Precision components such as industrial bearing races and automotive gears often distort unpredictably during heat treatment due to the deleterious effects of free or unconstrained oil quenching. Press quenching is a method that can be utilized to minimize the distortion of these complex components during heat treatment. This is accomplished in a quenching machine by utilizing specialized tooling for generating concentrated forces to constrain the movement of the component during oil quenching. When performed correctly, this method of quenching can often achieve the relatively stringent geometrical requirements stipulated by industrial manufacturing specifications. It can be performed on a wide variety of steel alloys. These include high carbon through-hardening grades such as AISI 52100 and A2 tool steel, as well as low carbon carburizing grades such as AISI 3310, 8620, and 9310. The relevant aspects of this specialized quenching technique will be presented together with a case study of the effects of prior thermal history on the distortion that is generated during press quenching.
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