Optimized quality control in induction hardening

Induction hardening is well known for its good reproducibility. Nevertheless, the quality can also be influenced by several disturbances. In addition to factors like geometry, chemistry and the heat treatment history of the workpiece, the heat treatment parameters during heating and quenching have a major impact. We will show how the inductors and the heating process must be monitored in order to ensure reproducible heating sequences and which factors influence the heating quality. Cooling and quenching media, whose properties can be automatically monitored and stabilized within narrow bounds, ensure good inductor life time and constant quenching properties.