One Minute Mentor: Isothermal Transformation Diagram for Tool Steels
October 23, 2015 Source: ASM International
The graph shows the isothermal transformation diagram for the steel AISI 1075/DIN EN C75. Cooling curves show three process cycles for molten metal quenching in the time-temperature-transformation plots.
Continue readingBodycote expands hot isostatic pressing capacity
October 21, 2015 Source:
Bodycote, England, is expanding its high pressure hot isostatic pressing (HIP) capability with the addition of a new mid-range vessel to increase its volume capacity.
The new HIP system, scheduled to enter service in 2015, will be focused on high- pressure developments in aerospace and advanced materials. Located in the eastern United States, it will be capable of processing at pressures up to 30,000 psi and temperatures up to 3632°F. This vessel added to the fleet is complementary to the company's extensive range of installed capacity across North America and Europe.
This new capacity further enhances the company's ability to respond to future market requirements, particularly those needing high-pressure processing. The new unit complements the company's extensive line of high-pressure equipment serving the medical, aerospace & defense, consumer products, and sputtering targets markets, and strengthens Bodycote's position as the world's leading provider of HIP services.
Bodycote operates a global HIP business with the largest equipment network in the world and continues to invest in greater capacity in recognition of growing demand for HIP technology. Having established HIP expertise over decades, Bodycote has over 50 HIP vessels of varying sizes in multiple locations.
Processing capability can accommodate components which are nominally up to 2 m diameter by 3.5 m high; and weighing 0.1 kg to over 30,000kg. In addition to standard quality and environmental accreditations, Bodycote's HIP facilities hold ASTM, NORSOK, and Nadcap accreditations.
Bodycote, England, is expanding its high pressure Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) capability with the addition of a new mid-range vessel to increase its volume capacity.
Continue readingAMI Metals to provide flat-rolled aluminum plate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
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Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, announces that its subsidiary AMI Metals Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, has been awarded a multi-year contract by Lockheed Martin to provide aluminum flat rolled plate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The five year contract, with an estimated value of $300 million, runs January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021. The contract requirements include value-added, just-in-time, cut-to-size and cut-to-shape processing of aluminum plate for all F-35 aluminum flat rolled requirements.
"We are very excited and proud that AMI Metals' experience and expertise in value-added aluminum supply will strategically support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program," said Gregg Mollins, Reliance's President and Chief Executive Officer.
According to Scott A. Smith, President of AMI Metals, "We are proud of our long-term relationship with Lockheed Martin and of our ability to assist them going forward with the aluminum products and services needed for the manufacture of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter military aircraft. AMI Metals and Lockheed Martin have worked together for the past 30 years on numerous programs that have resulted in on-time delivery of high quality products. We look forward to continuing to support Lockheed Martin and the full supply chain behind the F-35."
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., is the largest metals service center company in North America. Through a network of more than 300 locations in 39 states and twelve countries outside of the United States, the company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of over 100,000 metal products to more than 125,000 customers in a broad range of industries.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, announces that its subsidiary AMI Metals Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, has been awarded a multi-year contract by Lockheed Martin to provide aluminum flat rolled plate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Continue readingNorsk Titanium orders three more machines to build titanium parts by Rapid Plasma Deposition
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Norsk Titanium USA, New York, has contracted with Norway-based Tronrud Engineering AS to produce three additive manufacturing machines to support higher-than-forecast demand for aerospace-grade titanium components made by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition process. The company has received orders from a number of the world's leading commercial and Aerospace and Defense (A&D) manufacturers.
Norsk says that its proprietary plasma arc Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology is the ultimate in 3D additive printing. Titanium wire is melted in a cloud of argon gas and precisely and rapidly built up in layers to a near-net-shape (up to 80% complete) that requires very little finish machining. Production cost is 50% to 75% less than legacy forging and billet manufacturing techniques.
"We are pleased to contract with Tronrud to build our exclusive technology for the production of aerospace-grade titanium structures," said NTi President & Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley, Jr. "These 3D additive manufacturing machines will further boost our customer response time and expand manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for titanium components from the global aerospace industry."
