Short Method Of Treatment

: HEAT TREATMENT OF STEEL
: The Working Of Steel

In the new method, the packed pots are

run into the case-hardening furnaces, which are heated to 1,600 deg.F.

On the insertion of the cold pots, the temperature naturally falls.

The amount of this fall is dependent upon a number of variables,

but it averages nearly 500 deg.F. as shown in the pyrometer chart,

Fig. 61. The work and furnace must be brought to 1,600 deg.F. Within

2-1/2 hr.; otherwise, a longer time will be
necessary to obtain

the desired depth of case. On this work, the depth of case required

is designated in thousandths, and on crown gears, the depth in

0.028 in. Having brought the work to a temperature of 1,600 deg.F.

the depth of case mentioned can be obtained in about 5-1/2 hr. by

maintaining this temperature.



As stated before, at the top of each pot are several test pieces

consisting of a whole scrap gear and several sections. After the

pots have been heated at 1,600 deg.F. for about 5-1/4 hr., they are

removed, and a scrap-section test-piece is quenched direct from

the pot in mineral oil at not more than 100 deg.F. The end of a tooth

of this is then ground and etched to ascertain the depth of case.

As these test pieces are of exactly the same cross-section as the

gears themselves, the carburizing action is similar. When the depth

of case has been found from the etched test pieces to be satisfactory,

the pots are removed. The iron ball then is dropped into the tube

to seal the hole in the bottom of the pot; the cover and the tube

are removed, and the gears quenched direct from the pot in mineral

oil, which is kept at a temperature not higher than 100 deg.F.



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