Tool heating time cut
28 Jan 2014
Shortwave infrared emitters from Heraeus Noblelight have allowed Mettis Aerospace to reduce the time required for the heating of tools.
The system, used for tool heating, is also capable of heating dies used for the manufacture of high specification titanium aircraft components to one seventh of the heating times required by a previous gas system.
The shortwave system installed consists of two 72kW infrared cassettes, each mounted on an aluminium vertical profile frame.
The manufacture of titanium components at the company’s Redditch factory involves heating titanium preforms to above 900°C and then transferring the heated material into moulding tools.
However, it is essential that the tools are pre-heated to above 200°C to allow better material flow and avoid die wear.
Previously, die heating had been carried out by an open flame gas system, which directed its heat onto support plates.
The gas system remained switched on for 24 hours to ensure that the plates were at the correct temperature before the tools were loaded into position. Heating by this method could take up to ten hours, with limited control of the heat transfer.
For more information, please contact: +44 (0)151 3532710 or Email: ian.bartley@heraeus.com