Mr. Boley, Former President of Aerojet Rocketdyne, took the helm of NTi in July of this year to oversee the transformation of the company's manufacturing process to deliver titanium parts for A&D applications, while leading the groundbreaking program to establish the world's first industrial-scale 3D additive manufacturing facility in the United States. The contract with Tronrud represents one of NTi's key supplier partnerships aimed at supporting the company's rapid expansion plans.
www.norsktitanium.no
www.tronrud.no
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, announces that its subsidiary AMI Metals Inc., headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, has been awarded a multi-year contract by Lockheed Martin to provide aluminum flat-rolled plate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Continue readingH.C. Starck showcases high-temperature furnace products at Heat Treat 2015
October 18, 2015 Source:
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., demonstrates its fabrication skills at Heat Treat 2015 with a unique product portfolio, including MoLa (molybdenum-lanthanum), TZM (titanium-zirconium-molybdenum), MHC (molybdenum hafnium carbide), and MoW (molybdenum-tungsten). These alloys are distinguished by their mechanical durability, high ductility and toughness, good thermal and electrical conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and excellent strength at temperatures in excess of 2000°C.
These high-temperature alloys are fabricated for a wide range of applications, including parts for vacuum, sintering, annealing, and brazing furnaces.
Rapid development of new products and processes at H.C. Starck is supported by analytical labs and advanced material modeling and simulation capabilities. H.C. Starck also supports the LED industry with products critical to the success of the sapphire crystal-growing industry and MOCVD equipment.
"H.C. Starck is a global front-runner in the heat treating industry with our development of alloyed materials for high-temperature furnaces, specifically in vacuum, reducing, and inert atmospheres. Our engineers have developed an array of high-temperature alloys with superior mechanical and physical properties to match our customers' performance requirements," said Dmitry Shashkov, Member of H.C. Starck's Executive Board and Head of the Fabricated Products Division.
"We are gratified to be teaming up with brand name furnace makers worldwide on their next-generation designs. Our continued investments and upgrades in our manufacturing and analytical capabilities aids us to better serve our customers and support their growth."
Visit our Technology and Engineering experts at ASM Heat Treat 2015, Booth 215 to discuss business opportunities and view our unique product display.
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., demonstrates its fabrication skills at Heat Treat 2015 with a unique product portfolio, including MoLa (molybdenum-lanthanum), TZM (titanium-zirconium-molybdenum), MHC (molybdenum hafnium carbide), and MoW (molybdenum-tungsten).
Continue readingSeco Warwick to display vacuum furnace, present three papers at Heat Treat 2015
October 16, 2015 Source:
Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., will be presenting three technical papers and exhibiting a full-size, production-scale vacuum furnace at the upcoming ASM International Heat Treating Conference & Exposition in Detroit. The furnace will be available for inspection by potential customers during show hours or by special appointment, and will be shipped directly to the new owner's site immediately following the show. The owner, Exco Tooling Solutions, Exco USA, is North America's largest supplier of extrusion dies, and is a major force in the global extrusion die-making industry. The vacuum furnace, proudly manufactured entirely in Meadville, will be shipped to Exco USA's plant in Wylie, Texas.
Dr. M. Korecki, PhD, will present a paper on the development of the world's first single-piece, high-volume, production-scale gear case hardening furnace, UniCase Master. Designed to produce up to one million gears annually, this new in-line vacuum furnace system is intended to be integrated directly into gear production lines, taking the place of one or more finish machining cells which can be eliminated due to the minimization of distortion. A proprietary "4D Quenching" process essentially eliminates distortion and the need for finish machining. Dr. Korecki's paper is being presented as part of the American Gear Manufacturing Association's Fall Meeting, which is held concurrently with the Heat Treat Show and is scheduled for Sunday, 18 October, at 2:50 p.m., in the downtown Detroit Marriott.
Prof. L. Maldzinski and Mr. M. Hemsath will present new technology on how to reduce the consumption of ammonia and carrier gasses during nitriding. The proprietary process, known as Zero Flow, will be discussed. With the growth of nitriding, this new technology has the potential to significantly decrease the operating costs of nearly all nitriding operations. Prof. Maldzinski's paper will be presented on Tuesday, 20 October, 8:00 a.m., Cobo Center Room 251B
Mr. T. Lord will present seco Warwick's final technical paper. He will describe a carburizing technology that can reduce production times to one-fifth under ideal circumstances. Known as PreNit, it is a proprietary pre-nitriding process that helps prevent grain growth while processing nitrided parts at higher than normal temperatures and shorter than normal cycle times. This discussion will be of significant value to high-volume carburizers. Mr. Lord's presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 October, 2:00 p.m., Cobo Center Room 251C
Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., will be presenting three technical papers and exhibiting a full-size, production-scale vacuum furnace at the upcoming ASM International Heat Treating Conference & Exposition in Detroit.
