INDUCTION HARDENING OF SHAFTS AND SHAFT-LIKE COMPONENTS

This presentation reviews selected innovative technologies related to induction hardening of various automotive powertrain components, including induction surface hardening of complex geometry shafts. Thanks to several recently developed advanced technologies (patented and patent pending), important goals were achieved. Process flexibility in shaft scan hardening has been substantially enhanced thanks to a novel inverter design that allows controlling instantly and independently both: power and frequency during scanning operation. This innovation allows improving quality of induction hardened components maximizing production rate, process flexibility and measurably improving quality of heat treating. Other innovation is related to a single-shot hardening of shaft-like components, including but not limiting to induction surface hardening of output shafts, flanged shafts, yoke shafts, sun shafts, intermediate shafts, drive shafts, and others. Novel single-shot inductor design (patent-pending) allows increasing inductor life expectancy approximately NINE times. Process sensitivity has been dramatically reduced. Other benefits include measurable improvement in process robustness, coil reliability and maintainability.