Hybrid NDT system combines magnetic and ultrasound techniques
October 15, 2014
Source:
The Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing, Germany, reports that researchers have developed a hybrid NDT technology in which micromagnetic and ultrasound inspection are combined. Called MAGNUS (for MAGneticUltraSound), the system involves placing multiple sensors at different positions on sheet steel, enabling accurate characterization of sheet steel properties such as ductility and weldability.
For many years, magnetic test methods have been used in the area of strip steel inspection for online determination of the mechanical-technological characteristics. "While the micromagnetic method helps us to determine properties such as hardness, tensile strength, and internal stress, ultrasound testing informs us about the texture of the material, a critical factor governing its deformation characteristics during the deep drawing process," explains Fraunhofer research scientist Dr. Klaus Szielasko, who is leading the MAGNUS project.
A demonstrator including two sensors has been assembled and is currently under test. The project runs out in January 2015. Until then, test data will be gathered by Fraunhofer in close collaboration with its French partner and industry experts. After these results are evaluated, first steps shall be taken to initiate working groups for further development of the hybrid micromagnetics/ultrasound application.
MAGNUS brings together scientists from Fraunhofer IZFP and their colleagues at the Technical Centre for Mechanical Industry CETIM in Senlis, one of the network of French Carnot institutes.
"We placed particular emphasis on coming up with a cost-effective tool and sensor concept," stresses Dr. Szielasko. Within the scope of industrial contracts, three systems for heavy plate inspection have already been manufactured based on MAGNUS technology.
www.izfp.fraunhofer.de
The Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing, Germany, reports that researchers have developed a hybrid NDT technology in which micromagnetic and ultrasound inspection are combined.
Continue reading
TimkenSteel to invest $40 million in quench-and-temper facility
October 10, 2014
Source:
TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, announces that it will locate an advanced quench-and-temper facility that will produce more value-added steel for demanding applications. The $40 million facility, which will be fully operational within two years, will carry out heat-treat operations and have capacity for 50,000 process-tons annually of 4-inch to 13-inch bars and tubes. It will be located in Perry Township on the site of TimkenSteel's Gambrinus Steel Plant near three existing thermal treatment facilities.
"Our investment in additional value-added operations feeds growing sales of our most sophisticated product lines, which meet the needs of demanding applications in energy and other markets," said Shawn J. Seanor, executive vice president of Energy and Distribution. "Our decision to locate the new operation near our Canton facilities offers us operational benefits and comes after strong state and local support."TimkenSteel's energy offerings serve global equipment manufacturers and service companies with customized products and services for their most demanding applications in down-hole tools and top-of-hole infrastructure. The company's integrated supply chain solution combines high-performance material, industry-leading thermal treatment, proprietary machining processes and responsive delivery capabilities.
TimkenSteel's products reach all corners of the globe to serve a diverse client base, including those in the oil and gas, automotive, industrial equipment, mining, construction, rail, aerospace, heavy truck, agriculture and power generation industries.
www.timkensteel.com
TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, announces that it will locate an advanced quench-and-temper facility in Perry Township in northeast Ohio.
Continue reading
Constellium to supply can stock as Rexam changes steel can lines to aluminum
October 9, 2014
Source:
Constellium, Amsterdam, announces that it has been awarded an additional contract to supply can stock to Rexam PLC, a leading beverage can maker. Under this agreement, Constellium will support Rexam's decision to convert all the can production lines of its two Spanish plants in La Selva and Valdemorillo from steel to aluminum. Because of its light weight and resilient properties, and the fact that it can be endlessly recycled without loss of properties, aluminum contributes to the reduction of freight loads and fuel costs.
Constellium expects can makers across Europe to continue converting their production lines from steel to aluminum, due to its many advantages for packaging applications. Aluminum provides an excellent barrier to oxygen, light, and moisture, while featuring a shiny appearance.
Constellium is Europe's largest supplier of aluminum can body stock and plays a leading role in recycling, a key business and environmental commitment.
www.constellium.com
Constellium, Amsterdam, announces that it has been awarded an additional contract to supply can stock to Rexam PLC, a leading beverage can maker.
Continue reading
Solar Atmospheres selects Greenville as location for southeastern division
Source:
Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, Pa., announces that it has selected Greenville, S.C., for the site of its 54,000 ft2 southeast division. The facility, which will be operational in the near future, represents a major expansion for its companies,with an investment in excess of $15 million, including building, property, new vacuum furnaces, and a facility-wide closed-loop water cooling system to ensure continuous uptime for customers.
Vacuum furnaces and support equipment are currently being scheduled for installation and startup. Furnace sizes will range from vacuum furnaces capable of supporting small production lots and development work, to a 24 ft. car bottom furnace for processing large, heavy loads. Process capabilities will range from standard vacuum heat treating to vacuum carburizing, vacuum annealing, vacuum stress relieving, vacuum brazing, and other specialized vacuum thermal processes as well as research and development activity.
