Replacement of Case Hardening of Gearing Components by Induction Surface Hardening With the Eldec SDF~R Method

摘要

For decades, induction surface hardening has been the established method of manufacturing in various fields of the automotive industry. It offers significant advantages over thermo-chemical processes such as carburizing. However, with respect to gears and their teeth construction, it was not possible with the traditional induction hardening method because complex surface structures could not be surface hardened in a true contour way. In order to harden gears or other parts with irregular shapes by the induction surface hardening method, a new technology had to be developed. This new process (the eldec-SDF~→-Method, Patent No. EP 136 3474) operates simultaneously with medium and high frequencies, instead of using only one, as it has been the practice until now. This new process allows true contour surface hardening of gears in less than half a second and since only the surface is heat-treated for hardening, a comparatively low energy input is required.