Not Too Much,
Not Too Little,
Heat Treat Just Right
By Matt Seebeck
Heat-treating is part of a multi-step manufacturing process
to get just the right shape, thickness, and hardness for
your metal part. Some people use a rough rule of thumb of
adding 20 thousandths (0.020") on each side of the part for
intermediate processing. Depending on variables such as
material type, part size, and final application, that may be
too much or too little. A part may grow or shrink during the
heat treat process and this too can affect material usage.
So how much intermediary volume should you allow?
We’ll answer your question with questions: What do you
want to achieve? What other machining operations are
required? What material are you using? Each material
has a unique set of properties, which influence the heat
treatment process. Tell us why you need to use that
material and we can help you determine how much waste
to allow for. Alternatively, we can recommend a different
material that may achieve your goals.
Whether annealing a drill bit to increase its ductility or
carburizing a part so that the outer layer is strong enough
to withstand repeated use, we love working with machinists
during the design phase, to help them meet the needs of
their clients. Whatever your project, a quick call to Qualtek
will help you determine specifications that save waste and
increase efficiency.