Vac Aero vacuum furnace with six-bar argon-nitrogen quench system shipped to aerospace manufacturer
June 25, 2014
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Vac Aero International Inc., Burlington, Ontario, announces that it has shipped a VAV 7260 HV-6 vertical bottom loading vacuum furnace with a work chamber 72 in. diameter by 60 in. high to an aerospace manufacturer. The furnace includes a high-vacuum pumping system and a six-bar argon and nitrogen quench system designed to incorporate unique performance features. The cooling nozzle configuration and location have been engineered to improve gas penetration into the workload, gas velocity, and cooling speed.
The energy-efficient graphite hot zone is capable of processing temperatures up to 2400°F. The heavy duty hearth is constructed with quickly removable rails of pure molybdenum capable of handling distributed loads up to 4000 lb. The furnace operating system is based on VAC AERO's versatile HC900 interactive hybrid control package with SCADA and complete network integration capabilities and remote monitoring and control.
www.vacaero.com
Vac Aero International Inc., Burlington, Ontario, announces that it has shipped a VAV 7260 HV-6 vertical bottom loading vacuum furnace with a work chamber 72 in. diameter by 60 in. high to an aerospace manufacturer.
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Seco-Warwick presents “Low-Pressure Carburizing of Pyrowear Alloy 53” at AeroMat 25
June 24, 2014
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Engineers from Seco-Warwick, Poland, discussed a low-pressure-carburizing simulator dedicated to Pyrowear Alloy 53 at AeroMat 25. The simulator is said to provide an accurate carbon-concentration profile in the layer, or it can determine the process parameters required to produce the required profile. Pyrowear Alloy 53 is characterized by high surface hardness and abrasion resistance, while maintaining a ductile core able to transmit high-impact loads. Pyrowear Alloy 53 components can function at elevated temperatures and with limited lubrication.
The foundation for heat treatment of such parts is case hardening, based on surface carburizing. The presentation described the low pressure carburizing technology developed for Pyrowear products. It discussed themethods ofr forming various carbon concentration profilesin the layer, and its effect on the hardness profile. It also considered the impact of sub-zero treatment and tempering processes on the properties of the case.
www.secowarwick.com
Engineers from Seco-Warwick, Poland, discussed a low-pressure-carburizing simulator dedicated to Pyrowear Alloy 53 at AeroMat 25.
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Timken announces date for spinoff of its steel business as independent company
June 17, 2014
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The Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, announces record and distribution dates for the spinoff of its steel business, which will be effected through the distribution of 100% of the common shares of TimkenSteel Corp. to holders of Timken Company common shares. Following the distribution, TimkenSteel will be an independent, publicly traded company; it has received approval to list its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TMST.
Timken shareholders will receive one TimkenSteel common share for every two common shares of Timken held at the close of business on the record date of June 23, 2014. Timken shareholders entitled to receive the June 30 distribution will receive a book-entry account statement or a credit to their brokerage accounts reflecting their new ownership of TimkenSteel common shares.
After the spinoff, Timken will continue to focus on its core bearings business as well as related power transmission products and services.
"With this strategic value-building initiative soon behind us," said Richard G. Kyle, Timken president and chief executive officer, "we will continue to manage the business for profitable growth while maintaining our focus on delivering products and services that keep the world's industries working reliably and efficiently. We're certainly encouraged by our progress and confident in our future prospects."
www.timken.com
The Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, announces record and distribution dates for the spinoff of its steel business, which will be effected through the distribution of 100% of the common shares of TimkenSteel Corp. to holders of Timken Company common shares.
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ATI acquires Hanard Machine for its precision machining of aerospace alloys
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Allegheny Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., has acquired Hanard Machine Inc., Salem, Ore., which specializes in precision machining of parts and components made of titanium, nickel-base alloys, superalloys, aluminum, and specialty steels. The business will operate as ATI Cast Products, Salem Operations, and will be a part of ATI's titanium investment casting business, which is located in Albany, Ore., approximately 40 miles south of Hanard's location.
"The acquisition of Hanard Machine is consistent with our strategy to create value for our customers and stockholders by expanding our capabilities to produce finished specialty materials parts and components," said Rich Harshman, ATI's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With this acquisition, ATI is now integrated in the production of titanium investment castings from titanium sponge to precision machined finished parts.
