Article Reprints

THERMAL PROCESSING

2019

JUNE 2019

Just as with 3D printing, powder metal technology is struggling to find its way, while designers have looked for more efficient methods to produce gears and more complex shapes.

MAY 2019

Carburizing, case hardening and the general history of thermal processing. How did we get where we are today.

APR 2019

Process control is vital to heat treating

MAR 2019

The big gamble: Electric vehicles or bust

FEB 2019

Carburizing today: The secrets to predicting success

JAN 2019

Allocating space for case hardening furnaces

2018

SEP/OCT 2018

Lets hear it for welding

JUL/AUG 2018

Remembering old-school lab work is a blast from the past

MAY/JUNE 2018

Why Heat Treating Furnaces Look The Way They Do (Part 2)

MARCH/APRIL 2018

Why Heat Treating Furnaces Look The Way They Do (Part 1)

JAN/FEB 2018

(Hot Seat column) - Carbon: Essential Element or Too Much of a Good Thing

JAN/FEB 2018

(Technical article) - Cryogenic Process and Application to Ferrous Alloy

Thermal Processing-january/feb-2018 (PDF | 304.10 KB | eng-US )

2017

SEPT/OCT 2017

Atmosphere and vacuum heat treating will require specific equipment-operating and performance options.

MAY/JUNE 2017 

Material and Process Options for Vehicle Weight Reduction Are Available to Automobile Designers and Heat Treaters.

Thermal Processing-May/June 2017 (PDF | 155.99 KB | eng-US )

 MARCH/APRIL 2017

Why Heat Treating Furnaces Look The Way They Do (Part 1)

Thermal Processing-March/April 2017 (PDF | 477.04 KB | eng-US )

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

Heating element materials should beconsidered to achieve reliable performance for applications.

 2016

  FALL/WINTER 2016

  Furnace Doors: For proper seal and functionality, doors are the furnace's most critical component.

  SPRING/SUMMER 2016

 Stainless Steels: Understanding the properties, fatigue limits, and designations of stainless steels used in heat treatment processes can be helpful in selecting the right one for specific applications.

2015

FALL/WINTER 2015

While LPC with electric heating and HPGQ have won over many auto OEMs, oil LPC, oil-marquenching, and heating with natural gas can offer an effective, lower cost alternative for neutral hardening and carburizing. 

Thermal Processing-Fall/Winter 2015 (PDF | 563.16 KB | eng-US )

 SPRING/SUMMER 2015

Intensive quenching calls for very high cooling rates. (Part II)

THERMAL PROCESSING-SPRING/SUMMER 2015 (PDF | 140.26 KB | eng-US )

 2014

FALL/WINTER 2014

Intensive quenching calls for very high cooling rates. (Part I)

Thermal Processing-Fall/Winter 2014 (PDF | 169.48 KB | eng-US )

SPRING/SUMMER 2014

 Each furnace type requires a totally different maintenance mindset.

Thermal Processing-Spring/Summer 2014 (PDF | 105.89 KB | eng-US )

2013

THERMAL PROCESSING FALL/WINTER 2013

Carburizing's Influence on the Wear Performance of Steel

Thermal Processing Fall/Winter 2013 (PDF | 310.21 KB | eng-US )

THERMAL PROCESSING SPRING/SUMMER

Lighter Weight and Increased Fatigue Strength with ADI.

Thermal Processing Spring/Summer 2013 (PDF | 86.52 KB | eng-US )

 2012

THERMAL PROCESSING FALL NAVEMBER 2012

Future of heat treating of gears is similar to garage sale mentality.

Thermal Processing, Fall November 2012 (PDF | 310.21 KB | eng-US )

ASM INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES

2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

Pros and Cons of Various Automotive Materials and Hardening Pocesses

ASM International-September 2018 (PDF | 7.69 MB | eng-US )

GEAR SOLUTIONS

2015

JANUARY 2015

Heat treating is all about using the most cost-effective process.

Gear Solutions-January 2015 (PDF | 80.57 KB | eng-US )

FEBRUARY 2015

Vacuum pumps and nitrogen purge can equally achieve low ppm oxygen levels. However, pumps are slow to remove water vapor while an inert gas purge is time consuming.

MARCH 2015

Low-pressure carburizing (LPC) furnaces employ strategically positioned jets, and atmosphere furnaces must use the proper fan. However, all fans are not equally able to handle the task.

Gear Solutions-March 2015 (PDF | 81.28 KB | eng-US )

APRIL 2015

Heat treating—no matter the process—is an energy hog where three energy sources or utilities directly find application: natural gas, electricity and fuel oil.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-APRIL 2015 (PDF | 80.95 KB | eng-US )

MAY 2015

This month's column will focus on heat treating in the United States—where we have been and where we are going.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MAY 2015 (PDF | 82.09 KB | eng-US )

JUNE 2015

Critical and non-critical aspects of achieving expected results in heat treating processes—Endo carburizing.

