11,000 LB Weldment Heat Treated
91´«Ã½, Souderton PA, recently heat treated two 4140 (chromium molybdenum) steel weldments, each weighing 11,000 lbs. Using a 12 foot long horizontal loading Solar Manufacturing furnace with a 50,000 lb. capacity, Solar normalized and tempered the weldments to achieve specific yield strength, while minimizing distortion, through controlled heating and cooling.
The weldment dimensions were, 54 x 34 x 84 inches, with section thicknesses ranging from 2 to 6 inches. Â The configuration required vacuum thermal processing in order to prevent structural cracking. Â Critical to this goal, Solar strategically placed six workload thermocouples in the various weldment sections. Â Uniform heat up of the large part was accomplished with strategically planned pre-heat steps, a uniform soak at temperature, and a controlled 2 bar quench.
Tri Kris Fabrication, Lansdale, PA, was very pleased with the heat treating and will process more weldments of this type at Solar. The part is a component in a large tensile testing machine that tests braided steel cable for shipbuilding applications.