What makes the geometry of a part “complex”? With the increasing use of AM and 3D printing for parts along with typically complex parts, heat treaters in many industries must acquire the equipment and technical know-how for precise applications.
This Technical Tuesday article is compiled from Heat Treat Today articles and industry news releases. Email Bethany Leone at bethany@heattreattoday.com or click the Reader Feedback button below to chime in on the topic.
What Are Complex Geometries?
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Complex geometries in industrial parts are often defined by their intricate patterns and structures, which entail specialized heat treat processing. As Inductoheat describes in a case study with Stellantis, “Many times, complex geometries of components are linked to intricate hardness patterns and specific requirements for magnitude and distribution of residual stresses.”
Heat Treat Equipment for Processing Parts with Complex Geometries
Be it for highly customized medical implants or for engine components in the burgeoning electric vehicle industry, complex geometries need to heat treated carefully. Fasteners in the medical device industry can be quite intricate and susceptible to creep or other dimensional changes; one method heat treating these parts — particularly titanium alloy parts — would be in a vacuum furnace. In vacuum and in hot isostatic presses, the environment allows for complex geometries that are 3D printed to be made into a unified whole piece. “Heat conduction can be carefully monitored [in induction heating coils] to confirm that an overheat condition does not occur at the target temper areas,” making induction a key candidate for heat treating your parts with complex geometries (“Tempering: 4 Perspectives — Which makes sense for you?“). To accommodate the complexities of certain parts, designing an induction coil for the desired case hardening may entail simulation to “[predict] coil heating, which altogether results in a longer coil lifetime,” (“Simulation Software and 3D Printers Improve Copper Coils”). For more on induction coils, check out this article by Dr. Valery Rudnev.
Suffice it to say, there is a great diversity of heat treatment options to explore when it comes to identifying the appropriate equipment for your application.
What Processes Are Used in Heat Treating Complex Geometries?
Perhaps you have all of your equipment needs necessary for heat treating your parts with complex geometries. Are you completing your heat treat processing in the most technically sound manner? Check out the following excerpts that speak to processing complex geometries.
“[Forging] at elevated temperatures enables reaching high strains and forming complex geometries in a single stroke. Additionally, thermal and mechanical influence during the forging can lead to improving local mechanical properties and the quality of the resulting joining zone.” (“Thermomechanical Processing for Creating Bi-Metal Bearing Bushings“)
“In some cases, such attempts result in a component’s geometries that might be prone to cracking during heat treating or might be associated with excessive distortion . . . . The subject of induction hardening of complex geometry parts (including but not limited to gears, gear-like and shaft-like parts, raceways, camshafts, and other critical components) is also thoroughly discussed, describing inventions and innovations that have occurred in the last three to five years.” (“Heat Treat Training Benefits Stellantis“)
“LPC [low pressure carburizing] with gas quenching can be an attractive option for distortion prone complex geometries as the cooling rates are slower than oil quenching; however, given the slower cooling rate, it becomes very important to choose a higher alloyed steel that will achieve the desired hardness.” (“Elevate Your Knowledge: 5 Need-to-Know Case Hardening Processes“)
Complex Geometries In the News
See how your peers are solving complex geometries needs in these real-life partnerships with industry suppliers. From additive manufacturing (AM) and precision manufacturing parts to heat treat technology, maybe your company is next to leverage manufacturing equipment to “wow” the industry.
- “AM Heat Treat Solutions Expected From New Partnership“
- “Precision Parts Manufacturer Acquires 2 Suppliers of Medical Device Components“
- “ECG Technology Allows Robust Processing of Heat-Treated Steel“
