Heat Treating for Metal Forming
Forming is used to produce many high-strength, safety-critical components in near net shape, thereby minimizing the amount of secondary machining required to produce finished parts.
Quality Processing for Metal Formings
Consistent Surface Finish
Precision furnace controls that self-correct during processing, along with our automated part loading systems, help ensure that the appearance of your parts is predictable and consistent.
Preparation for Plating & Secondary Processing
Many formed parts require secondary machining or plating after heat treatment. Your subsequent operations will be set up for success with our consistent processing and cleaning.
Repeatable Results
The safety of end users and the future of your business rely on properly processed parts. We give you peace of mind that your parts meet specifications time after time with our automated furnace controls, advanced data collection capabilities, and strict quality control practices.
Flattening & Straightening
Metal stampings sometimes require flattening and straightening to ensure a correct fit or weld in the application. We offer mechanical straightening and hot flattening services in house to help simplify your supply chain and deliver your parts on time.
Formed Components We Process
- Stampings
- Seat belt assembly components
- Springs
- Clips
- Automotive braking components, brackets, and “J” clips
- Firearm components
- Agricultural components
- Fineblankings
- Transmission components
- Automotive seat assembly components
- Firearms components
- Drawing & extrusions
- Extrusions made with nonferrous materials such as aluminum and titanium
- Structural bolts
- Drawn sheet metal
- Drawn wire components
- Thread rolling
- Structural, higher end fasteners
- Aerospace fasteners
Metal Forming Techniques
Stamping & Fineblanking
Metal stamping is a cold-forming manufacturing process that converts sheet metal into shapes by exerting massive force with a stamping die. Fineblanking is a specialized metal stamping process that is used for parts that require characteristics such as flatness or a fully formed sheared edge. Gears, automotive transmission components, and firearms components are often produced using fineblanking.
Drawing & Extrusion
Drawing and extrusion are cold forming methods that create elongated grain structures in the resulting material. Drawing can refer to parts that are formed into a cup shape from sheet metal, or to components made by lengthening metal rod or wire through a piece of drawing equipment. Parts such as aircraft tubing are often made by extruding nonferrous materials.
Thread Rolling
Thread rolling is a deformative (not subractive or additive) metal forming process that yields stronger surface characteristics and high dimensional accuracy when compared to thread cutting or grinding. High demand applications such as aluminum aerospace fasteners and industrial structural fasteners are often produced with thread rolling.
Heat Treating Processes for Formed Parts
Carburizing
Carburizing is a case hardening method that is often specified for parts that are engaged in motion such as automotive seat recliners and parking brake ratchets. By diffusing carbon atoms into the surface of the steel, carburizing creates a hard outer layer on the part while preserving a softer, more ductile core. This enhances the toughness of parts that are often engaged against other components, thereby maximizing part life.
Carbonitriding
Also a case hardening process, carbonitriding provides extra wear resistance when compared to carburizing due to the addition of nitrogen in the case structure. It is often used to elicit a better heat treatment response from less hardenable alloys.
Through Hardening
Formed parts that require high overall strength are typically heat treated using a through hardening (also known as neutral hardening) process. Structural components, brackets, and automotive seat belt assembly components such as belt-buckle tongues are usually processed by through hardening.
Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC)
Ferritic nitrocarburizing is a case hardening process that lends extra wear and corrosion resistance to parts while preventing distortion during heat treatment since it is carried out at lower temperatures when compared to carburizing and carbonitriding. FNC is used for many formed automotive transmission components.
Carburizing
Carburizing is a case hardening method that is often specified for parts that are engaged in motion such as automotive seat recliners and parking brake ratchets. By diffusing carbon atoms into the surface of the steel, carburizing creates a hard outer layer on the part while preserving a softer, more ductile core. This enhances the toughness of parts that are often engaged against other components, thereby maximizing part life.
Carbonitriding
Also a case hardening process, carbonitriding provides extra wear resistance when compared to carburizing due to the addition of nitrogen in the case structure. It is often used to elicit a better heat treatment response from less hardenable alloys.
Through Hardening
Formed parts that require high overall strength are typically heat treated using a through hardening (also known as neutral hardening) process. Structural components, brackets, and automotive seat belt assembly components such as belt-buckle tongues are usually processed by through hardening.
Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC)
Ferritic nitrocarburizing is a case hardening process that lends extra wear and corrosion resistance to parts while preventing distortion during heat treatment since it is carried out at lower temperatures when compared to carburizing and carbonitriding. FNC is used for many formed automotive transmission components.
Materials Used in Forming
Paulo, we encounter carbon steels and some boron steels when working with formed components. We’re also familiar with heat treating nonferrous materials such as aluminum and titanium extrusions. Here are a few of the most common materials we process for metal formings.
- 1010, 1018, and 1020
- 10B21
- 8620
- 4130
Metallurgy Support for Formings
Are you struggling to achieve the heat treatment results you need for your stampings, fineblankings, or other formed metal components? Our metallurgy team is here to help. We can help find solutions for your heat treating headaches. Connect with a Paulo expert today and let’s discuss your challenges!
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