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A Quick Overview of the Precision Straightening Process

29 March 2021

Heat treatment is a process of heating or chilling a specific material, usually a metal, at a certain temperature. This process enables the metal to undergo significant changes when it comes to its mechanical properties and overall microstructure. 

There are several types of heat treatment techniques that can be done with metals. Some of these are annealing, case hardening, precipitation strengthening, tempering, and quenching. While these techniques can provide beneficial changes to metals, some of them would only generate mechanical deformations and distortion zones that can be resolved or removed by a particular technique.

An Overview of Precision Straightening

Precision straightening is a technique wherein a particular metal material undergoes simple straightening and fine levelling for it to acquire a precise level of straightened features and characteristics. This particular technique or process is normally done by subjecting sheets of metal to numerous rolls in varying diameters. The diameters differ according to the desired thickness as well as the width and the degree of straightness of the metal material.

This specific technique can be similar to both conventional normal straightening and fine levelling processes due to the number of counter-rolls that are present on the machines used for the process. The rolls can range from 25 to 100mm in diameter, enabling them to process different types and specifications of metals. Thinner materials require more rolls compared to the thicker ones.

Cold and Hot Precision Straightening

Metal materials that have not yet obtained an overly hardened form can still be subjected to a powerful mechanical press and a grinding machine. Although, one element that must be considered before choosing between cold and hot precision straightening is the plasticity quotient of the metal’s structure. Metal parts or sheets that have a low elasticity limit may lock them on their twisted form.

Cold precision straightening can generate parts that are harder, stiffer, and stronger. It can, however, cause cracks and stress fractures, making the parts or sheets unusable. Hot precision straightening, alternatively, can be effective in a lot of metal materials since their profiles can be restored to their acceptable tolerances without expecting any of the effects of cold precision straightening.

Modern precision straightening techniques, fortunately, are now maximising technologies that could effectively spot and resolve flaws in metal materials.

Alpha Detroit Heat Treatment Services

If you need help with precision straightening, feel free to contact us at Alpha Detroit Heat Treatment. We have a range of straightening presses up to 20-tonne capacity. We can likewise work on both cold and hot precision straightening to effectively cater to your needs. We can also remove twists that may be present on the metal materials through our specially adapted de-twisting press.

We pride ourselves on providing quality service and reliability, as well as a wide range of services for all your heat treatment needs. Our expertise allows us to suggest the most appropriate process for your heat treatment requirements.

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