Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, recently shipped a horizontal vacuum furnace to the Québec Metallurgy Centre, a research institute affiliated with the Trois-Rivières college in Québec. The VAH2636 HV-2 furnace will be housed in a new a state-of-the-art facility in Trois-Rivières.
Continue readingTapping energy from the sun through heat and light
A new approach to harvesting solar energy, developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, researchers, could improve efficiency by using sunlight to heat a high-temperature material whose infrared radiation would then be collected by a conventional photovoltaic cell.
Continue readingNitrex turnkey systems enable nitriding/nitrocarburizing for Polish aerospace company
Nitrex Metal, St. Laurent, Quebec, reports that Polish aircraft engine and gear transmission manufacturer WSK “PZL- Kalisz” has started production on its new NXK-609 nitriding system from Nitrex Metal. The self-contained turnkey system, which has a diameter of 24 in. and a height of 36 in., nitrides gears and housings supplied to many world-leading aerospace firms. Nitriding with Nitreg technology meets the company’s requirement for precise control of the white layer thickness on Nitralloy parts, including zero white layer.
Continue readingHitachi VP-SEM offers four-axis motorized stage for smaller samples
The Nanotechnology Systems Division of Hitachi High Technologies America Inc., Clarksburg, Md., announces that its latest VP-SEM system, Model SU3500, is now available with a four-axis motorized stage, in addition to the existing five-axis motorized stage system. The new four-axis version is targeted for smaller sample applications (max. 200 mm in diameter and 70 mm in height).
Continue readingIpsen ships large aluminum brazing furnace to aerospace company
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it shipped a large vertical vacuum aluminum brazing furnace to a major aerospace company, a longstanding customer. This furnace, the customer’s second vertical furnace, will be installed in Mexico. Two other TurboTreaters will be shipped to Southeast Asia for the same aerospace company. One of these furnaces will be used for high-pressure gas quenching; the other includes AvaC for low-pressure vacuum carburizing.
Continue readingCentorr designs furnace for metal injection molding
Centorr Vacuum Industries, Nashua, N.H., has developed the MIM-Vac, a custom-engineered high temperature vacuum/ controlled-atmosphere furnace designed specifically for metal injection molding. Tight partial pressure control and even gas flow in conjunction with effective event-based programming and sound retort design allow the entire load to undergo the same series of conditions as a function of time.
Continue readingMetlab hardens and press-quenches leaf springs for 1932 Alfa Romeo
Metlab, Philadelphia, recently heat-treated custom fabricated leaf springs of an antique 1932 Alfa Romeo sports car. The springs were made for a Pennsylvania-based automobile restorer. The leaf springs, made from HR-5160 steel, were patterned after the original springs, which were too worn to be reused. The replacement springs were hardened and press quenched into the shape of the spring, and were tempered to a final hardness of HRC 28–32, duplicating the hardness as measured on the originals.
Continue readingBruker S1 Titan handheld XRF instrument analyzes 37 elements without the need for vacuum
Bruker Elemental, Kennewick, Wash., introduces the second generation of its S1 Titan handheld XRF analyzer platform. Based on extensive customer feedback, enhancements include a weatherproof IP54-rated housing, and optional integrated camera and small spot collimator. In addition, the protective Titan Detector Shield has been made standard for all models. The patented SharpBeam collimator technology remains a standard feature in all S1 TITAN models.
Continue readingQuesTek’s Ferrium M54 Steel included in aerospace industry MMPDS Handbook
QuesTek Innovations LLC, Evanston, Ill., announces that its ultra high-strength, high-toughness Ferrium M54 steel has been approved for inclusion in the aerospace industry’s Metallic Materials Properties Development & Standardization (MMPDS) Handbook. QuesTek accelerated M54 steel from a clean sheet design to a precise chemical composition in less than one year, and produced the first 10-ton ingot the following year.
Continue readingThyssenKrupp to convert process gases from steel production into base chemicals
ThyssenKrupp AG, Germany, in collaboration with partners from research and industry, is initiating a cross-sector technology transfer project focused on converting process gases from steel production into valuable chemicals. The goal for this collaboration between the steel and chemical industries is to permit cost-effective carbon recycling into fertilizers or fuel.
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