Lindberg box furnace built for batch testing aluminum automotive castings
June 21, 2017
Source:
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a large-chamber utility box furnace to an automotive supplier for batch testing aluminum castings on a daily basis at a temperature of 932°F. The work chamber dimensions of this heat treat furnace are 24x24x 24 inches, and its maximum temperature rating is 2000°F. The furnace is available in nine chamber sizes to meet demanding applications.
Electrically heated, the furnace utilizes vacuum-formed ceramic fiber insulation with low heat loss for operating economy and minimum heat storage, which results in rapid heat up and control response. To ensure even less heat loss, double steel shell construction creates a low-temperature outer surface. The insulation and heating elements maintain uniform heat distribution for an energy-efficient design.
The furnace incorporates a prewired, side mounted, forced-air cooled control console, which features a Honeywell DC2500 Series primary temperature controller and a separate Honeywell DC2500 Series excess temperature controller.
"For this project, we designed a custom heating system to minimize heat loss and provide energy efficiency," says Andrew Paul, Sales Engineer.
www.lindbergmph.com
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a large-chamber utility box furnace to an automotive supplier for batch testing aluminum castings on a daily basis at a temperature of 932°F.
Continue reading
Spirit invests $30 million in five-axis machining center for aluminum and titanium aircraft parts
Source:
Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita, Kan., announces a new center of excellence focusing on the fabrication of complex aluminum and titanium commercial and military aircraft parts by new five-axis machines.
Spirit, already one of the world's largest fabricators of aerospace parts, has invested more than $30 million in the five-axis center of excellence in Wichita, which now includes 120 different machine tools.
"We continue to invest in fabrication capabilities, and these expansions will help us better compete globally and remain leaders in the industry," says Spirit Senior Vice President of Operations Ron Rabe. "The new center offers significant capabilities to meet our current and future customer needs with better quality and improved turn time."
The facility will utilize the latest high-speed technology to specialize in large, complex parts for fuselage, pylon, and wing structures. The center will be fully operational later this year.
"We also have capacity and capability to support chemical processing and finishing of machined parts," says Alan Young, Spirit's vice president of Fabrication. "We have developed significant capability over many decades, and now we can provide that expertise to customers around the world."
Chemical processing of component parts completes the manufacturing process and ensures proper coating on part surfaces to protect against corrosion. Chemical processes at Spirit include cleaning, penetrant inspection, anodizing, priming, and top-coat painting, with various colors available to support customer requirements. With one of the world's largest automated chemical processing lines, Spirit has already processed parts for other customers this year in Wichita.
Spirit's fabrication capability spans more than 2.6 million square feet and produces more than 38,000 parts daily.
The new capabilities and emphasis on the fabrication business is one of Spirit's growth strategies as the company focuses on new business.
www.spiritaero.com
Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita, Kan., announces a new center of excellence focusing on the fabrication of complex aluminum and titanium commercial and military aircraft parts by new five-axis machines.
Continue reading
Machine Tool Builders launches company to build and retrofit heat treating furnaces
June 15, 2017
Source:
Machine Tool Builders (MTB), Machesney Park, Ill., announces that it has launched Diablo Furnaces, a company that builds custom heat treating furnaces. Several years ago, MTB began servicing and refurbishing heat treating furnaces. Many of those furnaces were built by a decades-old company in Rockford, Illinois. When that company closed suddenly, MTB hired key personnel from that firm and began using their institutional knowledge to design and build new furnaces under the name Diablo Furnaces.
Launched in February, Diablo builds internal quench, temper/draw, box, and car bottom furnaces that are custom built for each customer, based on material, temperature range, volume, and available floor space. In addition, Diablo retrofit packages range from basic upgrades and improvements, to a completely customized, state-of-the-art rebuild. The company says that all Diablo equipment is made "in the United States, with the highest quality materials, using proven designs, by exceptional people."
www.diablofurnaces.com
www.machinetoolbuilders.com
Machine Tool Builders (MTB), Machesney Park, Ill., announces that it has launched Diablo Furnaces, a company that builds custom heat treating furnaces.
Continue reading
Advanced high-strength steel ore unloading system wins 2017 Swedish Steel Prize
June 14, 2017
Source:
SSAB, Stockholm, announces that the 2017 winner of the Swedish Steel Prize is Kiruna Wagon of Sweden for its Helix Dumper, a highly durable and far more efficient ore-unloading wagon than other ore wagons on the market. The final design included both Strenx structural steel and Hardox wear-resistant steel.
"Kiruna Wagon has successfully updated a good idea and used high-strength steels to turn it into a brand new, superior wagon solution," says Eva Petursson, Chairman of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB's Strategic R&D.
Kiruna Wagon's Helix Dumper is a dumper wagon system for long-haul rail transport and efficient unloading of minerals. Advanced high-strength structural and wear-resistant steels made it possible to design lightweight wagons combined with a stationary Helix terminal for on-the-fly rotary unloading. The ingenious solution has an unloading speed of 25,000 tons per hour, which is twice that of other systems.
