Heat treatment of metal

Heat treatment of metal 

  Precision CNC machining parts The generally accepted definition for heat treating metals and metal alloys is “heating and cooling a solid metal or alloy in a way so as to obtain specific conditions or properties.” Heating for the sole purpose of hot working (as in forging operations) is excluded from this definition．Likewise，the types of heat treatment that are sometimes used for products such as glass or plastics are also excluded from coverage by this definition．

 Transformation Curves 

 Precision CNC machining parts The basis for heat treatment is the time-temperature-transformation curves or TTT curves where，in a single diagram all the three parameters are plotted．Because of the shape of the curves，they are also sometimes called C-curves or S-curves．

 To plot TTT curves，the particular steel is held at a given temperature and the structure is examined at predetermined intervals to record the amount of transformation taken place．It is known that the eutectoid steel (T80) under equilibrium conditions contains，all austenite above 723℃，whereas below，it is the pearlite．To form pearlite，the carbon atoms should diffuse to form cementite．The diffusion being a rate process，would require sufficient time for complete transformation of austenite to pearlite．From different samples，it is possible to note the amount of the transformation taking place at any temperature．These points are then plotted on a graph with time and temperature as the axes．Through these points，transformation curves can be plotted as shown in Fig.1 for eutectoid steel． Precision CNC machining parts The curve at extreme left represents the time required for the transformation of austenite to pearlite to start at any given temperature．Similarly，the curve at extreme right represents the time required for completing the transformation．Between the two curves are the points representing partial transformation. The horizontal lines Ms and Mf represent the start and finish of martensitic transformation.

  

Drilling and Milling Machines

Drilling and Milling Machines 

      Precision CNC machining parts Upright drilling machines or drill presses are available in a variety of sizes and types, and are equipped with a sufficient range of apindle speeds and automatic feeds to fit the neds of most industries. Speed ranges on a typical machine are from 76 to 2025 rpm., with drill feed from 0.002 to 0.020 in.per revolution of the spindle.   

  Radial drilling machines are used to drill workpieces that are too large or cumbersome to conveniently move. The spindle with the speed and feed changing mechanism is mounted on the radial arm; by combining the movement of the radial arm around column and the movement of the spindle assembly along the arm, it is possible to align the spindle and the drill to any position within reach of the machine. For work that is too large to conveniently support on the base, the spindle assembly can be swung out over the floor and the workpiece set on the beside the machine.    

 Plain radial drilling machines provide only for vertical movement of the spindle; universal machines allow the spindle to swivel about an axis normal to the radial arm and the radial arm to rotate about a horizontal axis, thus permitting drilling at any angle. 

 A multispindle drilling machine has one or more heads that drive the spindles through universal joints and telescoping splined shafts. All spindles are usually driven by the same motor and fed simultaneously to drill the desired number of holes. In most machines each spindle is held in an adjustable plate so that it can be moved relative to the others. The area covered by adjacent spindles overlap so that the machine can be set to drill holes at any location within its range. 

   Precision CNC machining parts The milling operation involves metal removal with a rotating cutter. It includes removal of metal from the surface of a workspiece, enlarging holes, and form cutting, such as threads and gear teeth. 

Within an knee and column type of milling machine the column is the main supporting member for the other components, and includes the base containing the drive motor, the spindle, and the cutters. The cutter is mounted on an arbor held in the spindle, and supported on its outer extremity by a bearing in the overarm. The knee is held on the column in dovetail slots, the saddle is fastened to the knee in dovetail slots, and the table is attached to the saddle. Thus, the build-up the knee and column machine provides three motions relative to the cutter. A four motion may be provided by swiveling the table around a vertical axis provided on the saddle. 

 Precision CNC machining partsFixed-bed milling machines are designed to provide more rigidity than the knee and column type. The table is mounted directly on the machine base, which provides the rigidity necessary for absorbing heavy cutting load, and allows only longitudinal motion to the table. Vertical motion is obtained by moving the entire cutting head.   

  Tracer milling is characterized by coordinated or synchronized movements of either the paths of the cutter and tracing elements, or the paths of the workpiece and model. In a typical tracer mill the tracing finger follow the shape of the master pattern, and the cutter heads duplicate the tracer motion.