Cryogenic Processing FAQQ. I have heard there is no increase in the hardness of a metal part that has been cryogenically treated.
A. You have heard correctly. Cryogenic processing will not in itself harden metal like quenching and tempering. It is not a substitute for heat-treating. Most alloys will not show much of a change in hardness due to cryogenic processing. The abrasion resistance of the metal and the fatigue resistance will be increased substantially and this is what we are after when relating to Laser Sintered Metal Parts.
Q. How long does it last before it wears off?
A. You cannot wear cryogenic processing off a part. It is there for the life of the part unless that part is subjected to such temperatures that it is brought up to the austenization temperatures. Unlike coated tools, a cryogenically treated tool can be sharpened, dressed, or modified. The change brought about by cryogenic processing is permanent. Inserts can have modifications added, features changed and ejector pins reamed due to wear.
Q. Do you only process internal Laser Sintered Parts?
A. Absolutely not. Drills, Taps, Lathe Tools, saw blades, Chains saw blades, punch dies….. The list goes on and on. Any cutting tool will benefit from cryogenic processing. In addition any metal wear component sees 3-4 fold increases in wear resistance. Brake rotors, break pads, Any and all engine components including valve springs have seen increase as high as 800% increase in life expectancy. We routinely treat ferrous, non-ferrous and plastic parts prior to the final grinding or machining operations. The treatment ensures a dimensionally stable substrate, which will not distort prior to final material removal. We reduce scrap rates because finished components do not distort as residual stresses are not relieved during machining. Typical applications are thin walled aluminum castings, steel forgings having long, skinny aspect ratios, tool steel gauge pins, aluminum and beryllium reflective optical components, and simple aluminum jig plates. The improvement in results when cryogenic processing is employed is consistent and dramatic. In optical applications, cryogenics is essential and routinely specified.
Q. What is the cost of Cryogenic Processing?
A. Please reference our price sheet, there you will find an extensive list of products we process and the related cost structure. If you do not see your item listed simply give us a call and we can easily figure your cost based on weight and size.
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