Acetylene LPC processing is good news for gear manufacturers

Bodycote has recently added acetylene gas as an alternative to propane for low pressure carburizing at its Livonia, Michigan plant. Acetylene offers many advantages including uniform carburizing of dense loads, blind holes and small parts that may have part-to-part contact.

Biji George, General Manager of the Livonia plant, said: “Acetylene allows us to achieve exceptional case depth uniformity for gears. We typically see less than a 20% difference from pitch to root for case depths. In addition to higher hardness deeper into the carburized case depth, acetylene offers the flexibility to carburize blind holes and parts with unusual geometries.” The plant continues to offer propane as an alternative carburizing gas.

Low pressure carburizing offers a range of advantages over traditional atmosphere processes, including improved fatigue resistance, part distortion control, uniform case depth and zero surface oxidation.

Bodycote Livonia carburizes and neutral hardens gears, shafts and stampings for automotive engines, transmission and drivelines. The plant has two automated furnace lines utilizing high pressure nitrogen gas to quench loads up to 1100 pounds (500 kg). Pressures up to 20 bar are coupled with variable speed and variable pressure controls to minimize dimensional movement while achieving improved metallurgical properties. Case depths up to 2mm are routinely accomplished.