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Stress Ball - a component journey
Ball Studs
Used in virtually every automobile made, ball studs are located within the ball joints in a vehicle’s steering system, between the wheels and suspension, allowing rotating movement - similar to the way a human hip joint works. Because of their function and position within the vehicle, they must be extremely strong, corrosion resistant and able to cope with weight and stress. Their effective operation is critical to the safety of the vehicle and, therefore, the driver. Bodycote’s proprietary Corr-I-Dur® process ensures the parts achieve the necessary material properties.
The extruder screw begins life as forged steel bar.
The bar requires cladding to add a layer of wear resistant material. This material will be produced from high quality steel powder.
An empty cylindrical steel capsule is manufactured. The steel bar is placed into the centre and the free volume is filled with metal powder.
The capsule is HIPed using high temperature and pressure, fully densifying the powder metal and bonding it to the steel bar, creating a coating (cladding).
The part next undergoes heat treatment to achieve full material properties and improve the microstructural characteristics of the component if needed.
The finished screw is hardened and tempered using a thermal cycle engineered to allow the material to retain toughness whilst allowing optimum hardness characteristics in the (clad) surface.
End application - plastic extrusion equipment.
Bodycote component journeys
This is just one example of how Bodycote brings together the huge wealth of knowledge and expertise from across the Group to provide the vital engineering services our customers need.
For more component journeys visit www.bodycote.com
Denotes the parts of the component journey undertaken by Bodycote