FLAME HARDENING
Process of Flame Hardening 4140 & Other Steel Grades of Machined Parts and Stampings
Flame hardening sometimes begins with a preheat operation depending on the alloy and degree of machining. Below is an outline of the process that follows thereafter:
- The component is fixtured to the spin table and torch heads are adjusted to ensure proper positioning.
- The torches are ignited, and the part surface is heated to the desired temperature and automatically quenched in agitated polymer solution for a pre-set time.
- The part is then immediately transferred to tempering where it is drawn back to the desired hardness range.
- The Spin Flame Hardening process produces a hardened case layer on the material in the heat affected zone. The core of the gear remains relatively unheated and ductile.
- This process provides a strong wear surface on the flame hardened area and may allow for machined parts to be made from less expensive alloys in cases where through hardening is not required.
- Flame hardening can also reduce overall component distortion as only the critical wear surface needs to be heated as opposed to the entire part when using other quench and temper processes.
ThermTech - Capable of Providing Superior Flame Hardening Solutions
- ThermTech performs Spin Flame hardening on a fully automated flame table equipped with infrared temperature control, ensuring that the material is fully and uniformly heated prior to quenching.
- This also allows for more precise control of the hardened case depth from part to part and prevents over or under heating of the material which can cause detrimental properties in-use.
- ThermTech has the ability to custom-design tooling for any flame-hardening job, especially in cases with unique part geometry.
- Please be aware that if necessary, it will add 2-4 weeks of processing time depending on the exact design needed.
- ThermTech can spin flame harden almost any alloy grade as the concentration of the polymer quench system can be change d to suit the needs of the particular alloy grade and part configuration that is in process.
Recommendations for the Flame Hardening Process
ThermTech offers spin flame hardening for components up to a maximum weight of 2,500 pounds with a 45” max OD. ThermTech’s spin flame hardening processes span a wide range of materials, but the following are the most common:
- Flame Hardening 4140 Steel
- Flame Hardening 4150 Steel
- Flame Hardening 1045 Steel
- Flame Hardening 1060 Steel
- Flame Hardening Ductile Cast Iron (DCI)
Flame hardening is a good processing option for:
- Very large gears or machined components that may be impractical to perform a whole-part quench and temper or carburizing process on.
- Cases of very tight dimensional tolerances, as the smaller heated area will result in less distortion.
- Cases when hardness is required on a small segment or particular surface of the gear.
It is strongly suggested that all spin flame hardening jobs go through the formal quoting process to ensure all aspects of the job can be performed to your satisfaction.
FLAME HARDENING GEARS
Gear Flame Hardening for Various Steel Grades
The flame hardening process produces a hardened case layer on the gear in the heat affected zone. The core of the gear remains relatively unheated and ductile. This process provides a strong wear surface on the flame hardened area and may allow for gears to be made from less expensive alloys in cases where through hardening is not required.
ThermTech’s Capabilities for Flame Hardening Gears
- All flame hardening of gears is performed on ThermTech’s fully automated flame table equipped with infrared temperature control, ensuring that the gear is fully and uniformly heated prior to quenching.
- This allows for more precise control of the hardened case depth from part to part.
- ThermTech also has the ability to custom-design tooling for any flame-hardening job, especially in cases with unique part geometry. Please be aware that if this is necessary, it will add 2-4 weeks depending on the exact design needed.
Recommendations for Flame Hardening Applications
ThermTech offers flame hardening of gears for components up to 45” in diameter & a max weight of 2,500 lbs. Our flame hardening processes span a wide range of gear alloys, including the following:
- Flame Hardening 1045 Gears
- Flame Hardening 1060 Gears
- Flame Hardening 4140 Gears
- Flame Hardening 4340 Gears
Flame hardening is a good processing option for:
- Very large gears that may be impractical to perform a whole-part quench and temper or carburizing process on.
- Cases of very tight dimensional tolerances, as the smaller heated area may result in less distortion.
- Cases when hardness is required on a small segment or particular surface of the gear.
It is strongly suggested that all flame hardening jobs go through the formal quoting process to ensure all aspects of the job can be performed to your complete satisfaction.
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