Compared with other systems, a complete unloading system for the Helix costs 1/7th of what a rotational wagon costs. In addition, the Helix exploits part of the potential energy of the ore's mass to push the wagon forward as it unloads. This means no extra energy is required, with much less dust and almost no noise.
The winner of the 18th Swedish Steel Prize will receive a statuette by the sculptor Jörg Jeschke and a cash prize of $15,500.
The other finalists were Fermel from South Africa, JMG Cranes from Italy, and Wabash National from the United States.
www.steelprize.com
www.ssab.com
SSAB, Stockholm, announces that the 2017 winner of the Swedish Steel Prize is Kiruna Wagon of Sweden for its Helix Dumper, a highly durable and far more efficient ore-unloading wagon than other ore wagons on the market.
Continue reading
Eck Industries licenses cerium-aluminum alloy that resists corrosion and high heat
June 13, 2017
Source:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn., announces that Eck Industries, Manitowoc, Wis., has signed an exclusive license for the commercialization of a cerium-aluminum (Ce-Al) alloy that is easy to work with, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and exceptionally stable at high temperatures. These properties make it ideal for automotive, aerospace, power generation, and other applications. The alloy was co-developed by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The patent-pending alloy was developed as part of DOE's Critical Materials Institute (CMI) and makes use of cerium, the most abundant rare earth element. Cerium makes up as much as half of mined rare earths, yet has less value than co-mined elements such as neodymium and dysprosium that are in high demand for advanced energy technology applications. Creating new uses for cerium supports both domestic rare earth mining operations and the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Scientists at ORNL, working with Eck Industries and researchers at DOE's Ames and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories, developed the Ce-Al alloy. Testing has shown the Ce-Al alloy is stable at 500°C (932°F). Withstanding higher temperatures means, for instance, that engines made of the alloy can run hotter with more complete fuel combustion while being lighter in weight, which advances fuel efficiency.
Ce-Al does not require additional thermal processing during the casting process, and takes advantage of abundant, low-cost cerium, says ORNL scientist Orlando Rios. Parts can be cast by standard aluminum foundry practices and without a protective atmosphere.
"The alloy is thermodynamically stable," Dr. Rios says. The cost of heat treatment and the additional machining required due to thermal distortion can make up some 50 to 60% of the cost of casting traditional alloys. Energy costs could potentially be reduced by 30 to 60% compared with traditional casting processes, he noted. The Ce-Al alloy's potential marks a significant departure from post-casting heat treatment and age-hardening approaches developed over some 100 years, and can significantly advance manufacturing competitiveness as result.
"There has been tremendous interest from industry due to the unique material properties and low cost of this alloy," says ASM member David Weiss, vice president of Engineering/R&D at Eck. "This project is a template for rapid development and commercialization. Not only did we bridge the research ‘valley of death,' but also we developed a highway for communication from our customers to us to help guide the project."
The involvement of multiple national laboratories and industry via CMI's interest in leveraging scientific knowledge to help solve critical materials issues was essential to fast development of the alloy. ORNL researchers led the development team while focusing on casting and microstructure property stability. Ames ran experiments on thermo-mechanical processing and examined the thermo-physical properties of the Ce-Al alloy. Lawrence Livermore performed characterization work using advanced microscopy and other methods. Eck was involved in pilot-scale experiments and provided manufacturing insight and expertise.
CMI's strategy is to bring together industrial, academic, and national lab expertise to address US reliance on critical materials like rare earth elements that are essential to energy, defense, and other manufacturing sectors.
"It's tough for a mine to survive if half of its output has no market. This alloy creates a use for the cerium that accompanies scarce and critical rare earths like neodymium and dysprosium," says CMI Director Alex King.
www.ornl.gov
www.eckindustries.com
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn., announces that Eck Industries, Manitowoc, Wis., has signed an exclusive license for the commercialization of a cerium-aluminum (Ce-Al) alloy that is easy to work with, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and exceptionally stable at high temperatures.
Continue reading
One Minute Mentor: Nitriding Austenitic Stainless Steel
June 9, 2017
Source:
The graph shows thermogravimetric uptake curves for nitriding of AISI 316 at 445°C (830°F) in different NH3-H2 gas mixtures. Nitriding potentials are indicated in the figure. The nitrogen uptake as a function of time for the various nitriding potentials is depicted.
Clearly, the applied nitriding potential plays a major role on the growth rate of nitrogen uptake in the solid state, because nitrogen uptake increases with nitriding potential (nitrogen activity).
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Stainless Steel ⇒ Gaseous Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Austenitic Stainless Steel
The graph shows thermogravimetric uptake curves for nitriding of AISI 316 at 445°C (830°F) in different NH3-H2 gas mixtures.
