A steel sheet for hot stamping use used as a material for a hot stamped article excellent in strength or bending deformability, having a predetermined chemical composition, having a microstructure containing at least one of lower bainite, martensite, and tempered martensite in an area ratio of 90% or more, having an X-ray random intensity ratio of {112}<111> of the crystal grains forming the above lower bainite, martensite, or tempered martensite of 2.8 or more, having a number density of grain size 50 nm or less cementite or epsilon carbides in the microstructure of 1×10.sup.16/cm.sup.3 or more, and having a grain boundary solid solution ratio Z defined by Z=(mass % of one or both of Nb and Mo at grain boundaries)/(mass % of one or both of Nb and Mo at time of melting) of 0.4 or more.

A load transport mechanism for moving a heat treating load in a multi-station heat treating system is disclosed. The transport mechanism has a compact construction that allows it to fit in a centrally located stationary transport chamber. The transport chamber is adapted to provide ready access to multiple treating chambers arrayed around the chamber. The transport mechanism includes a load translation mechanism for moving the load linearly and a load rotation mechanism for rotating the load within the transport chamber. A multi-station heat treating system having a centrally located quenching chamber that includes the load transport mechanism is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for producing a composite component (12). At least one shaft (2) and at least one sintered part (1), preferably in the form of a rotor or a cam, are assembled into the composite component. In order to assemble the composite component, at least the following steps are carried out: —introducing the shaft (2) into a continuous bore (3) of the sintered part (1) and —calibrating the sintered part (1) at least by means of a calibrating die (4), furthermore preferably with the simultaneous application of an axial force onto the sintered part (1) by means of at least one upper punch (5) and at least one lower punch (7), wherein the shaft (2) can be found in the bore (3) of the sintered part (1) at least temporarily during the calibration process. The invention further relates to a composite component (12).

A hot stamp cell has a source of blanks, an oven to elevate the temperature of the blank, and a press to form the blank to the required shape. The oven has a pair of access doors located on opposite sides. A first robot is provided to move a blank from the source to the oven through one of the doors and a further robot provided to remove the blank from the oven through the other door. Each of the robots has a material handling tool that includes a fork with tines to carry a blank and a gripping mechanism to secure the blank to the tines. The floor of the oven has a support surface to allow stable support of the blank during heating. The floor is provided with channels extending between the doors dimensioned to receive the tines. The channels permit placement of the blank on to the surface by lowering of the fork and subsequent removal of the fork from the oven.

A process for producing a bearing seat or a drive journal having a large diameter on a rolled threaded spindle is disclosed. The blank of the threaded spindle is hot-upset in the longitudinal direction, such that it bulges radially with respect to the longitudinal direction, a first longitudinal region having an enlarged diameter being provided.

A process for producing a bearing seat or a drive journal having a large diameter on a rolled threaded spindle is disclosed. The blank of the threaded spindle is hot-upset in the longitudinal direction, such that it bulges radially with respect to the longitudinal direction, a first longitudinal region having an enlarged diameter being provided.

A heat treatment system includes heating chambers configured to perform heat treatment on objects to be treated, and a conveyance device configured to load each of the objects to be treated into the heating chambers, unload the object to be treated from the heating chambers, and convey the object to be treated under an oxygen-free atmosphere, wherein the conveyance device includes a cooling device configured to perform cooling treatment on the object to be treated.

A method for marking an article is disclosed which includes providing an article including a substrate, the substrate including a surface and a surface material, and forming a design on the surface of the substrate by applying a marking material to the surface wherein applying the marking material includes an additive manufacturing technique. Another method for marking an article further includes the surface having a first surface and second surface, the second surface defining a depression relative to the first surface, and forming a design on the surface of the substrate by applying a marking material to the second surface, the marking material forming a marking surface which is substantially flush with the first surface. The marked article formed by the methods includes a microstructure derived from the additive manufacturing technique.

Provided is a cage (5, 65, 95) for a constant velocity universal joint, which is formed into a ring shape with a substantially uniform thickness, including a plurality of pockets (20, 80, 110) formed in a circumferential direction of the cage (5, 65, 95), for receiving torque transmitting balls, respectively, the cage (5, 65, 95) being formed of carbon steel including 0.41 to 0.51 mass % of C, 0.10 to 0.35 mass % of Si, 0.60 to 0.90 mass % of Mn, 0.005 to 0.030 mass % of P, and 0.002 to 0.035 mass % of S, with the balance being Fe and an element inevitably remaining at the time of steelmaking and refining, the cage (5, 65, 95) being subjected to carburizing, quenching, and tempering as heat treatment, each of the plurality of pockets (20, 80, 110) having a side surface (23, 83, 113) finished after the heat treatment.

A process gas preparation device for an industrial furnace system is disclosed. The gas preparation device includes a preparation reactor having a catalyst. A gas feed line and a gas return line are connected between the industrial furnace and the preparation reactor to form a closed loop. A compressor is situated upstream from the preparation reactor in the feed line. The preparation reactor is also connected with supply lines for hydrocarbon gas and air to be supplied to the preparation reactor. The process gas preparation device also includes a control device with which process gas preparation and return can be regulated and controlled. The gas feed line also has a shut-off valve. The control device can check the functional state of the catalyst by measuring the pressure differential across the catalyst and can initiate a burn-out process therein to clear clogging of the catalyst.