11,000 LB Weldment Heat Treated
Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, PA, recently heat treated two 4140 (chromium molybdenum) steel weldments, each weighing 11,000 lbs. Using a 12 foot long horizontal loading Solar Manufacturing furnace with a 50,000 lb. capacity, Solar normalized and tempered the weldments to achieve specific yield strength, while minimizing distortion, through controlled heating and cooling.
The weldment dimensions were, 54 x 34 x 84 inches, with section thicknesses ranging from 2 to 6 inches. The configuration required vacuum thermal processing in order to prevent structural cracking. Critical to this goal, Solar strategically placed six workload thermocouples in the various weldments sections. Uniform heat up of the large part was accomplished with strategically planned pre-heat steps, a uniform soak at temperature, and a controlled 2 bar quench.
Tri Kris Fabrication, Lansdale, PA, was very pleased with the heat treating and will process more weldments of this type at Solar. The part is a component in a large tensile testing machine that tests braided steel cable for shipbuilding applications.
Contact Name: Bob Lacock
Title: marketing manager
E-mail: rdl@solaratm.com
URL: www.solaratm.com
