This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Matrices de conformado para el futuro con aceros del último generación

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Comegal uses steels pretreated Toolox to avoid cracks and deformation in their arrays

Arrays of conformed to the future with the last generation steels

Source: ssab-toolox17/12/2010

December 17, 2010

The world of the manufacture of dies for deformation of sheet metal is in the process of change. The sets of pieces to be manufactured are increasingly short and the final models change very often. The use of high yield strength to form sheets has increased considerably, due to the importance of weight in the final product. Greater flexibility is needed at the time that requires a higher quality of the pieces end, the surface quality of the piece to be a very important factor. We are in an increasingly competitive market with a high demand for low manufacturing costs and some higher requirements in the final quality.

Working in an automated environment the reliability of the matrices is essential, steels used in the matrix are by nature very fragile, and the risk of cracks is high. These steels come from a global market to be supplied under a rule that defines a chemical composition very little detailed, without knowing the manufacturer and its quality control, it is impossible to be able to rely on the performance of the steel.

In parts of the matrix where it is needed of high mechanical strength steels, Comegal employs different hardnesses mechanical needs already pretreated steels.

Pretreatment with nitriding

It has been that the way to manufacture the dies can be improved. The quenching and tempering needed to achieve a sufficient mechanical strength means loss of time and makes it necessary to machine the parts after the temple. The company buildings mechanics of Galicia (Comegal), aware of these problems has changed their way of making their arrays. In parts of the matrix where steels of high mechanical resistance is required, Comegal employs different hardnesses mechanical needs already pretreated steels. It is common to use nitriding or other surface treatments such as developing countries.

With this way of working problems of deformation and mechanization after the temple are avoided. Low temperature nitriding is made which does not affect the properties of the steel as it happens in a temple and traditional annealing. Another positive effect of nitriding is that it improves the surface of the matrix to improve the conditions of friction. As pre-treated steel, Comegal most frequently used steel Toolox, manufactured in the SSAB Swedish steel company.

Low temperature nitriding is made which does not affect the properties of the steel as it happens in a temple and traditional annealing.

SSAB is a leading company specializing in high resistance steels used in applications of high responsibility. The company carries out a quality control in each of the plates made of Toolox. After heat treatment, becomes a control of ultrasonic and guarantees its hardness, resilience and characteristics of machining and homogeneity. It's a difference from traditional steels, which are normally supplied under a chemical specification. In addition to the unique quality control, Toolox has technical advantages as a easier for machining, inclusions of very low level and a minimum standard of residual stresses.

Comegal uses these advantages in their arrays. As confirmed by Emilio, head of Comegal workshop: "We have seen that our tools wear has fallen significantly, around 30%." Also the surface of the pieces is very important for our customers, especially in the deformation of stainless sheets. "We have been able to achieve very high quality finishing in the pieces that we have made of Toolox." Comegal using Toolox for matrices of both aluminum and alloyed and stainless steel stamping.

In images, you can see an example of a matrix entirely made of Toolox 33 with a treatment of carbonitriding. Shaped parts have been cut by plasma, much more efficiently by comparing with the alternative of machining square piece. In matrix form sheets of 1.5 millimeters of aluminum. The speed of manufacture is not very high, with a time of manufacturing around 20 to 30 seconds per piece, but the matrix had to be made a matter of urgency, which makes it even more interesting to work with a pretratado like Toolox.

For the supply of Toolox steels, Comegal relies on service industries trimming company, distributor of steel firm SSAB. Industries trimming provides cutting by plasma, oxyfuel, by water and cut by sierra for this type of steel.