Continue reading
Leco advanced grinder/polisher enables extremely flat metallographic specimens
June 7, 2017
Source:
Leco Corp., St. Joseph, Mich., introduces its advanced PX400/PX500 Grinder/Polisher Series, which enables production of exceptionally flat specimens that are ideal for microhardness or microstructural work at the next sample testing step. Designed with the latest technology, the PX400/PX500 provides an efficient, safe, reliable, and clean grinding/polishing solution through a number of innovative, user-friendly features.
For example, energy efficient AC drives and induction motors provide smooth and configurable acceleration for any sample. Twenty proven methods are built-in, and more can be created or downloaded. Rugged structural and electronic components are made to withstand the toughest environments.
www.leco.com
Leco Corp., St. Joseph, Mich., introduces its advanced PX400/PX500 Grinder/Polisher Series, which enables production of exceptionally flat specimens that are ideal for microhardness or microstructural work at the next sample testing step.
Continue reading
Can-Eng awarded contract for aluminum furnace system integrated into forging cell
Source:
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, was recently awarded a contract for an aluminum furnace system from a leading North American manufacturer of forged aluminum suspension components. This project reflects a long list of recent projects involving automotive light weighting initiatives in which Can-Eng delivered the lowest cost of ownership per unit of production.
The furnace system will be integrated into a completely automated forging cell expansion for heating aluminum billets prior to forging. The automated cell includes a sophisticated controls and part tracking system. Can-Eng's patented rotary hearth furnace technology was utilized in this application because it provided optimal part handling and temperature profile parameter flexibility within the smallest manufacturing floor space. Can-Eng's rotary furnace systems continue to replace conventional in-line continuous belt style heating systems because they offer superior footprint, energy consumption, and maintenance benefits.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, was recently awarded a contract for an aluminum furnace system from a leading North American manufacturer of forged aluminum suspension components.
Continue reading
Linde and Praxair agree to combine for global presence and stronger growth
June 6, 2017
Source:
Linde AG, Munich, and Praxair Inc., Danbury, Conn., announce that the companies have entered into a definitive business combination agreement to come together under a new holding company called Linde, uniting Linde's long-standing leadership in engineering and technology with Praxair's efficient operating model.
The combined company will have a strong presence in all key geographies and end markets, which will result in a more diverse and balanced global portfolio, as well as increased exposure to long-term macro-economic growth trends. With a strong culture of innovation, sustainability, and performance, the new company will enable the development and delivery of a broad range of products and solutions, and will provide enhanced value for its employees, shareholders, and communities.,
Based on 2016 reported results, the combination will create a company with pro forma revenues of approximately $29 billion, prior to adjustments, potential divestitures, and regulatory limitations. Their combined current market value is in excess of $70 billion. Additionally, the new company will have a robust balance sheet and strong cash flow generation, enabling financial flexibility to invest in future growth.
The merged company is expected to create significant value for shareholders through the realization of approximately $1.2 billion in annual synergies and cost reduction programs that are expected to be achieved over a period of approximately three years following closing. These synergies and cost reductions are expected to arise from scale benefits, cost savings, and efficiency improvements from existing cost reduction programs.
www.linde.com
Linde AG, Munich, and Praxair Inc., Danbury, Conn., announce that the companies have entered into a definitive business combination agreement to come together under a new holding company called Linde, uniting Linde’s long-standing leadership in engineering and technology with Praxair’s efficient operating model.
Continue reading
Lindberg/MPH heavy-duty box furnace for processing glass reaches maximum 1500°C
June 5, 2017
Source:
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., announces the shipment of a heavy-duty box furnace that reaches a maximum temperature of 1500°C for processing glass. The furnace design was customized to the customer's specifications by moving the heating elements (which are typically designed to be mounted on the roof and floor of the furnace) to the sidewalls. This design change was necessary to prevent any melted glass from spilling onto the elements during processing.
The maximum temperature rating of this box furnace is 1500°C, and it has work chamber dimensions of 12x14x12 inches. This heavy-duty box furnace has insulating vestibules and is equipped with directly hinged, insulated plug doors. The insulating door plug serves as a convenient loading platform in the open position.
An internal vent located in the top center of the vestibule aids in dissipating the initial heat surge that occurs when the door is opened. Heating elements are horizontally positioned on either side of the heating chamber. The heating chamber is constructed of high-temperature graded insulation, providing excellent thermal efficiency.
"At Lindberg/MPH, we know our customer's applications require tight temperature uniformity," says Kelley Shreve, Applications Engineer. "This heat-treat box furnace provides precise temperature uniformity, rapid response rate, dense load capability, and process repeatability, which were all essential to our customer's process."
www.lindbergmph.com
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., announces the shipment of a heavy duty box furnace that reaches a maximum temperature of 1500°C for processing glass.
Continue reading 
