Precision Measurement and Modeling of Quenching-Tempering Distortion in Low-Alloy Steel Components with Internal Threads

Abstract

Distortion resulting from heat treatment may cause serious problems for precision parts. A precision component made from 30CrNi3Mo steel with internal threads distorts slightly after quenching-tempering treatment. Such a small distortion results in serious difficulties in the subsequent assembly process. The distortion of the internal thread was measured using semi-destructive testing with video measuring system. Periodic wavy distortions emerged in the internal threads after heat treatment. Then both XRD analysis and hardness testing were conducted. A numerical simulation of the complete quenching-tempering process was conducted by DANTE, which is a set of user subroutines that link into the ABAQUS/STD solver. The results from the simulations are in good agreement with the measurement in distortion, microstructure field, and hardness. The effects of the technological parameters including quenchant, immersion orientation, and grooves were discussed on the basis of the simulation results. Finally, strategies to significantly decrease distortion and residual stress are proposed.

Simulation and Experimental Verification of Die Quenching Deformation of Aviation Carburized Face Gear

“…Wang et al [ 5 ] optimized the heat treatment process route, reducing the quenching temperature to effectively reduce the axial and radial deformations of the face gear. Immersion orientations would also affect the quenching deformations of the workpieces, where the deformation of the larger end immersion is smaller than that of the smaller end immersion, which is consistent with the orientation effect observed in actual production [ 6 , 7 ]. Dybowski et al [ 8 ] optimized the heat treatment process by changing the quenching method.…”