Can-Eng installs 6000 lb/hr continuous mesh belt heat treating furnace
June 22, 2016
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Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has installed and commissioned a 6000 lb/hr continuous mesh belt atmosphere furnace system for the hardening and tempering of high-volume fasteners at Metex Heat Treating Ltd., Brampton, Ontario.
This new system includes a computerized loading system, mesh-belt controlled atmosphere hardening furnace, oil quench system, mesh-belt tempering furnace, and pre- and post-wash systems. Its supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system integrates enhanced features to support compliance with CQI-9 guidelines. The continuous quench and tempering system incorporates enhanced energy-reduction design features that are achieved through the benefits of recuperative burner technology, providing improved system efficiencies and reduced emissions.
Metex Heat Treating Ltd. serves high-volume, Tier 1 automotive manufacturers of stampings, fasteners, and final assemblies in the Ontario, Quebec, Ohio, and Michigan markets. From its three plants in Brampton, Metex processes over 60 million pounds of heat treated products each year.
Can-Eng is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company that focuses on the development of high-volume continuous industrial furnaces for challenging applications.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has installed and commissioned a 6000 lb/hr continuous mesh belt atmosphere furnace system for the hardening and tempering of high-volume fasteners at Metex Heat Treating Ltd., Brampton, Ontario.
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Integral quench furnace system provides solution for die forging heat treatment
June 18, 2016
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Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a Pacemaker integral quench furnace with an endothermic gas generator to a company in the die forging industry. The Pacemaker furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 1850°F and work chamber dimensions of 30x48x30 inches. The integral quench furnace system provides a total solution for the customer's heat treating process.
The furnace utilizes a drive mechanism to push the workload into the furnace where it undergoes hardening under an endothermic gas atmosphere. A discharge drive system pushes the workload out of the furnace and onto a quench elevator. The load is then either lowered into an oil quench tank for fast cooling, or is elevated for a slower atmosphere cool. The endothermic gas generator system supplies the furnace atmosphere ,and features a gas mixing oxygen probe, touch screen displays, and gas to air cooler.
The furnace system is integrated into the customer's present loading system. The furnace features fully automatic movement of the load, which is controlled through an advanced process controller with an HMI display. Equipment status screens are visible on the HMI screen. The controller also performs all data collection functions for process variables.
Atmosphere carbon potential is controlled with automatically adjusting flowmeters and an oxygen probe. Multiple burners fire through single-end radiant tubes to radiate heat onto the workload. Lindberg/MPH provided equipment installation supervision and equipment start-up, which was crried out by factory trained Lindberg/MPH technicians.
www.lindbergmph.com
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a Pacemaker integral quench furnace with an endothermic gas generator to a company in the die forging industry.
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ZEISS partners with ASM International to supply microscopes and collaborate on training
June 17, 2016
Source: ASM International
Instruments to be used for training on high precision manufacturing and materials testing techniques
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One Minute Mentor: Time-Temperature Sensitization Curves for Austenitic Stainless Steel
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The graph shows a Time-Temperature-Sensitization diagram (TTS) for 304 austenitic stainless steel with various carbon contents. Decreasing carbon content significantly delays the formation of chromium carbides and the onset of intergranular corrosion. In low carbon grades, defined as those with carbon contents below 0.030%, an exposure of about eight hours is necessary before sensitization occurs.
Low-carbon austenitics are intermediate in tendency to precipitate chromium carbides to the stabilized and unstabilized grades. The lower carbon content in an austenitic stainless steel will slow the kinetics of carbide precipitation, which allows longer time at temperature before the onset of sensitization, as shown in the graph.
Carbon contents of 0.03% and lower allow short excursions of several hours into the sensitizing temperature range without loss of corrosion resistance. Carbon in austenite can be retained in supersaturation for extended periods of time. This is why austenitic L grades do not sensitize even though they are slightly supersaturated. Sensitization occurs at higher levels of carbon by prolonged heating at 600 to 850°C.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Austenitic and Duplex Stainless Steels ⇒ Annealing
The graph shows a Time-Temperature-Sensitization diagram (TTS) for 304 austenitic stainless steel with various carbon contents.
