Page 54 - MetalForming-Mar-2018-issue
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  Materials & Coatings
System for High Throughput on Interior and Exterior Surfaces
Duralar Technologies, Tucson, AZ, developer of ultra-hard coatings and coating machines, has introduced the Emperion system for high-throughput deposition on interior and exterior metal surfaces and com-
system’s throughput are twin processing chambers that optimize operator efficiency; lightweight, modular, custom-designed fixtures that enable fast, easy transfer of parts into and out of
plex 3D parts. The equip- ment debuted at the Surtech 2018 advanced- surface-technology con- ference, Feb. 14-16 in Tokyo, Japan.
the chambers; and spe- cial quick-change cham- ber shields that reduce the need for chamber- cleaning downtime. Next-generation soft- ware with an intuitive operator interface con- trols the entire system.
 "The Emperion fea- tures twin deposition chambers that allow vir- tually continuous coat- ing,” says Tom Casserly, chief technology officer at Duralar. "While one chamber is processing, the operator can be unloading and reloading the second chamber.”
The Emperion’s compact design, 87 by 110 in., requires less electrical power than other systems, and it needs only a small amount of chilled water and process gas, mak-
Casserly says that the Emperion employs plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposition (PECVD) technology using Duralar's DualArmor hollow-cathode process. This creates a high-energy electron field that bathes metal parts in dense plasma, eliminating the unevenness that occurs with line-of-sight, spray-type coatings. The high-intensity plasma also coats parts more rapidly, at rates to 0.5 μm/min., which can take hours off of previous coating process times.
ing it easy to facilitize and install. Intelligent system design enables greater throughput with fewer operators. Two standard deposition chambers are vertically oriented, each 40 by 10 in. in diameter. Custom configurations are available.
Complementing processing speed, an operational design further streamlines the system's throughput. Streamlining the
The Emperion applies different PECVD coatings, including Duralar's ArmorLube, which combines hardness to 2000 HV with dry lubrication. This coating's carbon content provides a natural graphitic lubricity and an low coefficient of friction to 0.1, making it well-suited for industrial machines that require clean, dry, permanent lubrication without oils or greases. Duralar Technologies: www.duralar.com
Volkswagen Joins LIFT
Among the areas the group is pursuing: research on how internal components can be made lighter while improving per- formance and power, and reducing man- ufacturing costs.
Steel Shines at the
is a different thickness and strength, helping attendees understand how var- ious grades of steel help achieve light- weighting, strength and occupant-pro- tection goals.
Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), a Detroit, MI-based public-private partnership for developing and deploying advanced lightweight-metal manufac- turing technologies, announced that Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) has joined the institute to advance the group’s research into light- weight metals for reducing the weight of future vehicles.
Auto Show’s Ram Exhibit
Reportedly, this is the strongest Ram 1500 ever, featuring more than 98 percent AHSS in the frame and 54 percent in the core body structure. The extensive use of AHSS also enabled a weight savings of nearly 225 lb. The exhibit, designed by the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, in collaboration with Ram, “is a great demonstration of how steel is driving automotive innovation,” says Jody Hall, vice president of the auto- motive market for SMDI.
Other LIFT members include Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. “Light- weighting is critical for the future of our vehicles, not only to improve on fuel econ- omy, but also to help improve vehicle per- formance,” says Dr. Hagen Seifert, head of materials, Audi AG.
One of the most attention-grabbing displays at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, held in January in Detroit, was the 2019 Ram 1500 exhibit. An interactive steel display includ- ed four removable panels featuring con- ventional steel, high-strength steel, advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and ultrahigh-strength steel. Each panel
For more, visit www.autosteel.org.
52 MetalForming/March 2018
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