Toolmaking and mold-making professionals routinely face many challenges unique to their industry. In order to ensure the stability of the tools produced, very hard grades of steel are required.

Recently, efforts have been undertaken to improve the ironmaking process. This project summary offers a look into one such effort.

"Mixed-light inspection" is the term given when trying to detect the very small levels of light emitted from fluorescent-penetrant dyes against a background of strong daylight or other brightly lit environment.

Cost of quality (CoQ) is a hot topic right now. There have even been committees formed in various trade groups to take a closer look at CoQ. You probably have had internal discussions about the CoQ in your company and how those costs compare to other heat treaters.

Since the development of commercial electric heating elements at the beginning of the 20th century, oxidation and corrosion resistance have been primary goals in the creation of new high-temperature resistance and construction alloys and ceramic materials.

In many locations throughout North America, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of gas-heated furnaces are limited by law or code. This is typically the case in urban areas or in places where special topographical characteristics intensify the negative local and regional effects of NOx emissions.

This article will highlight advanced furnace design features, illustrating both yearly power savings and possible power-company rebates.

Aerospace special-process providers seeking Nadcap accreditation agree that the process has elevated the level of compliance from procedural accuracy, training, documentation, equipment functionality and process control.

Industry, under the pressure of the market and regulatory burdens, is forced to improve in order to provide competitively priced, high-quality products demanded by their customers. Companies must find methods that improve quality and reduce cost within regulatory constraints to be successful.

Although the aerospace and medical-device industries were the first players to adopt the process, all industries that work with metals, including automotive, are now beginning to realize the promise of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM).