EXTRUDE HONE(TM) Products Helps Global Hydraulic Component Leader Keep in Front
Proprietary thermal energy technology key to improved quality
New P400 TEM machine from Kennametal Extrude Hone.
Manufacturers and quality professionals requiring high-precision components for automotive, aerospace, energy, medical, and other industries know that removing particles from intersected holes and ensuring no micro-contamination is an ongoing challenge. Customized complex valves, gears, pinions, and thousands of other components can be machined in seconds, but require minutes to finish completely. The results are production bottlenecks, increased costs, and longer time to market.
Proprietary technologies such as TEM (thermal energy machining) from Kennametal are solving increasingly complex finishing challenges faced by manufacturers around the world. Danfoss Power Solutions (Ames, Iowa USA) is a global company focused on fulfilling the needs of off-highway vehicle manufacturers with engineered hydraulic and electronic components. "We manufacture hydraulic manifolds for hydrostatic pumps, a high-volume component," says Lubos Hanulik, Operation Manager, Danfoss Power Solutions. "We use TEM for burr removal on intersected holes, cross-sectional holes from previous machining operations."
After much investigation, the company chose Kennametal EXTRUDE HONE™ TEM (thermal energy method) solution. A pressurized mixture of a combustible gas and oxygen is injected at 5 to 10 atmospheres of pressure into a containment chamber sized both by the amount of material to be removed and the volume of parts in the chamber. An ignition system ignites the gas mixture, releasing heat energy from the oxidation of fuel in a 20-millisecond, high-speed energy wave. With their raised surface areas and thin cross-section features, even internal burrs and flashings burn away instantly. Because the gas mixture engulfs the entire workpiece, all internal and external surfaces are exposed to the rapid oxidation. Internal cross-drilled holes and intersecting edges that are difficult or impossible to reach are instantly processed.
"There have been hundreds of installations and continued refinement of our EXTRUDE HONE™ TEM equipment and process," says Bruno Boutantin, global marketing manager at Kennametal Precision Surface Solutions. "One factor remains constant: TEM is a rapid, low-cost, high-production process that can process a million or more parts per year by a single machine."
"If machining process is under control (tool life management is very critical and control of burr size is important too) TEM process with washing will give you the best process reliability and repeatability. High-pressure waterjet did not provide this value," Hanulik says. "Combining TEM and post washing provided us a more consistent and reliable process, significant improvement of productivity, and increased overall safety. All of this has been achieved with fully automated robotic integration."
Combining vast experience gathered over more than five decades with worldwide application knowhow, Kennametal Precision Surface Solutions offers proven solutions to many companies working in most demanding environments. Technical Centers and Centers of Excellence ensure close customer association in all critical steps — from the early design phases by producing small batches of components for prototyping through supporting the ramping stage in our contract shops prior to the final delivery of state-of-the-art equipment.
Completely removing burrs from intersecting holes is critical to the performance of hydraulic manifolds. TEM gave Danfoss Power Solutions a significant quality and productivity boost.
Celebrating more than 75 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments. The company provides innovative wear-resistant products, application engineering and services backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40% globally from innovations introduced in the past five years. Recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" (Ethisphere); "Outstanding Corporate Innovator" (Product Development Management Association); and "America's Safest Companies" (EHS Today) with a focus on 100% safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kennametal.com.
Kennametal Inc.
1600 Technology Way
PO Box 231
Latrobe, PA 15650-0231
USA
LINDEN Kathy
Phone : 724 539 5698
Fax : 724 539 6766
kathy.linden@kennametal.com
Kennametal Inc.
1600 Technology Way
PO Box 231
Latrobe, PA 15650-0231
USA
GROMOLL Carsten
Phone : +1 724 539 8033
carsten.gromoll@kennametal.com
