Rolls, extruder screws, and broaching tools are all characterized by a wide variety of stress ranges with very specific mechanical properties. In order to set the desired individual characteristics, the corresponding areas must be tempered separately.
For example, the tool surfaces used for power transmission are exposed to greater torsional forces and highly dynamic stresses, so require special toughness. Due to intense wear, other work areas require more strength. A sophisticated technology is required to achieve the correct precise properties in a targeted, safe, and environmentally friendly manner.
“This is exactly what our fluidized bed systems offer,” said heat-treatment expert Andreas Guderjahn from SCHWING Technologies. “High-temperature uniformity is their particular advantage. In addition, they offer the best heat transfer properties and are characterized by particularly homogeneous heat distribution.”
Rolls, extruder screws, and broaching tools can easily be immersed in the fluidized bed with the tool end or shank to be tempered. SCHWING systems ensure consistent quality. Further advantages for customers are the short process times and the flexible loading options. In contrast to the induction process, for example, in which individual inductors must be used, parts of different shapes and dimensions can be processed in one single fluidized bed.
SCHWING systems guarantee the highest temperature accuracy across the workpiece and reproducibility of each individual process.
SSC Werkstofftechnik GmbH, based in Lüdenscheid, benefits from this. The company has been working with fluidized bed systems from SCHWING for several years. Dirk Pritschke is managing director of SSC and particularly appreciates the fact that he can partially temper his customers’ rolls at the desired temperature within a very short time.
“It is important for us that the quality is right and that we as a service provider can work quickly and precisely and react flexibly,” said Pritschke. “This is why we are convinced by SCHWING’s fluidized bed technology.”
The systems are indirectly heated by electric heaters and can be used over a wide temperature range, from room temperature to 1,050°C. Fine-grained aluminum oxide is fluidized with compressed air or other gas in a process chamber resulting in a fluidized bed that is not only highly thermally conductive, but also has a special heat capacity due to its mass.
“The rolls can easily be immersed in the fluidized bed. We can then treat them very precisely at the desired temperature. The process can be carried out quickly and the results can be reproduced at any time,” said Pritschke.
Further advantages are energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of the space-saving systems. In addition, they are safer than salt baths and don’t pose health risks.
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