CARBURIZING NEWS

Aerospace Manufacturer Adds LPC Furnace

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An Asian aircraft parts manufacturer has chosen a horizontal vacuum furnace intended for vacuum carburizing aircraft parts. The furnace will produce gears used in aircraft structural sub-assemblies.

Maciej Korecki, VP, Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK (source: SECO/WARWICK)

The SECO/WARWICK furnace is designed for low-pressure carburizing (LPC), equipped with a horizontal chamber with dimensions of 900 x 600 x 600 mm and a graphite chamber with a gas hardening system at a pressure of 6 bar.

“LPC technology,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice-President of the SECO/WARWICK Group Vacuum Segment, “is an increasingly popular solution. Its main advantage is the ability to carry out an efficient and effective carburizing cycle in a much shorter time than in atmospheric furnaces. This furnace ensures higher productivity and consequently, lower process costs and a quick return on investment. Carrying out the process in vacuum, on the other hand, increases the operational safety, because it does not involve explosive and flammable gases. LPC eliminates direct CO₂ emissions from the carburizing atmosphere.”

The original press release from SECO/WARWICK is available here.

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Research Institute Expands R&D Capabilities with Heat Treat Furnace 

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A technology research institute has chosen a heat treat vacuum furnace which will support research and development in the fields of materials engineering and machine construction and operation.

SECO/WARWICK will supply a Vector® vacuum furnace with high-pressure gas hardening and will include options for vacuum carburizing, pre-nitriding for carburizing technology, low-pressure nitriding (LPN), and low-pressure carbonitriding (LPCN).

This configuration provides precision performance in vacuum, ensuring steel detail surfaces are protected, and the ability to carry out hardening processes through the use of high cooling gas pressures (15 bar).

The small vacuum furnace will have a working space of 400x400x600 mm. With a round heating chamber, the furnace, despite its small size, can be used to test and perform research on many sizes of parts including work with large dimensions.

Says Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group, "We cooperate with scientific institutions all over the world because we are aware that industry development depends on their work. Many groundbreaking discoveries have already been made, but I am sure that many more are yet to come."

The R&D institute deals with methods of refining metal products by increasing their corrosion resistance and increasing mechanical properties, especially fatigue strength and resistance to wear in friction processes. The technological institute strives to disseminate and apply in practice the results of scientific research and development work, develops new technologies, and conducts service activities.

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Partner for NASA and F1 Increases Productivity with Vacuum Furnace

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A supplier of aviation and defense industry components, a NASA and Formula 1 partner has recently purchased a  horizontal two-chamber furnace with oil quenching and LPC. The furnace will be used for the heat treatment of aviation parts.

SECO/WARWICK is supplying the CaseMaster Evolution® two-chamber, horizontal vacuum furnace with oil quenching consisting of a heating chamber and a quench bath equipped with a loading and unloading vestibule. The load cooling can be carried out in two different centers: dynamically in inert gas (1.5 bar abs) and in quench oil. This solution enables users to implement a variety of heat treatment and thermo-chemical processes, such as vacuum carburizing.

Noted Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK, “[This model] is one of the most frequently chosen furnaces for metalworking by the aviation industry."

The furnace can be switched on and off without additional time and energy expenditure. It does not require users to maintain the system at specific temperature parameters when at standstill, as is the case of traditional gas furnaces.

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Nitrex and Linde

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS / Leave a Comment

Nitrex and Linde announced they have renewed and expanded their heat-treating focused joint marketing agreement. What started as a local agreement 13 years ago, between Nitrex and Linde, formerly known as UPC-Marathon and Praxair, respectively, has evolved into an international marketing agreement and now covers Europe and North America.

To date, Nitrex and Linde have worked together on over 30 projects. By using their complementary offerings, they have upgraded essential equipment and have helped customers achieve quality results. Nitrex provides Linde customers with equipment and analyses to control first-rate gas atmospheres, thanks to its competence in the heat treatment and electrical fields, technical solutions, support, and world-class gas panels.