This month's column will focus on heat treating in the United States—where we have been and where we are going.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JUNE 2015 (PDF | 80.38 KB | eng-US )

JULY 2015

Recent years have shown that metal alternatives - ceramics and ceramic composites - are achieving real-world applications in the automotive and aviation industries, and the potential for lightweight drivetrain applications can't be far behind.

AUGUST 2015

Copper brazing, in theory, is not a difficult process. However, proper braze joint fit-up, mesh belt furnaces using disassociated ammonia, and vacuum furnaces have their own important considerations.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-AUGUST 2015 (PDF | 102.24 KB | eng-US )

SEPTEMBER 2015

When troubleshooting heat treating furnaces and the processes they manage, two elements such as maintenance and the furnace’s historical results can be influential factors.

OCTOBER 2015

When troubleshooting heat treating furnaces and the processes they manage, two elements such as maintenance and the furnace’s historical results can be influential factors.

Gear Solutions-October 2015 (PDF | 96.62 KB | eng-US )

DECEMBER 2015

Convection Phase: Velocity, boundary layer, and turbulence in quenching have implications on heat transfer in batch and continuous furnaces.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-DECEMBER 2015 (PDF | 119.03 KB | eng-US )

2014

JANUARY 2014

From smaller cold formed steel, gears can be cold pressed into the final shape and size, teeth and all.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JANUARY 2014 (PDF | 66.60 KB | eng-US )

FEBRUARY 2014

Like any problem, a heat treating difficulty must be dissected into smaller parts.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-FEBRUARY 2014 (PDF | 74.54 KB | eng-US )

MARCH 2014

Heat treating is all about using the most cost-effective process.

APRIL 2014

Equipment hardware with nitrogen/methanol carburizing atmosphere and the necessary utility configurations.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-APRIL 2014 (PDF | 82.15 KB | eng-US )

MAY 2014

An accurate comparison between LPC/HPGQ and endo atmosphere carburizing cell.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MAY 2014 (PDF | 678.26 KB | eng-US )

JUNE 2014

Over the years, FNC and gas nitriding have been used in applications where reduced surface friction is a requirement, such as gears and brake motors.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JUNE 2014 (PDF | 64.70 KB | eng-US )

JULY 2014

Heat treating, carburizing and furnaces: how and why we arrived where we are today.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JULY 2014 (PDF | 67.66 KB | eng-US )

AUGUST 2014

An armchair guide for predicting results for LPC and atmosphere carburizing.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-AUGUST 2014 (PDF | 67.10 KB | eng-US )

SEPTEMBER 2014

Metallurgical and heat treat forensics play an important part in determining how and why parts fail.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-SEPTEMBER 2014 (PDF | 69.46 KB | eng-US )

OCTOBER 2014

Achieving modernization in carburizing and quenching requires an overhaul of load sizes and material handling.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-OCTOBER 2014 (PDF | 66.24 KB | eng-US )

DECEMBER 2014

How one morning car ride turned into an ethical dilemma over Jeep, and why heat-treating equipment suppliers are unclear as to what the future may hold.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-DECEMBER 2014 (PDF | 67.42 KB | eng-US )  

2013

JANUARY 2013

Gas and electricity are both viable energy sources for heating furnaces, but there are economic and energetic reasons to pick one over the other.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JANUARY 2013 (PDF | 65.21 KB | eng-US )

FEBRUARY 2013

As manufacturers of furnaces, we are obligated to make sure that all parties involved with installationare trained in the proper operating procedures.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-FEBRUARY 2013 (PDF | 49.50 KB | eng-US )

MARCH 2013

How to perfectly heat treat the gear that is smaller, thinner, finer pitch, with a ton of residual stress from machining and the ability to satisfy the cost constraints of a commercial orOEM heat treathas been the topic of conversation around the world.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MARCH 2013 (PDF | 53.75 KB | eng-US )

APRIL 2013

You can't open a technical journal or online magazine without someone opining about carburizing, quenching, nitriding, distortion control, and all of the pre- and post-processing required for a successful outcome.But one very important process has a major impact on that success:

Machining, or more specifically, the tools that make removing metal.

MAY 2013

A discussion of the 3D heat-treatment process called Direct Metal Laser Sintering.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MAY 2013 (PDF | 678.26 KB | eng-US )

JUNE 2013

One of the requirements depending on a gear's mass when HPGQ is considered is the hardenability of the steel.