"The acquisition reinforces ATI's important aerospace supply chain role. Our strategic investments, acquisitions, and new product development provide the capacity and unique capability to produce the alloys, parts, and components that enable the next-generation airframe and jet engines."
www.ATImetals.com.
Allegheny Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., has acquired Hanard Machine Inc., Salem, Ore., which specializes in precision machining of parts and components made of titanium, nickel-base alloys, superalloys, aluminum, and specialty steels.
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RTI International Metals acquires Dynamet Technology
June 13, 2014
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RTI International Metals Inc., Pittsburgh, acquired Dynamet Technology Inc., an industry innovator in titanium powder metallurgy and a supplier of near-net shape titanium and titanium alloy preforms and components to commercial aerospace, defense, biomedical and industrial customers. Based in Burlington, Mass., Dynamet Technology will be included in RTI's Titanium Segment. Purchase terms of the transaction were $15.5 million in cash, plus potential future cash consideration.
Dynamet Technology's products are manufactured from the company's proprietary titanium alloys, standard titanium alloys, and metal matrix composites using Dynamet Technology's advanced powder metallurgical process. Near-net shape preforms and products that have been successfully produced and commercialized by Dynamet Technology include various missile parts as well as CermeTi metal matrix composite material for medical implant products.
In February 2012, Dynamet Technology began supplying powder metal Ti-6Al-4V alloy products for structural components on commercial aircraft to a large commercial aerospace OEM. After that, the company received AS9100C certification in April 2013—a widely adopted and standardized quality management system certification that aerospace and defense manufacturers require of their suppliers. Last September, Dynamet received the International Titanium Association's Titanium Applications Development Award for 2013.
Additional details regarding the transaction were not disclosed.
RTI International Metals Inc., Pittsburgh, acquired Dynamet Technology Inc., an industry innovator in titanium powder metallurgy and a supplier of near-net shape titanium and titanium alloy preforms and components to commercial aerospace, defense, biomedical and industrial customers.
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Ipsen loading system for large furnaces eliminates need to disconnect heating elements
June 10, 2014
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., has been awarded a patent for a new vacuum heat-treating furnace-loading system that eliminates the need to disconnect the heating elements each time the system is used. Chief Engineer Craig Moller, the named inventor on the patent, began formulating this design five years ago for a large vacuum heat-treating furnace used by a company in the aerospace industry.
Ipsen's loading system functions as an alternative with its ability to leave the furnace's heating elements intact in the bottom of the hot zone. The newly patented system contains other notable elements, including: unrestricted length or load weight, and jackscrew mechanisms that gently raise and lower loads onto the hearth to avoid any potential damage.
The loading system also uses wheels that permit sideways movements, allowing it to function as a cross-transfer unit between furnaces. The loader's sideways position is pinpointed with encoder strips mounted in the floor.
In addition to these options, the system incorporates advanced safety features. By utilizing scanning lasers, the operator is able to prevent the loader from running over anything in its path. This helps prevent unnecessary damage to valuable equipment or injuries to employees.
www.IpsenUSA.com/products
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., has been awarded a patent for a new vacuum heat-treating furnace-loading system that eliminates the need to disconnect the heating elements each time the system is used.
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Army Research Laboratory project to develop U.S. supply chain for rare-earth elements
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A team led by Technology Metals Research LLC, Carpentersville, Ill., has been awarded $1.2M in funding from the U.S .Army Research Laboratory, to help develop the key components for a domestic rare-earth supply chain for heavy and other critical rare-earth elements. The funding was awarded through a sub-award agreement with Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The project involves a dozen companies and research institutions in the United States, Canada, and Australia,
In recent years the rare-earth sector has been dominated by China, which provides approximately 90% of global supply. The heavy rare earths dysprosium and yttrium were recently mandated for inclusion in the DOD's National Defense Stockpile, despite not being produced in the United States from U.S.-based sources.
Project partners include Innovation Metals Corp.= and researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of South Australia, and the ARL itself. A number of 'stealth-mode' companies and researchers with promising new technologies will also participate in the program.
Gareth Hatch, co-founder of TMR and president of IMC, is the Principal Investigator for the 12-month program. "Besides validating IMC's process-flow diagrams for the bulk solvent extraction of heavy and critical REEs," he says, "this award from the ARL will allow the team to evaluate new process technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the speed and efficiency of REE extraction and separation. These are exciting, materials-science-based approaches that have not been seen by the rare-earth sector before."