“Our competencies complement each other,” says Roman Grosman, National Director of Business Development for Linde in the U.S.  “In the event that Linde’s heat treatment clients require equipment that we do not offer, Nitrex can meet this need.”

“This continues to be a win-win relationship,” says Paul Oleszkiewicz, President, CPO & CSO of UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company. “We can supply Linde gas customers with process controls, and in turn, Linde offers a reliable gas supply network. We are both aiming for the highest quality, efficiency, performance, and a greener tomorrow and providing optimal service for our customers.”

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Formula 1 Partner Boosts Heat Treating Capabilities with Vacuum Furnace

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A European subcontractor for the automotive and racing industries as well as a partner for teams participating in Formula 1 races has acquired a second vacuum furnace.

The order from SECO/WARWICK includes a Vector® vacuum furnace with 15 bar abs high pressure gas quenching, and high vacuum (HV). The furnace will process engine and gear components for vehicles racing large-scale motorsport competitions.

This partner provides carburizing, and various heat treatment services for titanium, aluminum and precipitation hardening of alloys. These services must be of aviation quality within the demanding timeframes required by European F1 teams.

In the new SECO/WARWICK furnace, the customer will execute vacuum heat treatment of titanium and its alloys and will perform vacuum carburizing processes for steel elements. Titanium alloys are very strong materials, but at the same time soft and plastic, which makes them difficult to machine. Low thermal conductivity and density creates an environment where the cutting material is subject to a strong thermal load and tends to harden.

The FIA regulations for Formula 1 racing specify in detail what material a part must consist of and how it must be manufactured. Titanium or titanium alloys are used for many engine parts and suspensions because they have high toughness, strength, and ductility, and are corrosion resistant. Formula 1 car components must be manufactured precisely and safely in both prototype and small series production.

The purpose of this particular model of Vector furnace will be unique, as carburizing and hardening of parts such as gears for engines and transmissions for high-performance F1 sports cars are not the typical processes for which SECO/WARWICK supplies its furnaces.

Commenting on this order, Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK, explained, "The vacuum furnace system which will be delivered to England has numerous options such as cryogenic processing, convection, FineCarb® vacuum carburizing, pre-nitriding for PreNitLPC® carburizing technology or low-pressure carbonitriding LPCN."

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Vacuum Furnace for Manufacturer of Wind Power Plants

/ CARBURIZING NEWS, ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

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Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment
SECO/WARWICK

A manufacturer has chosen a heat treat vertical vacuum furnace designed to perform low-pressure carburizing for the large structural elements (gearboxes) used in wind power plants.  

SECO/WARWICK Group, a manufacturer with North American locations, provided the furnace that combines two technologies: atmospheric and vacuum processing. This system provides: process purity, heating uniformity, and elimination of the oxidation effect at the grain boundary. The product solves the problem of high energy and process gas consumption by the partner’s old furnaces, and shortens the carburizing process.

"The Pit-LPC technology . . . increases the safety for users, because it does not involve explosive and flammable gases. LPC eliminates direct CO₂ emissions from the carburizing atmosphere,'" commented Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

 

 

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47,000 Pound Gear Heat Treated and Quenched at Metlab

/ CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, QUENCHING NEWS

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A Pennsylvania company recently heat treated and quenched a fabricated 47,000-pound gear. In addition to this gear, about a month ago, its reverse image (with the helix in the opposite direction) was also heat treated. The halves will be matched when grinding is complete to make a complete gear to drive a rolling mill for a steel plant.

Mark Podob
President
Metlab
Source: LinkedIn

The gear, the largest Metlab has ever treated, measured 12' in diameter and has a 30” face width. Material was 18CrNiMo6-7, and case depth required was a nominal 0.275” effective case depth with a surface hardness of HRC 58 – 62. Typical taper on a gear this size is about 0.030”. Carburizing time to achieve the required case depth is about 10 days in the furnace at 17250F. After lowering the temperature of the furnace and gear to 15500F, it is quenched in oil. The transfer time from the pit furnace into the quench tank is less than a minute.

