive materials.

Eku · 06-28-2009, 07:02 AM

Lol he thought it was oink oink XD

View Poll Results: Are you interested?
Yes, definitely!	12	19.35%
Kind of, completely depends on price and my mood	34	54.84%
Nope	9	14.52%
What's tungsten?	7	11.29%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

06-26-2009, 03:50 AM	#1
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Tungsten dice I'm contacting a few companies that do custom metal work, to see if anyone can make for me some custom tungsten dice. I'd most likely want to go for 12mm base instead of 16mm base, since it would probably be cheaper because there's a LOT less material used (and they'll be so dense and heavy, I wouldn't want that much weight). So far, I have no idea what it would cost, or when I could get them, or anything, but is anyone interested? I'm sure I could manage 7-piece d20, or 10d10 for White Wolf or whatever else you might want that for. It would certainly be expensive, probably $60+/set, but I don't actually know, it's likely to depend largely on the number of each die to be made. But, since these things aren't mass produced, you just might have the coolest thing in the whole game shop! And it's possible (and probable) that neither you nor anyone you meet will ever see another set of dice like these. And what about a tungsten-copper mix? That would be less expensive and easier to machine. It could look like this, or perhaps a little more coppery, or less, but I like it just about here, maybe a little less. Have a look: http://www.bridgat.com/files/tungste...r_alloys_2.jpg Last edited by Bearded_Galaxy; 06-26-2009 at 09:29 PM.

06-26-2009, 06:51 AM	#2
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice I got an E-mail from one company that said they can do it. I have some friends, and friends of friends, who are very interested, so this is pretty likely to go through. And I tried to do a GB of MS ProDUOs before, but there just weren't enough people interested, so this is the first GB I'm going to make sure I get done (unless it's like $200/set of dice). Since I don't really have any rep, I'm not a big time poster, and I don't have any past experience doing GBs, I'd like to reassure everyone that I'll pick up any and all costs if this starts to fall through (which I'm pretty sure it won't, at least not once we get to the financial stage of it). I'll post again when I have a cost per set estimate.

06-26-2009, 07:02 AM	#3
pullbangdead Class 3R Laser Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,761 Rep Power: 109	Re: Tungsten dice Machining tungsten? Good luck. Sounds awesome, but as I'm sure you're aware, that stuff is very tough to machine. Are you contacting any places that do powder metallurgy, or just machine shops? Especially with stuff like tungsten, powder metallurgy might even be easier or cheaper than machining. Also, then it'll likely be easier get tungsten carbide, which is much shinier/prettier. __________________ 650nm <5mW AtlasNova 635nm <5mW AtlasNova 593.5nm <5mW CNI "Rigel" 532nm <5mW LaserGlow 473nm <15mW CNI "Aquarius" 405nm <20mW Daguin Newwish 650nm 250mW Leadlight, 405nm 250mW Leadlight Matched Set

06-26-2009, 07:19 AM	#4
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice I'm contacting places that do custom metal work. I really don't know. I've gotten a response from a second company now who is confident they can do it, too. I know tungsten is hard to machine. I'll ask about that specific process, and about tungsten carbide, too. Is pure tungsten or tungsten carbide more expensive? One of the companies is Tungsten.com, so I'm sure they'll have powder metallurgy available, and possibly tungsten carbide. EDIT: What about tungsten-copper, with a low percentage of copper, maybe 40% or less? Sound interesting? Here's how it might look: http://www.bridgat.com/files/tungste...r_alloys_2.jpg I think it could look pretty cool, with that copper hue to it. Last edited by Bearded_Galaxy; 06-26-2009 at 07:58 AM.

06-26-2009, 03:08 PM	#5
k1kb0t Class 2 Laser Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 458 Rep Power: 4	Re: Tungsten dice The tungsten / copper blend might work better. I think dice should have a bounce to them that give them their randomness. If they are all Tungsten they might be a bit heavy and not have that nice spring to them. Jon __________________ "Words when put into one form or another may unlock some ideal form. They need not, one cannot make another see he can only provide the stimulation that's helps the other to see for himself." - Plato, The Republic 405nm - Jayrob 4171 PHR w/ 405-G1 lens mod 660nm - Jayrob 4171 LPC w/ Meredith lens mod Transmissions - blog.kikbot.org

06-26-2009, 04:18 PM	#6
phoenix77 Moderator - Donations Section Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: INDIANA Posts: 3,195 Rep Power: 291	Re: Tungsten dice Depending on the cost involved of course, I might be interested in a set, or maybe a single die for a keychain...................rob __________________ ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HOW TO BUILD A LASER ? SEE THIS THREAD; FOR NEWBIES & VETS ALIKE http://laserpointerforums.com/f36/lo...-me-47684.html

06-26-2009, 07:04 PM	#9
scopeguy20 Class 3B Laser Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sunny S. California WOOT! Posts: 2,568 Rep Power: 159	Re: Tungsten dice EDM uses high voltage charges to machine parts, stands for Electro-dynamic-machining iirc. These often use an electrode that goes up, and down a small amount and the electricity arcs and burns the pattern into the surface, could be good to mark the dice's spots. -Glenn __________________ 6X Bluray >260 mW, & New FAV! 8X >500 mW! Made by IgorT Flaminpyro BR & ~4 Red Burners on board ~650 nm 175, & ~250 mW & ~300mW 3 Hene's 632.8 nm & 2 635 nm pointers Rigel 3-4 mW I Love it! PGL III 589 nm rated 5mW is >20 mW a new fav! Many Green lasers, EVO PRO Peak ~160 mW & Spyder I Peak 295 mW are my new green favorites! LG Aquarius -10 & Viasho 473 nm peak ~29 mW & From WL on loan, Spyder III rated 60mW but peaks ~100mW! !!!!! 500mW 445nm portable now on board Thanks Flaminpyro LINK !!!!! Blurays by IgorT, john lawson & EzPk0970, jayrob lenses, IgorT 6X & 8X! spiro toy mods w/ side aperture for any pointer Spiro toy in Red & Violet by yobresal too! Laser sleds/ diodes sold so far 1050+, MY IgorT .5 WATT BR is HERE NOW! NOTE: More GGW's & PHR's still some left! !!LINK!!

