Influence of Case Hardening Process and Hardenability on the Distortion Behavior of a Weight-Reduced Counter Gear

Abstract

Abstract Objectives in the field of lightweight construction can be achieved by changing the component design, among other things. However, a design suitable for production would have to be taken into account, since serious distortion problems can occur after the final heat treatment due to reduced stiffness or asymmetries in the mass distribution. To illustrate this problem area, this paper first of all presents the distortion behavior of various geometric modifications with mass reductions of up to 43.6 % at a specified case-hardening process using the example of a counter gear made of 20MnCr5. The goal for the geometry modifications was only the variation of the distortion potential carrier mass distribution. Insufficient dimensioning for a correct functional behavior was consciously accepted. In a second block, the influences of variations of the quenching process, the carbon profile and hardenability are presented for the lightest geometry variant.