JULY 2013

Each part of the heat treat process requires the parts to be arranged for maximum productivity and quality.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JULY 2013 (PDF | 166.53 KB | eng-US )

AUGUST 2013

Three barriers prevent the state of perfectly achieved heat treat evolution: material handling, energy source, and capital cost.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-AUGUST 2013 (PDF | 54.59 KB | eng-US )

SEPTEMBER 2013

One of the most critical functions of heat treating doesn't involve heat at all. Hardening ferrous alloys concerns the removal of heat at very precise schedules and heat transfer rates.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-SEPTEMBER 2013 (PDF | 94.03 KB | eng-US )

OCTOBER 2013

Nissan has announced that it will offer a driverless car in 2021. There is no doubt others are working on similar technology. Contributing to the effort, the European Union is debating implementing speed limit signs that signal cars to brake if they detect an offender. Similar ideas are being discussed in the U.S.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-OCTOBER 2013 (PDF | 77.84 KB | eng-US )

DECEMBER 2013

Powder metal gears can be carburized and quenched, with the alloy and size dictating the quenching process.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-DECEMBER 2013 (PDF | 88.19 KB | eng-US )

2012

JANUARY 2012

Catalytic Gas Nitriding, a process available in Russia for decades that has migrated to the United States, stands to alter our thinking of nitriding as a case hardening process.

FEBRUARY 2012

Other nitriding processes have been around for many years, but only the plasma process can come close to matching CGN's speed with equal or better controllability.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-FEBRUARY 2012 (PDF | 60.83 KB | eng-US )

MARCH 2012

For heat-treating applications such as carburizing and quenching gears, pusher furnaces by far outpace drivetrain carburizing when compared to all other furnace types.

APRIL 2012

Pusher furnaces have many advantages over others, as long as the handling system moving trays through the hot zone is properly designed. Remember the KISS principle!

GEAR SOLUTIONS-APRIL 2012 (PDF | 65.32 KB | eng-US )

MAY 2012

According to the author, for 24/7/365 carburizing compared to nitrogen methanol, generator created endo gas is a no-brainer.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MAY 2012 (PDF | 67.57 KB | eng-US )

JUNE 2012

Shallow case hardening in mesh belt and casst link belt furnaces is acceptable for small gears, shafts, screws and nuts when fixturing is not required.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JUNE 2012 (PDF | 74.36 KB | eng-US )

JULY 2012

With 91 percent of survey respondents saying they dunk quench in oil, why does LPC continue to be conducted in graphite lined furnaces?

AUGUST 2012

If you're considering bringing heat-treating in-house, first study existing outsource processes so transition is seamless.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-AUGUST 2012 (PDF | 50.29 KB | eng-US )

SEPTEMBER 2012

Orders are increasing for pusher furnaces for users planning to employ oil press quenching to control distortion.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-SEPTEMBER 2012 (PDF | 50.60 KB | eng-US )

OCTOBER 2012

Nitriding continues to gain market share as a case hardening process.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-OCTOBER 2012 (PDF | 59.99 KB | eng-US )

DECEMBER 2012

Common methods and processes for heat-treating equipment.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-DECEMBER 2012 (PDF | 52.45 KB | eng-US )

2011

JANUARY 2011

In applying heat-treat theory, understanding the reality of surface hardening equipment and processes is critical. Read on for important insights.>

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JANUARY 2011 (PDF | 92.50 KB | eng-US )

FEBRUARY 2011

When ionitriding was introduced to the United States, it was expected to be the eighth wonder of the heat-treating world. Here's the inside story.

MARCH 2011

Carburizing vs. nitriding—where does the future lie? An in-depth examination of each reveals the pros and cons, allowing you to choose the right process for your desired goal.

GEAR SOLUTIONS- MARCH 2011 (PDF | 58.76 KB | eng-US )

APRIL 2011

In response to an increased interest in high-pressure gas quenching (HPGQ), the author addresses the issue in this month's installment.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-APRIL 2011 (PDF | 104.38 KB | eng-US )

MAY 2011

When considering vacuum carburizing you should audit your post heat-treat processing cost to determine if the upfront capital, operating, and maintenance costs are worth it.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-MAY 2011 (PDF | 83.66 KB | eng-US )

JUNE 2011

In this installment of his column the author presents a discussion of the equipment used in the endo and low pressure carburizing processes.

JULY 2011

The author presents a comparison of the physical relationship between the process mechanics and the furnace design in transporting carburizing media to the target.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-JULY 2011 (PDF | 55.65 KB | eng-US )

AUGUST 2011

Heat treating has come a long way, but the heat treater, component manufacturer, and furnace supplier must still choose the most cost effective and application-appropriate process.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-AUGUST 2011 (PDF | 60.39 KB | eng-US )

SEPTEMBER 2011

Heat treaters of old were onto something, since they knew that the way to reduce distortion in steel was to heat and cool in steps. Read about how salt processing can save the day!

OCTOBER 2011

Thinking of bringing your heat-treat process in-house? It could save time and make you more competitive, but there are many factors to consider first.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-OCTOBER 2011 (PDF | 62.72 KB | eng-US )

DECEMBER 2011

What we need is a nitriding process combining the speed and control of plasma, but without the degree of difficulty. According to the author, stay tuned.

GEAR SOLUTIONS-DECEMBER 2011 (PDF | 55.19 KB | eng-US )

INDUSTRIAL  HEATING MAGAZINE

2016

2014

2009

First IQ Batch Furnace Certified to Carburize Wind Turbine Gears January 2009 (PDF | 577.28 KB | eng-US )