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Lucifer Red Devil box furnace heat treats small loads
June 15, 2016
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Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., recently delivered a bench style RD7 Red Devil box furnace for batch heat treating small loads of low carbon steel. An all-purpose general bench unit, Lucifer's RD7 series can be purposed to various heat-treating operations such as hardening, drawing, tempering, or annealing of steel. Model RD7-KHE24, with 7 KW power, heats to 2200°F with easy-to-replace wire-wound heating elements in removable holders.
A horizontal swing door seals the 12x14x24-inch chamber. A ceramic hearth plate supports the work load and protects the floor brick. The Honeywell digital temperature controller with safety microswitch and on/off main control switch are housed in a NEMA 1 side mounted panel, and a rear-mounted Type K thermocouple senses chamber heat.
This Red Devil Series furnace is insulated with a combined 4.5 inches of lightweight hotface firebrick insulation and coldface mineral wool. Refractory is dry fit and easily replaced. Red Devil Series box furnaces can be fitted with optional accessories, including an over-temperature safety system, gas spring vertical lift door, and a base stand. Red Devil Furnaces are completely wired, assembled, test fired, and shipped ready for connection to a main power supply.
www.luciferfurnaces.com
Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., recently delivered a bench style RD7 Red Devil box furnace for batch heat treating small loads of low-carbon steel.
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Brembo builds $100 million cast iron foundry in Michigan
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Brembo Brake Systems, Plymouth, Mich., announces that it has conducted the first pour at its new $100 million, 266,000 square-foot cast iron foundry, during which the furnaces were charged and molten iron was poured into molds for the first time. The first pour is a preliminary test that ensures all systems are functioning properly, and is the first step before production ramp-up begins.
Located in Homer, Michigan, the cast iron foundry is the fourth in Brembo's worldwide foundry network, and the first Brembo cast iron foundry in North America. The foundry is also the third manufacturing facility that Brembo has expanded or built at the Homer manufacturing site. At full capacity, it will produce an annual output of 80,000 tons of brake disk castings.
Construction began in 2015, and the foundry is expected to be fully operational in 2017. The foundry is adjacent to Brembo's 440,000 square-foot facility in which disks and drums are machined for the original equipment market. Brembo also operates a caliper and corner-module assembly facility at the same location.
"Having our own dedicated foundry in the United States allows us to have maximum control over our process and costs," says Dan Sandberg, president and chief executive officer, Brembo North America. "Our customers benefit by having a dedicated, fully integrated manufacturing process for their brake components."
Since purchasing the Homer disk plant in 2007, as part of the acquisition of Hayes Lemmerz's brake business, Brembo has continuously expanded its footprint in Michigan. Brembo built its North American headquarters and R&D Center in Plymouth in 2009. The following year, the company built the Homer caliper assembly building. Since 2009, the Homer disk plant has been expanded three times.
www.brembo.com
Brembo Brake Systems, Plymouth, Mich., announces that it has conducted the first pour at its new $100 million, 266,000 square-foot cast iron foundry, during which the furnaces were charged and molten iron was poured into molds for the first time.
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Nucor and JFE Steel to build $270 million sheet steel plant in Mexico
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Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., announces a 50-50 joint venture with JFE Steel Corp. of Japan to build and operate a plant that will produce 400,000 tons per year of galvanized sheet steel in central Mexico. The plant is expected to have a cost of $270 million, and will supply the Mexican automotive market.
"JFE Steel is a natural partner for us. They are a premier supplier of high-quality products to the automotive industry and share our focus on long-term growth," says John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO, and President of Nucor. "This joint venture builds on our efforts to increase our production of differentiated and value-added products. Continued growth in Mexico's automotive production presents an opportunity for Nucor to increase our sales to this important market."
Automotive production in Mexico is projected to increase from 3.4 million vehicles to 5.3 million by 2020. The joint venture positions Nucor with improved geographic reach and expanded product offering to address this roughly 50% growth. Nucor and JFE will each supply an equal amount of substrate to be further processed at the new facility.
