Page 49 - MetalForming August 2012
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Another plus for Penn United and its exacting forming needs: The coating can be applied consistently at the same thickness. That provides tolerance con- trol, a difficult proposition for higher- temperature chemical-vapor-deposi- tion (CVD) and thermal-diffusion ( TD) coating processes. In addition, the For- tiPhy coating provides a low coefficient of friction, less than 0.1 in typical lubri- cated conditions.
Successful Draws, Time after Time
In a nutshell, Penn United has found that the tool coating delivered to prop- erly form the cups improves metal- forming characteristics and tolerance control, while providing minimal alloy pickup and prolonged tool life. With the new tool coating, tearing and galling problems were eliminated, according to Marraccini. And though he does not have precise numbers, he says that, “the coated tools last for millions of hits.”
Penn United continues to produce
the part, and success on this project has led to additional stain- less-steel-part jobs benefiting from the same tool coating. Punches comprise the majority of the tools undergoing the coating process, as well as some form tools,
Turnaround time
for the coating process
is important to Penn United, according to Marraccini. Inhouse capabilities at Phygen, such as polishing and the abil- ity to strip its own coating, not only have contributed to quick turnarounds, but to coating quality as well.
“Expert polishing provides the abil- ity to remove machining marks, grind lines and other impediments to mate- rial flow,” according to Phygen sales engineer Chuck Cathcart. “Properly forming stainless steel requires that all
Jim Marraccini, right, tooling engineer at Penn United Tech- nologies, works with Chris Morrow, tool and die maker, to ready a die for production.
of that must be removed from the tool- ing to allow the coating to work opti- mally. Farming out stripping of the coating would add days to turnaround. Plus, you’re looking at bringing in another vendor that may or may not take the care required to minimize any surface irregularities.” MF
Information for this article provided by Phygen Coatings, Inc., Minneapolis, MN: 888/749-4361; www.phygen.com.
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