> Tungsten is the only metal you can reliably use as our machines have beam powers up to 15kW which can precisely deliver an enormous amount of heat into a pencil point sized area. Even at the common 1-3kW ranges the tungsten instantly liquefies when the beam turns on.
I'm sorry - is there an error here? As I understand the rest of your comment, you use Tungsten because it does not liquify?
No error. The tungsten liquefies locally to the section of the block where the beam strikes but the surrounding tungsten stays solid. It's a poor heat conductor so it doesn't form a wide liquid puddle. With copper or aluminum the heat spreads rapidly and the pool grows wide very quickly.
I'm sorry - is there an error here? As I understand the rest of your comment, you use Tungsten because it does not liquify?