- Patented technology
- Convert common materials to tool materials
- Save on materials and process
The development of forming tools for manufacturing by forging, rolling, stamping, pressing (powder metallurgy) or cutting are usually carried out in steels known as “tool steels”, with high hardness and high wear resistance.
In order to reduce costs and speed up the tool manufacturing process while ensuring their dimensional precision and durability, AZTERLAN has developed the SOFTCLAD technology (patent protected) that offers:
- Development of forming tools based on other lower cost materials
- Energy savings thanks to the elimination of the hardening heat treatment (annealing)
- Reduction / elimination of surface oxidation caused by heat treatment
- Reduction of surface deformations caused by annealing treatment
- Savings in costly precision machining work on high hardness materials
The tool body can be made of steel or other cast materials that ensure easy initial machining and sufficient hardness for forming work.
Deposit of powdered steel whose chemical composition has been designed in order to favor the retention of austenite in the coating and its thickness responds to the specific characteristics of the work to be performed.
It favors the transformation of austenite into martensite, providing hardness to the coating. Unlike the annealing treatment, it avoids significant dimensional distortions and surface oxidation, as well as the need for new machining on an already hardened part.
“Las tecnologías de conformado agrupan vías de fabricación, materiales y sectores con características muy diversas. Sin embargo, se enfrentan a retos comunes asociados a la incorporación de nuevos materiales, exigentes cadencias de producción y crecientes solicitudes de los productos fabricados.
Desarrollar componentes conformados con prestaciones avanzadas, mejorar la vida útil de los útiles de trabajo y abordar nuevos mercados y aplicaciones industriales son algunos de ámbitos a través de los que aportamos valor a las empresas que diseñan, fabrican y aplican estos componentes.”