06-26-2009, 07:11 PM	#10
digital_blue Class 2M Laser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 713 Rep Power: 51	Re: Tungsten dice EDM actually stands for "electrical discharge machining".

06-26-2009, 07:35 PM	#11
Flaminpyro Class 3R Laser Join Date: May 2009 Location: west central Oregon when I'm not in San Diego Posts: 1,835 Rep Power: 140	Re: Tungsten dice while working in a machine shop many years ago I had a 3-56 tap break off in a brass optical mounnt I was making, itsted of scrapping the piece I took it down to the main machine shop where they had a EDM back then that stood for electrical discharge machining the unit it self looked like a drill press with an insulated chuck which held a device connected to a coolant source and an electrical source, comming out of the bottom was a tungsten hollow needle. the cooling fluid flows down the needle as the electricty eats up the tap in the brass, the guy operating the EDM was so good he removed the tap with out damaging any of the threads that were made in the brass. I'm sure things have much progressed since that time. BTW I also would be interested in a pair or maby just one if cost is realy high... Thanks ! Best Regards Pyro... __________________ Why burn up hydrocarbons with a lighter when you have 400mW+ of BLU-RAY White Fusion Time Machine 445 with more on the way CNI PGL-III-C-589 125mW Viasho 532nm 500mW TANK007Cu8X DFW 397mW CNI pen 532nm 84mW The Violet Pip Squeek 45mW _____________________________________ LaserBee I LPM LOOKING FOR A HOST WITH PERFECT HEAT SINKING order your TANK007 Cu kit today ! http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/fs...kit-43865.html

06-26-2009, 07:51 PM	#12
MarioMaster Class 3B Laser Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 2,895 Rep Power: 132	Re: Tungsten dice I'm interested but I probably won't get any unless the price is pretty low.

06-26-2009, 10:27 PM	#14
MarioMaster Class 3B Laser Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 2,895 Rep Power: 132	Re: Tungsten dice Well if price is in that general range then I'm game

06-26-2009, 10:30 PM	#15
jwc Class 2 Laser Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: MA Posts: 339 Rep Power: 7	Re: Tungsten dice I'm with MarioMaster on that one. I'd buy a set and I have a few friends who would too. __________________ -- jwc http://jwcxz.com/ \| blog lasers: 5mW, 50mW, 70mW, 120mW, 300mW \| 100mW custom mini burner \| Triple Play (matching RGV laser set) meters: liconix 45PM \| scientech 372 (10W and 50W thermopiles) current project: DIY TEC-stabilized green

06-27-2009, 05:34 AM	#18
Murudai Class 3R Laser Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,237 Rep Power: 62	Re: Tungsten dice I might be interested, depending on what kinds of dice you can make. A D20 and a pair of D6 would be nice.

06-27-2009, 06:26 AM	#19
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice Sure. I plan on d4, d6, d8, d10, d10%, d12, and d20. They'll be available in d20 sets, or 10d10 sets.

06-27-2009, 06:38 AM	#20
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice The 'd' is a reference to how many sides. d4 = A die with for sides d10% is a 10-sided die that is numbered in tens, from 00, 10, 20, etc...up to 90. instead of rolling a 100-sided die that's so round it can roll forever, roll a standard d10 for the ones place, and d10% for the tens place. A standard d10 is numerals 0 through 9. All three zeros is 100%, but a zero and something in the tens, or a double zero and something in the ones, is just whatever non-zero numerical value is showed.

06-27-2009, 06:49 AM	#21
Eku Class 2 Laser Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 448 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice If they were a good price I'd get 2 or 4 d6. __________________ Everytime you anti-troll god kills a troll. Troll below.

06-27-2009, 09:16 AM	#22
heruursciences Class 2M Laser Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 642 Rep Power: 16	Re: Tungsten dice Nickel bonded Tungsten carbide or copper tungsten would be a LOT CHEAPER. If you want pure tungsten dice you are in for a bit of a sticker shock. I had a company make a small tungsten "pig" before and the price was a few hundred bucks! Ye ounch!

06-27-2009, 09:25 AM	#23
Bearded_Galaxy Class 2 Laser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 358 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice But I'm just doing basic uniform polygedrons, not complex shapes.

06-28-2009, 06:32 AM	#24
heruursciences Class 2M Laser Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 642 Rep Power: 16	Re: Tungsten dice A pig is a metal cylinder with a hole in it and a lid, It is used to hold radioactive materials.

06-28-2009, 07:02 AM	#25
Eku Class 2 Laser Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 448 Rep Power: 3	Re: Tungsten dice Lol he thought it was oink oink XD __________________ Everytime you anti-troll god kills a troll. Troll below.

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