System of single-piece flow case hardening for high volume production

Abstract

Purpose: Purpose of this paper is development of single-piece flow system to precision thermal treatment of parts of mechanical gear using a short-pulse low-pressure carburising technology (developed for a new large-chamber furnace). Design/methodology/approach: Sections of the article discuss the novel constructions of the device in which parts being carburised flow in a stream, as well as the low-pressure carburising experiment. Findings: The method has been found proper carburised layers on typical gear used in automotive industry. Research limitations/implications: The short-pulse low-pressure carburising technology needs further investigation to fully understand its all mechanisms. Practical implications: The device resulting from the experiment can be a fully robotised part of a production line which can be included in a system of automatic control of a production process. Originality/value: The device resulting from the experiment is only known solution on the world.