You have no doubt heard it said that a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. This is not comforting when you are crossing the manufacturing plant floor with a large, heavy object suspended from a crane using a chain. How do we know the links are strong enough? The key is heat treatment.

Gears have been a vital component since the invention of rotating machinery. Because of their force-multiplying characteristics, they were used by early engineers to lift building materials. Gears were also used to hoist ship anchors and for catapult pretensioning. Another application was wind and water-wheel machinery, as the rotational speed could be increased or decreased as required for the specific machine to be powered.
 

Ever wonder what the lawn mower, garden rake, pruning shears and garden tiller could have in common with the long-handle shovel, edging tool and the broadcast spreader? All of these tools are heat treated for durability.

One way most NASCAR teams have found to stay in the race is by cryogenically treating their parts. Let’s take a look at how cryogenics improves the performance of racecar parts.

There was a day, not that long ago, when the “woods” in your golf bag were actually made from wood – primarily persimmon and maple. At that time, your irons were mostly forged.

Do coins burn a hole in your pocket? At some point in their manufacturing process, they certainly could. Hard to believe, but thermal processing plays multiple roles in the manufacture of the coins we use every day.

Just how do they get that small hole in the middle of that thin piece of metal? How is it made strong enough at such a thin gauge to do its job? Let’s take a look at the role thermal processing plays in the manufacture of hypodermic needles.

Consider the simple saw. As you ponder it, you realize that although we take saws for granted, they may not be as simple as they seem. There are a variety of different types of saws used for various functions. The basic categories are handsaws and mechanically powered saws.

In our industrialized society, bearings are literally what makes the world go ‘round. Without bearings, modern-day machines could not exist. This includes things we take for granted such as planes, trains and automobiles. Without heat treatment, bearings could not do their job. So, by extension, heat treatment keeps the world’s wheels turning.

 

What would we do without knives? Knives, from the kitchen variety to utility to hunting, are a part of our daily lives.