GH INDUCTION ATMOSPHERES, which develops customized industrial heating systems, has built a machine cable of processing two automotive starter driveshaft parts every 16 seconds. The machine was built under contract to an unnamed automotive systems/parts supplier, specifically to operate in a new line producing starter driveshafts.
GH IA supplies industrial heating operations for automotive, aerospace, medical, and energy production applications. It is part of the GH Group, one of the world’s largest induction-heating companies.
The new machine hardens and tempers two driveshafts for automotive starters at very short intervals, in a design that uses dual vertical induction scanners with multiple power settings and scan speeds along each driveshaft. Servo-controlled automated pick and place and integrated process verification add to the efficiency.
Hardening is accomplished at a temperature of 1,600°F (871.1°C) and the tempering cycle operates at 400°F (204.4°C).
The machine is part of a larger, continuous driveshaft manufacturing process, preceded by machining and followed by another grinding sequence.
“Our customer was searching for an American company with design, build and service capability,” stated Chip Laskowski, GH IA director of Sales. "We met their requirements by modifying the already-proven machine design built by our parent company, GH Electrotermia.”
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