Continue readingOne Minute Mentor: Austenitizing Tool Steel
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Austenitizing Tool Steel
Austenitizing is the heat treatment in which the final alloy element partitioning between the austenitic matrix (which will transform to martensite) and the retained carbides occurs. This partitioning fixes the chemistry, volume fraction, and dispersion of the retained carbides. The retained alloy carbides not only contribute to wear resistance but also control austenitic grain size. The finer the carbides and the larger the volume fraction of carbides, the more effectively austenitic grain growth is controlled. Thus, if the tool steel is austenitized at too high a temperature, undesirable grain growth may occur as the alloy carbides increasingly coarsen or dissolve into the austenite.
The graph shows that tempering by a combination of retained austenite transformation and secondary hardening, will eventually raise the hardness of as-quenched structures with large amounts of retained austenite. Not shown is the deleterious increase in austenite grain size that develops as more and more carbides dissolve at the higher austenitizing temperatures.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels -> Heat Treating of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels -> Introduction to Heat Treating of Tool Steels -> Heat Treatment Applied to Tool Steels
Austenitizing is the heat treatment in which the final alloy element partitioning between the austenitic matrix (which will transform to martensite) and the retained carbides occurs.
Continue readingLinde highlights advanced technologies at Heat Treat 2015
October 15, 2015 Source:
Linde LLC, Murray Hill, N.J., will showcase advanced gas control technologies and engineering services for heat treatment furnaces at Heat Treat 2015 next week in Detroit, booth 248. These include Carbojet gas-injection technology for improving production up to 20%; Hydroflex atmosphere control system for more reliable oxide-free annealing; world-class heat treatment engineering and laboratory services; and safety solutions for flammable atmosphere furnaces (re: NFPA 86)
These heat treatment services and proven technologies are in demand for improving process efficiency, productivity, and quality in manufacturing metal parts for automotive, aerospace, and military components; construction and industrial equipment; and electrical systems, to name a few. More consistent process quality can mean less rework and fewer rejects, and lead to higher profits, process reliability and longer service life.
Linde offers decades of experience in heat treatment across all common furnace types from continuous to batch type furnaces, including roller hearth, pusher, pit or rotary-retort. Expertise spans all typical protective atmospheres—from pure nitrogen, pure hydrogen, nitrogen/hydrogen, nitrogen/hydrocarbon type atmospheres to endothermic gas, exothermic gas and monogas atmospheres.
Improve gas flows and atmosphere homogeneity without fans
The patented CARBOJET gas-injection technology can improve efficiency and the productivity of heat treatment furnaces including roller hearth, pusher, pit, or rotary-retort. Ultrahigh-speed injection of a gas or gas mixture through special CARBOJET lances improves gas flows and atmosphere homogeneity without the use of circulation fans. This includes both the better mixing of the injected gases with the furnace atmosphere, and better movement of the gas flows within the furnace.
Oxide-free parts annealing
The HYDROFLEX atmosphere control system offers a universal solution for clean and bright oxide-free annealing of steel, stainless steel, copper, bronze or brass, with high reliability and repeatability. One or more carrier gases (nitrogen or argon) maintain the furnace pressure while a controlled ratio of hydrogen helps prevent oxidation. With the HYDROFLEX® technology, many annealing tasks can be completed with non-flammable gas mixtures containing less than 5 percent hydrogen.
Engineering and lab services
Engineering is key to optimizing heat treatment solutions. Linde engineers can perform process audits to investigate areas for improvement. This may include analyzing furnace atmospheres, gas supply and control systems, as well as upstream and downstream processes. Linde can also perform customer tests and demonstrations in furnaces at its Technology Center to support feasibility studies, and provide safety and process training.
