THERE IS A NATIONAL NEED FOR A LOW CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND LOW OPERATING COST SURFACE HARDENING PROCESS AS COMPARED TO LASER, ELECTRON BEAM, AND INDUCTION HARDENING.

THERE IS A NATIONAL NEED FOR A LOW CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND LOW OPERATING COST SURFACE HARDENING PROCESS AS COMPARED TO LASER, ELECTRON BEAM, AND INDUCTION HARDENING. BY LOWERING THE COST OF SURFACE HARDENING MORE PARTS THAT WEAR OUT DUE TO FRICTION CAN BE SURFACED HARDENED TO INCREASE THEIR USEFUL LIFE. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO MAKE INNOVATIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO PLASMA ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT TO DEMONSTRATE THE PLASMA ARC SURFACE HARDENING PROCESS. THE PLASMA ARC PARAMETERS (SHIELDING GAS, GAS FLOWS, CURRENT, VOLTAGE, TRAVEL SPEED, ARC LENGTH, AND MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH) WILL BE RESEARCHED TO DETERMINE HOW THEY INFLUENCE THE SURFACE HARDENING OF STEELS. VARIOUS HEAT TREATABLE STEELS WILL BE SURFACED HARDENED WITH THE RESULTS ANALYZED. IT IS ANTICIPATED BY VARYING THE PLASMA ARC PARAMETERS, PLASMA ARC SURFACE HARDENING WILL PRODUCE VARIOUS SURFACE HARDENED CASE DEPTHS IN HEAT TREATABLE STEELS. THIS WILL RESULT IN LOWER SURFACE HARDENING COSTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GEARS, CAMS, SHAFTS, VALVES, DIES, BEARING COMPONENTS, ,TAPS, AND MANY OTHER HEAT TREATABLE PARTS.