EFD Induction offers four-cylinder crankshaft hardening machine

January 14, 2015
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EFD Induction India will be displaying a crankshaft hardening machine model at the IMTEX show to be held January 22-28 in Bangalore. The show, officially known as the Indian Metalcutting Machine Tool Exhibition, is the largest event of its kind to be held in South and Southeast Asia. EFD Induction will be positioned in Hall 1A, Stand B106.

Each crankshaft hardening system is packed with features to help ensure optimum hardening results at minimal cost. The equipment on display is a miniature model of a recently delivered four-cylinder crankshaft machine. The system was equipped with five power sources, a hardening and tempering station, and an advanced PLC solution with real-time monitoring features.

As one of the world's largest induction heating companies, EFD Induction has a long-established presence in India and Asia. It has a major manufacturing facility in Bangalore. The Bangalore center plays a key manufacturing role for EFD Induction, supplying other factories with parts for further assembly. The center also designs and builds complete industrial induction heating systems for customers worldwide.

www.efd-induction.com

Ajax Tocco temper ovens heat treat automotive constant-velocity joints

January 7, 2015
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Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corp., Warren, Ohio, has supplied three temper ovens to a major automotive parts manufacturer in Mexico for the tempering of CV joints.  Each oven is designed for a maximum operating temperature of 250°C with uniformity of +/- 5°C.  The continuous belt, variable-speed conveyor carries  more than 240 parts per hour through the oven and cooler system, which are robot loaded and manually unloaded.

The Ajax oven design offers a small footprint, which is achieved through a rapid heat-up and uniform heat distribution in the oven. A very efficient cooler brings parts to a low cool-down temperature in a compact chamber for manual  handling at the unload station.

Direct gas-fired burners are used as the heat source, with the ATM design providing a wide range turn-down  capability to conserve fuel while maintaining process chamber uniformity.  The oven also utilizes a unique ductwork design proven to be highly effective in heat-treat processes.

Each oven is controlled with a PLC and touch screen, which includes a programmed system shut-down once the proper cool-down temperature has been achieved.

Ajax Tocco Magnethermic, a subsidiary of Park-Ohio Holdings Corporation®, designs and manufactures world class induction heating and melting equipment for various industries and applications throughout the world.  It provides a range of services including laboratory process development, preventive maintenance, equipment repair and parts, coil repair facilities, and installation services.

www.ajaxtocco.com

Lucifer Furnaces offers furnace with separate hardening and tempering chambers

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Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., offers Red Devil Model RD8-KHE24, a space saving dual chamber unit with working dimensions of 12 x 14 x 24 inches in both upper and lower chambers. The upper hardening chamber reaches 2200°F, while the lower tempering oven heats to 1200°F. Both chambers are lined with a multilayered 4.5-inch combination of lightweight firebrick hotface insulation and mineral wool backup insulation for energy efficient operation.

The firebrick is precision dry fit inside the chamber with staggered seams for reduced heat loss while allowing for thermal expansion. All refractory can be easily replaced through the front opening of the chamber. 

Both chambers contain heating elements composed of coiled heavy gauge wire of low watt density mounted in easy-to-replace side wall panels. The lower chamber has a rear-mounted fan for uniform circulation of heat.  Hearth plates in both chambers support the workload and protect floor brick.  Chambers are controlled separately by Honeywell digital time proportioning controllers; an optional over-temperature safety system is installed on the upper chamber.

The company has delivered a Red Devil Series furnace to Precision Solutions, a machine shop in Richmond, Utah, that specializes in custom tooling.  Manager Bob Jones chose a Lucifer Furnace to bring his heat treating in-house to save time when heating a variety of tool steels.

www.luciferfurnaces.com

Alcoa cuts production time for auto alloys from 20 days to 20 minutes

December 10, 2014
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Alcoa, Pittsburgh, Pa., has developed a technology called Micromill, which is said to reduce production time for automotive aluminum alloys from 20 days to 20 minutes. It reportedly changes the microstructure, resulting in 40% higher formability and 30% greater strength than incumbent aluminum, while meeting stringent automotive surface quality requirements. Automotive parts will also reportedly be twice as formable and 30% lighter than parts made from high-strength steel.

Micromill aluminum sheet is easier to shape into intricate forms, such as the inside panels of automobile doors and external fenders, which today are generally made of steel. Higher strength will improve dent resistance, enabling the production of automotive sheet that is thinner and even lighter than previous generations. It will also be the fastest, most productive aluminum casting and rolling system in the world.

Micromill also has a significantly smaller footprint than a traditional rolling mill, at just one quarter the size, and lowers energy use by 50%. The Alcoa Micromill technology and the differentiated metal it will produce are covered by more than 130 patents around the world.

www.alcoa.com

EFD Induction automatic brazing machine installed at Thermo King

November 12, 2014
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EFD Induction, Norway, announces that Thermo King recently installed an automatic brazing machine from EFD Induction. The machine is employed to braze vibration absorbers, which are components used in the suction lines of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The machine features an innovative ‘separable' coil design. This is essential for the whole automation process, making it possible to go from manual brazing to a fully automated, continuous production flow.

The Thermo King brazing machine is powered by an EFD Induction Sinac 18/25 generator. The Sinac model is a ‘Twin' version with two independent power outputs. Each power output has a split transformer function that made it possible to install separable coils. The full system delivered to Thermo King comprises an automatic handling solution, a power source, and a chiller unit.

Commenting on why EFD Induction was chosen over alternative offerings, Michael Corcoran, Project Manager of Thermo King Ireland, said: "We examined various proposals before opting for the EFD Induction solution. There were several reasons behind the choice of supplier for this critical piece of equipment. First, their solution made technical and economic sense. Second, the company has deep expertise in the brazing field—especially in custom-engineered solutions such as this machine. And third, the fact that EFD Induction is present throughout Europe means we have considerable after-sales support on our doorstep."

www.efd-induction.com