In addition, engineers at Linde Application Centers can develop new gas supply systems for heat treatment processes and improve the control systems of existing processes. Our metallography laboratory services include material analyses, scanning electron micrography (SEM) and a variety of hardness tests.
Meeting new NFPA safety standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the industry accepted authority of industrial gases and furnaces. All heat treating facilities should familiarize themselves with NFPA 86 "Standard for Ovens and Furnaces". Within NFPA 86 there are specific requirements for Nitrogen Supply Systems used to purge flammable atmosphere furnaces. Linde developed the system to satisfy the NFPA 86 "Standard for Ovens and Furnaces." It includes a nitrogen supply system with an integral alarm panel for safety purge of flammable atmosphere furnaces.
Heat Treat 2015 is the premier heat treating event in North America and presented by the ASM Heat Treating Society. The conference and exposition run in conjunction with Gear Expo, presented by the American Gear Manufacturers Association.
Linde LLC, Murray Hill, N.J., will showcase advanced gas control technologies and engineering services for heat treatment furnaces at Heat Treat 2015 next week in Detroit, booth 248.
Continue readingASM International elects new president, vice president, treasurer, and trustees
Source: ASM International
ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, elected Jon D. Tirpak, PE, FASM, as ASM’s 2015-2016 Board of Trustees President.
Continue readingVideo: Unmanned aircraft flight test center
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Established in 2007, the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Test Center is the first of its kind. In the last eight years, NMSU's UAS FTC has become the most accomplished and most experienced Federal Aviation Administration-approved UAS test facility in the country.
NMSU's UAS FTC provides direct access to more than 15,000 m2 of airspace, and was the first civil UAS test facility that provided direct, available access to restricted airspace—a must for testing developmental aircraft or multi-aircraft scenarios. Henry Cathey, interim deputy director of NMSU's Physical Science Laboratory, was honored at NMSU's Scholarly Excellence Rally Friday, Oct. 9.
"The Flight Test Center in Las Cruces has been operating for a number of years, and it's not only a unique resource for the state of New Mexico, but it is a unique resource for the entire country," Cathey says. "It's state-of-the-art, cutting-edge, and it's very exciting that New Mexico is leading the way in this area."
In May 2015, the FAA announced that the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) would operate a new National Center of Excellence for UAS. NMSU is a core member-university on a team, which is comprised of 15 universities and six affiliates.
As a core university of ASSURE, NMSU is helping lead the partnership of academic and industry members that will begin a new era of commercial unmanned aircraft research, development and integration into the nation's airspace. Dallas Brooks, NMSU UAS research and development strategic manager, is the principle investigator on the ASSURE project and co-chairs the Federal UAS Science and Research Panel, which oversees and coordinates UAS research conducted by the FAA, NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The center of excellence will supply research to the FAA and UAS industry to increase the potential uses of unmanned systems with minimal changes to the current system regulating manned aircraft. The center of excellence research areas include detect and avoid technology; low-altitude operations safety; control and communications; spectrum management; human factors; compatibility with air traffic control operations; and training and certification of UAS pilots and other crewmembers.
"We are supporting and trying to make the skies safer for using things like UAS or unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace," Cathey says. "We have been tasked to look at detect and avoid technology on how we can integrate things from small UAS up to things with a 15- to 20-foot wingspan into national airspace safely.
"The detect and avoid research area focuses on issues related to the detection of potential threats to remain well clear and avoid collisions. It explores sensors, the data produced from sensors, the management and use of that data, and the operational outcome that is considered safe and acceptable," he said.
In this research area, NMSU is evaluating the requirements for an airborne or ground-based Detect and Avoid system compatible with small UAS (55 pounds and less) operating in limited portions of the National Air Space to comply with the regulations and not increase the risk to other aircraft or people on the ground, beyond what is currently in effect. Additionally, NMSU is accessing the requirements for software along with what are the most feasible airborne or ground-based sensors.
ASSURE will form teams between its member universities, government agencies and industry partners to address both government and commercial UAS challenges. "Each of those universities has specific skills and abilities, and the idea is to marry all of the technical expertise to provide real research answers for flight safety in the National Air Space," Cathey said.
Established in 2007, the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Test Center is the first of its kind.
Continue reading