Company representatives expect the Greenville facility to open by the end of the first quarter of 2015. The company operates three existing facilities in the United States, two in Pennsylvania and another in California.
www.solaratm.com
Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, Pa., announces that it has selected Greenville, S.C., for the site of its 54,000 ft2 southeast division.
Continue reading
Al-Fe Heat Treating partners with Ford to build Precision Air Quenching system
Source:
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., is investing millions of dollars in its plant in Saginaw, Mich., as part of Al-Fe's alliance with Ford to process structural parts for the all-new military grade aluminum alloy and high-strength steel F-150. To replace heavier steel stampings with lightweight aluminum, Ford needed a solution for heat treating aluminum parts to the required mechanical properties while controlling and minimizing distortion. Al-Fe Heat Treating is providing that solution, by investing $7-10 million dollars in its Saginaw plant to build a state-of-the-art heat treating system that utilizes Precision Air Quenching.
The stampings will be manufactured by a Tier One stamping supplier to Ford. Al-Fe is also partnering with Can-Eng International to upgrade and customize the controls on Al-Fe's continuous solution furnace, as well as build and install the Precision Air Quench system. In addition, Can-Eng will assist in adapting the configuration of the automated conveyors, delivering the parts immediately to Al-Fe's existing continuous age oven, thereby completing the artificial aging process.
This truck will be one of the first to offer lightweight design, increasing fuel efficiency while still maintaining strength. In an effort to meet increased MPG standards, the projected aluminum content in vehicles will increase from 343 pounds currently to 550 pounds by 2025. From engine blocks to impact beams, aluminum will be a vital component of all vehicles going forward. However, using lighter weight aluminum in engines and vehicle frames necessitates a unique method of heat treating, one that minimizes torque, distortion, and cracking, while still maintaining part integrity.
www.al-fe.com
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., is investing millions of dollars in its plant in Saginaw, Mich., as part of Al-Fe’s alliance with Ford to process structural parts for the all-new military grade aluminum alloy and high-strength steel F-150 pickup truck.
Continue reading
Wind turbine gearbox bearings improve 415% after cryogenic processing
Source:
300 Below, Decatur, Ill., has pioneered an ultra-low temperature cryogenic process that the company says increases lifespan for 52100 stainless steel bearing components by an average 415% over current durability and wearability. Cryogenic processing reportedly goes beyond the typical heat treatment to affect molecular integrity throughout the metal component. It permanently rearranges molecular structures to prevent galling and spalling, while ultimately mitigating stress crack propagation.
The cryogenic process for bearings improves wearability and contact fatigue, and reduces failure while limiting the effects of surface wear and scuffing. The company has recently renewed its partnership with Millikin University to research additional maintenance improvements for wind power generation equipment.
Megawatt-class wind turbines subject tribology components such as bearings and gears to increasing demands for renewable electricity generation, creating operation and maintenance costs that are more than double the cost for natural gas-powered generation. Corrosive deterioration is also reduced as a result of the tighter grain structure and precipitation of micro-fine eta carbides following 300 Below's two-part cryogenic tempering process. High contact stresses from unsteady wind gusts, impact loads, and bearing skidding are significantly mitigated following the changes from cryogenics.
http://www.300below.com
300 Below, Decatur, Ill., has pioneered an ultra-low temperature cryogenic process that the company says increases lifespan for 52100 stainless steel bearing components by an average 415% over current durability and wearability.
Continue reading
Alcoa to produce third-generation aluminum-lithium alloys in Lafayette plant
Source:
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, is opening the world's largest aluminum-lithium plant in Lafayette, Indiana, where it produces advanced, third-generation aluminum-lithium alloys for the aerospace industry. To keep pace with demand, the company has expanded its aluminum-lithium capabilities at the Alcoa Technical Center outside Pittsburgh, at its Kitts Green facility in the United Kingdom, and in Lafayette. Already, Alcoa has contracted $100 million in aluminum-lithium revenues for 2017.
"This state-of-the-art facility positions Alcoa as the world's premier aluminum-lithium supplier, offering the broadest portfolio of aluminum-lithium components for next generation aircraft," said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Alcoa's Lafayette cast house, located next to its extrusion plant, can produce more than 20,000 metric tons (44 million pounds) of aluminum-lithium annually—making it the largest facility of its kind in the world. The Company offers the most complete portfolio of aluminum-lithium products, including extruded, forged and rolled parts. It has the number one market position in aluminum-lithium extrusions and a significant position on the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Gulfstream G650.
Alcoa produces single-piece wing skins, including for wide-body airplanes, fuselage skins, wing stringers, floor beams, seat tracks and other components. The company also is developing the first ever aluminum-lithium forging for a front fan blade for Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engines.
