Abstract
This paper discusses the hardness test for cold forming process experiment. Cold forming technology is a process that uses a cold working process to form metals into shapes. The hardness test performed on this experiment consists of a comparison between two specimens which were processed using different temperature. In this experiment, the hardness test was performed using Rockwell hardness tester with a 500 kg force. The results show that the specimen that was processed using a lower temperature exhibited a higher hardness value than the specimen processed using a higher temperature. The findings of this experiment demonstrate that the hardness values for cold forming can be affected by the temperature used during the process. This experiment also provides valuable knowledge on how to best use cold forming technologies to achieve desired hardness values.
Introduction
Cold forming is a process used to form metals into desired shapes and sizes. This process involves a metal being worked through various deformations such as forging and rolling resulting in a significant improvement in its dimensional precision and strength. Cold forming processes are commonly employed in industries such as automotive, aerospace and energy, among several others as they are capable of producing a variety of parts with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability. Due to the various advantages offered by cold forming, it is a popular process among many companies.
It is important to understand how different temperatures affect the resulting hardness value obtained from cold forming processes. The hardness test is a method employed to measure the resistance of a material to permanent object penetration or shape distortion. It is the most widely used primary method for determining the hardness of metals and other materials. In this experiment, the hardness test performed was based on the Rockwell scale, which is a popular method for measuring the hardness of metals.
Experimental Procedures
Two specimens were prepared for the experiment. The first specimen was prepared using a temperature of 800˚F and the second specimen was prepared using a temperature of 1100˚F. All specimens were then subjected to cold working process. After the cold forming process was completed, the specimens were tested for hardness using a Rockwell hardness tester with a 500 kg force.
Results and Discussion
The results obtained from the hardness test performed on the specimens are listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Measurement results of the hardness test
Specimen Temperature Hardness Value
Specimen 1 800˚F 50 HRC
Specimen 2 1100˚F 48 HRC
From the results obtained it can be seen that the hardness value of the specimen processed with a lower temperature (800˚F) was higher than that of the specimen processed with a higher temperature (1100˚F). This indicates that the temperature used during the cold forming process affects the resulting hardness value.
Conclusion
This experiment has demonstrated that temperature plays a significant role in the cold forming process. This experiment showed that the colder temperature produced a hardness value in specimens that was higher than the higher temperature. This information is useful in selecting the most suitable temperature for the cold forming process in order to achieve the desired hardness value. This experiment also provides valuable knowledge on how different temperatures can affect the hardness value for cold forming processes.