After quench, the gear will be double tempered, sandblasted and prepared for shipment to the Midwest for final grinding. Mark Podob, president at Metlab, commented, "To our knowledge, the furnace used to heat treat this series of four gears is the largest pit carburizing furnace in the United States . . . . [T]he two 47,000 pound gears are the largest that Metlab has carburized and hardened in its 25 year history."

Photographs show the gear at 1550°F being lowered into the oil tank.

 

 

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Nitride/Nitrocarburizing System Delivered to Heat Treating Company

/ CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, NITROCARBURIZING NEWS

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Marcin Stokłosa
Project Manager
NITREX Poland
LinkedIn.com

A turnkey system has been delivered to SAGLAM METAL, a Turkish commercial heat-treating company. With this new addition, the company now offers controlled nitriding, nitrocarburizing, and post-oxidation treatments for a wide range of metal applications to different markets.

The turnkey system delivered to SAGLAM METAL includes a 5500 lb. load capacity pit-type furnace, as well as technologies for controlled gas nitriding, controlled nitrocarburizing, and in-process post-oxidation. The system is used to nitride/nitrocarburize a variety of different parts, part sizes, and materials to various specifications for the automotive, extrusion, tooling, and other manufacturing industries.

“SAGLAM selected NITREX based on the recommendation of our local representative, in addition to nitriding/nitrocarburizing results,” stated Marcin Stokłosa, project manager at NITREX Poland.

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Endo Gas Upgrades Heat Treat for Nordic Traction

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT

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Nordic Traction Group, a manufacturer of traction chains and tracks for forestry and agricultural machinery, recently upgraded their heat treatment operations by installing a new endothermic gas generator system.

Daniel Panny
Head of Sales
UPC-Marathon in Germany
Source: LinkedIn

To carburize its traction chains, Nordic Traction Group, with manufacturing locations in Finland and Scotland, added the EndoFlex™ S system. The system, from UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company with North American locations, replaces an outdated generator. The new system improves process reliability and product quality and requires less preventative maintenance.

“Since the EndoFlex™ S produces only the amount of gas required by the carburizing furnace, there is zero waste in endogas production. This also allows Nordic Traction to save big by maximizing energy usage and gas consumption,” said Daniel Panny, Head of Sales at UPC-Marathon.

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Mercury Marine Launches Heat Treat Upgrades

/ CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, PARTS CLEANING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

HTD Size-PR LogoMercury Marine of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, recently launched a plan to upgrade its heat-treating capabilities with a move to the low-pressure carburization and high-pressure gas quench system. The new plan incorporates completely automated vacuum heat treating systems.

In the partnership with ECM Technologies, the Nano vacuum heat treating system (pictured above) incorporates 20 bar nitrogen gas quenching along with low pressure carburizing (aka vacuum carburizing). The Nano will operate several different carburizing, hardening, and spheroidizing processes simultaneously.

This change marks a departure from Mercury’s traditional atmospheric carburization and oil quench system while benefiting from advantages that come with vacuum processing:

  • Applies vacuum heat treating in lieu of traditional atmosphere (elimination of intergranular oxidation & highly repeatable process with consistent results)
  • Employs preventive maintenance planning, remote system status access, and facility information systems integration
  • Relocates heat treat from a secondary location to the clean, controlled environment of the machining centers
  • Converts to small batch processing principles to maximize process efficiency
  • State-of-the-art growth with ECM’s advanced system automation and robot capability with load building and breakdown
  • Controls downstream operations by matching incoming dunnage with exiting workpieces
  • Takes advantage of vapor and vacuum-based pre-cleaning technology to remove multiple machining lubricants
  • Incorporates cryogenic and tempering processes within the automated system

The system uses all CFC workload fixtures and ECM’s advanced automation fixture tracking to maintain a precise cycle count to know fixture life. For Mercury, this significantly reduces energy consumption and process cost per piece. Additionally, the vacuum process takes their heat treatment to a near-zero emissions for drivetrain components processed within the system.

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