The companies are currently working to secure required conditions to move to completion, including but not limited to regulatory approvals. Operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2019.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., announces a 50-50 joint venture with JFE Steel Corp. of Japan to build and operate a plant that will produce 400,000 tons per year of galvanized sheet steel in central Mexico.
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Walk-in batch oven designed for aging and annealing aluminum
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Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, has shipped two industrial ovens to United Tool & Die Company in West Hartford, Conn., for aging and annealing aluminum parts in a restricted space. An electrically heated draw batch oven with a pitted manual quench tank will be used for solution heat treatment, and an electrically heated enhanced-duty walk-in batch oven will be used for aging and annealing.
Bob Roberts and Rich Paquette of United Tool & Die were instrumental in laying out the equipment with the goal of making it as efficient as possible for the operators. They modified the quench tank by adding rails and a rolling load cart to create an efficient loading process. When the quenching process is complete, an overhead hoist lifts the product back onto the rolling load cart.
The standard draw batch oven has a maximum temperature rating of 1250°F and a work chamber of 3 x 3 x 7 feet. A guaranteed temperature uniformity of +/-10°F at 500°F, 750°F, 900°F, and 1000°F (per AMS 2750E Class 2/Instrumentation Type C) was verified through a nine-point profile test conducted in an empty oven chamber under static operating conditions.
The enhanced duty walk-in batch oven has a maximum temperature rating of 800°F and work chamber dimensions of 6 x 8 x 5 feet. A guaranteed temperature uniformity of +/-10° F at 300°F, 550°F, and 800°F(per AMS 2750E Class 2/Instrumentation Type C) was verified through a15-point profile test conducted in an empty oven chamber under static operating conditions.
Both industrial ovens utilize Eurotherm 3504 programmers, process high limits, and main line disconnects. They were fully factory tested and adjusted prior to shipment to help reduce installation and start-up times. A 150-point Quality Assurance check list was completed to ensure that the equipment met all Wisconsin Oven quality standards. The industrial batch ovens are backed by Wisconsin Oven's three-Year WOW warranty. This warranty covers all materials for all components (less wear items).
www.wisoven.com
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, has shipped two industrial ovens to United Tool & Die Company in West Hartford, Conn., for aging and annealing aluminum parts in a restricted space.
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Ipsen experts to teach one-day heat treating seminars in Los Angeles and Dallas
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its experts will be traveling to the Los Angeles (July 12) and Dallas (July 14) areas to teach a one-day seminar, "Taking Control: Maintenance and Aerospace Compliance Strategies for Heat Treatment."
In these seminars, you will learn how to master the nuances of maintenance and aerospace compliance. You will also be able to take part in an open-forum discussion on your specific maintenance challenges in both the morning and afternoon.
Specific topics covered during the seminar include Vacuum and Atmosphere Maintenance Best Practices; Optimizing Operations with Predictive Maintenance; and Achieving and Maintaining Aerospace Compliance.
Ipsen has been providing training to the heat treatment industry for 30+ years, both on-site at Ipsen U, and at customer facilities. These local seminars carry on the traditions of these seminars, teaching you best practices for regaining control of your equipment, and offering expert insight into specific issues you might be experiencing on a daily basis.
Each seminar coast $60 per registration, including meals and handouts. Additional locations will also be available soon.
www.IpsenUSA.com/Seminar-Registration-Form
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its experts will be traveling to the Los Angeles (July 12) and Dallas (July 14) areas to teach a one-day seminar, “Taking Control: Maintenance and Aerospace Compliance Strategies for Heat Treatment.”
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One Minute Mentor: Enlarging the Austenite Loop
June 10, 2016
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The metallurgy of austenitic stainless steels is based on alloying that enlarges the austenite loop, as shown in graphs (a) and (b). Additions of carbon expand the austenite loop, as shown in (a).
Other elements that expand the loop include nickel, manganese, and nitrogen. However, silicon, molybdenum, and titanium have an opposite effect. The actions of these elements are shown in (b). They form the basis for the microstructure of stainless steels.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Austenitic and Duplex Stainless Steels ⇒ Metallurgy
The metallurgy of austenitic stainless steels is based on alloying that enlarges the austenite loop.
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