In addition to coordinating the existing program activities, TMR remains open to looking at additional processes and to collaborations with other groups, which could contribute to the overall objectives of the project.
www.techmetalsresearch.com
A team led by Technology Metals Research LLC, Carpentersville, Ill., has been awarded $1.2M in funding from the U.S .Army Research Laboratory, to help develop the key components for a domestic rare-earth supply chain for heavy and other critical rare-earth elements.
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Al-Fe Wadsworth receives Nadcap accreditation for glycol quenching
June 2, 2014
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Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., has added glycol quenching to its list of Nadcap-accredited aluminum heat treat services at its plant in Wadsworth, Ohio. All aerospace and military applications are processed at the Wadsworth plant. Glycol reduces distortion, which makes it ideal for certain metals and applications. Different metals need different media, and glycol is an option for those that are not optimized by standard water or air treatment.
Cold water works for most metals, but will also give the most distortion. Warm water reduces distortion, but metals lose strength, hardness and flexibility. Glycol can cost more, but it is worth it when products are finished with less distortion and the required mechanical properties.Both the Wadsworth and Wabash plants provide both low- and high-volume aluminum heat treating with glycol quenching for automotive and commercial applications where water or air just won't do.
www.al-fe.com
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., has added glycol quenching to its list of Nadcap-accredited aluminum heat treat services at its plant in Wadsworth, Ohio.
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Selective laser melting to produce aerospace components
June 1, 2014
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Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology IPT, Germany, is developing Selective Laser Melting technology to build aerospace components via additive manufacturing. Step by step laser radiation is scanned across a powder bed and traces out the form of the component within this specific layer. Wherever the laser radiation impacts the powder, the powder initially melts and then solidifies to form a solid mass. In this way, the component is built-up layer by layer.
The researchers are now working with their colleagues from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT on the integration of additive manufacturing into an entire, continuous process chain. To illustrate what the new process chain can achieve, they have produced a Nozzle Guide Vane (NGV) cluster that consists of six double vanes, as shown in the photo. Previously, the vanes for turbines could only be produced in pairs, as twin blades. Now, they can be installed much more easily and quickly.
An important step toward automation of repair is also under development. Called the "CAx framework," this software approach allows all the various repair technologies to be operated from a single platform. "CA" stands for computer aided, "x" for the individual technologies of the production. First, the geometric data of damaged or worn-out blade is acquired by digitizing. Second, a milling machine blends out the defect; and third, laser radiation builds up the blade again layer by layer via Laser Material Deposition (LMD). The researchers have already implemented this method for gas turbines; now, they can also transfer it to engine blades.
http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology IPT, Germany, is developing Selective Laser Melting technology to build aerospace components via additive manufacturing.
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Alcoa to build $100 million superalloy plant in La Porte
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Alcoa, Pittsburgh, has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art, $100 million, 320,000-square-foot facility in La Porte, Indiana, where it will produce nickel-base superalloy jet engine parts. The plant will expand Alcoa's reach from structural engine components for business and regional jets, to large commercial aircraft, including narrow- and wide-body and military airplanes. Engines for narrow-body aircraft are among the top selling jet engines in the world.
The plant will increase the company's capacity to supply engines for narrow-body aircraft. It also will enable Alcoa to produce parts nearly 60% larger than components it makes today, expanding its market reach to wide-body airplanes. These components are used in the compression and hot sections of the engine. Alcoa is already the global leader in jet engine airfoils.
Construction of the plant is underway and is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2015. Customer contracts underpin the new capacity. The facility will use the latest in high-tech advanced manufacturing equipment, including digital X-ray for real-time quality assurance, 3D printing of prototypes, blue light technology for more comprehensive dimensional inspection data, and automated casting furnaces with advanced controls to meet precise product specifications.
This is the second major aerospace investment by Alcoa in Indiana in two years. In 2012, Alcoa announced construction of a $90 million greenfield state-of-the-art aluminum lithium facility at its Lafayette operations. The facility is on schedule to open later this year and will be capable of producing upwards of 20,000 metric tons of Alcoa's patented aluminum-lithium alloys used to build dramatically lighter and lower-cost airplanes versus composite alternatives.
www.alcoa.com
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art, $100 million, 320,000-square-foot facility in La Porte, Indiana, where it will produce nickel-base superalloy jet engine parts.
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