The Lafayette facility is uniquely capable of making the world's largest aluminum-lithium ingots—approximately 50 percent larger than the nearest competitor, and big enough to make any single-piece component on today's aircraft. Complementing that capability, Alcoa operates the world's widest, 220 in. rolling mill at its facility in Davenport, Iowa, making it the only company capable of producing single-piece aluminum-lithium wing skins for the largest commercial airplanes. Single-piece parts make structures stronger, lighter and less expensive because they minimize the number of complex joints.
www.alcoa.com/lafayette
Alcoa, Pittsburgh, is opening the world’s largest aluminum-lithium plant in Lafayette, Indiana, where it produces advanced, third-generation aluminum-lithium alloys for the aerospace industry.
Continue reading
Ardic Instruments’ P300 modular AFM accommodates changing experimental needs
October 6, 2014
Source:
Ardic Instruments, Taiwan, introduces the P300, a modular atomic force microscope that is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of resolutions, scan speeds, scan ranges, and budgets. The modularity also extends to the software design. Especially useful for industrial customers, the P300 software architecture allows for customized workflows, interfaces, analytics, and reports.
The instrument simplifies traditionally complex procedures such as probe loading, alignment, tuning, and approach. This allows for workflows that result in less user error and reduced training time.
According to Edward Chyau, the company's founder and CEO, "Through visiting the facilities of our customers and understanding their needs, we've noticed a large of amount of wasted capital expenditure and labor time as a result of inflexibility. When a lab needs to upgrade its system to accommodate for higher scan resolutions, researchers often end up buying a new system altogether.
"While that may be necessary in some situations, we saw the opportunity to offer a solution that allows the user to simply interchange key components. We also noticed many users extracting data from their existing AFMs and manually producing routine analysis and reports. To alleviate that issue, we designed our software to be modular and easily customizable."
Ardic Instruments, Taiwan, introduces the P300, a modular atomic force microscope that is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of resolutions, scan speeds, scan ranges, and budgets.
Continue reading
Metallisation’s ARC150 system provides 40% higher throughput
Source:
Metallisation Ltd., England, has launched the ARC150/S500-CL arcspray system, specifically designed for higher throughput with up to 500-amp capacity. The system is more flexible, with about 40% higher throughput than the current Metallisation 350 amp arcspray systems. The ARC150 pistol has improved airflow, which delivers a finer coating and optimized reliability at the higher spraying current. The contact tube arrangement is also a new design, which utilizes tubes with larger contact areas and replaceable contact tips.
The tips are made of a hard, wear-resistant material that aids the dissipation of heat build-up. It takes less than five minutes to change the contact tubes and air concentrator, which do not require adjustment once installed, saving further operator time.
The new S500-CL energizer features sealed electronics for reliable operation in the harshest of spray environments. It benefits from closed loop current control, enabling the operator to set the spray current before spraying commences. It also protects the system from spraying at currents higher than 500 amp. Metallisation specifically chose 500 amp, as opposed to 700 amp, as a manageable production rate to provide a balance between high throughput, system weight, and high-quality coatings. The energizer is PLC controlled by an industrial PLC unit, greatly reducing the number of electrical components and increasing reliability.
The push/pull drive system is based on the Metallisation patented ‘Synchrodrive' system and has a new, higher-capacity sealed motor and flexible drive arrangement, which allows wire feed up to a length of 20 meters. The new ARC150 provides a long reach with lightweight flexibility of the pistol and supplies, which delivers comfortable and productive working conditions for the operator.
The new ARC150 system is ideal for traditional, high throughput corrosion protection applications spraying 2.3/2.5mm zinc, aluminum, and alloys such as ZnAl 85/15. The 500-amp spraying capacity increases productivity for large areas by over 40% compared to 350A systems, while retaining its flexibility when spraying smaller or more complex areas.
www.metallisation.com
Metallisation Ltd., England, has launched the ARC150/S500-CL arcspray system, specifically designed for higher throughput with up to 500-amp capacity.
Continue reading
ASB upgrades its Impact Innovations cold spray system
Source:
ASB Industries, Barberton, Ohio, announces that it has upgraded its current Impact Innovations high pressure cold spray equipment to the most advanced system, which allows a wider variety of material spraying capabilities using nitrogen as the main process gas. The upgrade includes a maximum operating temperature of 2012°F, with maximum operating pressure of 725 psi, and the ability to connect several powder feeder units.
Other highlights of the upgrade include a network connection for the recording of process data, and recipe management at a central storage location. The system also includes an intuitive user interface for the operating and monitoring of all parameters that are process relevant. It provides visual presentation of all actuators, sensors, and process parameters, and all parameters are recorded. Its innovative heating concept with high energy density is combined with a compact design and low weight.
www.asbindustries.com
ASB Industries, Barberton, Ohio, announces that it has upgraded its current Impact Innovations high-pressure cold spray equipment to the most advanced system, which allows a wider variety of material spraying capabilities using nitrogen as the main process gas.
Continue reading 