Straightening
Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) has a straightening department that can straighten long and narrow parts, both round and square, as well as flat plates. CST can maintain tolerances down to +/- 0.010 inches. CST straightens steel shafts, tool steel blades, and stainless steel bed plates. Allow our expertise in straightening to benefit you.
Straightening is a mechanical working process that is performed to accomplish exactly what the name says. To straighten long, narrow, thin parts to within a specified tolerance. Long, narrow, thin parts are susceptible to bending during heat treatment due to distortion. The distortion arises from the fact that the strength of steel is significantly less when the part is heated to austenitizing temperature compared to room temperature. Long, narrow, thin parts thus deform in the heated, austenite state from the forces of the weight of the part acting upon itself as the part sits inside the furnace. This distortion, or bending, can be corrected by mechanically deforming the steel and reversing the bending within the mechanical working limits of the steel.
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Straightening Capabilities
Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) has two straightening presses, one with a 150 ton capacity and a second with a 75 ton capacity. These presses can geometrically accomodate rounds up to 12″ in diameter and flats up to 10 inches square. They can handle parts wieghing up to 2000 pounds and that are up to 110 inches long. CST also straightens parts using clamps during tempering. The clamps maintain a constant force on the part while the part is heated through the tempering cycle, thus aiding movement. CST is the industry leader in providing for straightening solutions for long, narrow/thin parts.
The Vertical Difference
Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) has two deep pit furnaces that can be used to heat treat long, thin, narrow parts by hanging them vertically. These pit furnaces are located next to the straightening department to facilitate hot straightening. Running long, thin, narrow parts vertically helps to reduce distortion and bending because the weight of the part is centered on the axis while the part is in the heated state. The pit furnaces are capable of performing many different types of processes including hardening operations in a neutral atmosphere, carburizing, carbo-nitriding, normalizing, and special cycle stress relieving. The two furnaces are certified according to AMS 2750. Both allow CST to heat treat and straighten long parts that others are not capable of.
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For over 80 years, we’ve helped our clients across many industries improve production time and parts performance, quickly and efficiently. Turnaround times are fast and quality control is precise. As your outsourcing partner, we provide solutions to take your results to the next level.