Understanding Hard Machining Services
29 June 2020Hard machining is usually exclusive for machining parts that exceeds the hardness level of 45 HRC. More often than not, parts ranging from 58-68 HRC are the ones that require hard machining services. They usually make use of work piece materials such as hardened alloy steels, tool steels, case-hardened steels, superalloys, nitrided irons and hard-chrome-coated steels, and heat-treated powder metallurgical parts. Afterwards, it undergoes a finishing or semi-finishing process that ensures high dimensions, form, and surface finish accuracy. Read on below to understand hard machining services.
Hard Machining Services Overview
After its invention in the mid 1980’s, hard machining services has significantly improved in its various machining operations. Milling, boring, broaching, hobbling and many other process have evolved into advanced processes with the aid of technology. Improvements in the suitable rigid machine tools, super hard cutting tool materials, special tool and tool-holder designs, and complete setups enabled a widespread accessibility of hardened parts metal cutting for almost every machine shop. In the past, the method by which a hardened steel part is finished is through grinding. However, the use of cutting tool to machine hard parts was proven to be more beneficial. This gave way for other applications to be used in a non-conventional way, particularly turning, boring, and milling processes.
The first hard machining service – hard turning – was mainly used in the automotive industry. This process is intended to improve the manufacturing and production of transmission components. The most common example for such is the gear-wheel bearing surfaces. Initially, gear-wheel bearing surfaces were grinded but later on hard machining services took over – utilising polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) inserts for its machining.
Hard Machining Services Applications
Hard machining services are typically used in machining components with material properties such as gears, axles, arbours, camshafts, cardan joints, driving pinions, and link components. The finished products are normally used for transportation and energy-related materials. Hard machining services also plays an important role in the general mechanical engineering sphere. Hard machining services are widespread across the world in different industries.
Nowadays, hard machining services have become a dependable alternative to operations that would require grinding operations. However, there remains several industries that operate with grinding services and hard machining services hand in hand. In fact, upgrades in hard machining engines incorporated grinding spindles for better efficiency.
Hard Machining Services Benefits
Many sources and experts claimed that hard machining services are beneficial methods of creating components that are necessary for several industries. For them, hard machining services are adaptable to complex part contours. Aside from that, they also accommodate quick changes between component types. Hard machining services can also handle several operations performed in a single setup. They also have a high metal-removal rate and low machine tool investment. Moreover, they can have the same computer numerical control (CNC) lather with soft turning.
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