FAQ

Induction hardening can generally be performed on steels with a minimum carbon content of around 0.3 %. However, it also depends on the structural properties of the material and the required hardness.

Laser hardening can be used selectively on very small areas and only produces a thin hardened layer. Moreover, because the components cool down by self-quenching, they remain clean. Laser hardening can also be carried out in an inert atmosphere to keep the parts almost entirely scale-free.

Laser hardening is a type of surface hardening process that uses a laser beam to heat the surface of the material. The hardening depth can be kept very low, which minimises distortion and makes the process suitable for hard-to-reach places like small blind holes.

This is a low-distortion hardening process for parts such as rotor shafts (internal and external hardening) and ring gears. Thanks to the level of dimensional accuracy achieved, the parts require little or no rework. With this type of precision hardening we can work to tolerances of just 10–20 μm, often eliminating the need for costly rework.

This is a hardening process whereby oxygen from the air is kept away from the area being hardened to prevent scaling. This is done by blowing an inert gas onto the workpiece or filling the entire machine or chamber with the gas. Performing hardening in an inert atmosphere usually eliminates the need for costly rework.

During fixture quenching, components are restrained between dies to control their shape and dimensions. At Rieker we use the terms fixture quenching, press quenching and die quenching interchangeably.

The surface hardness defines how hard a surface is. It clearly defines the required properties of a finished workpiece. The characteristics of the induction-hardened surfaces must also be taken into account.

The Surface Hardening Depth (SHD) is the depth of the hardened layer. The hardening depth is calculated based on the hardness limit.

Die quenching is a hardening process that ensures a very high level of dimensional accuracy. It is also referred to as press quenching or fixture quenching. The workpiece dimensions can also be controlled by adjusting the process parameters. With die quenching, the hardened parts are almost exactly the required shape and size, reducing – or even eliminating – the need for rework.

Press quenching involves hardening components while they are restrained in a fixture or press. This process is sometimes known as die quenching, but here at Rieker, we refer to it as press quenching.