Method and device for heat treating a metal component

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for heat treating a metal component. The method comprises at least the following steps: a) heating the component; b) setting a temperature difference between at least one first sub-region and at least one second sub-region of the component; c) at least partially forming and/or cooling the component in a press hardening tool; and d) mechanically post-processing the at least one first sub-region of the component.

Claims

1. A method for heat treating a metal component, comprising at least the following steps: a) heating the entire component in a first furnace; a1) moving the component from the first furnace to a temperature control station, b) within the temperature control station, thermally treating the component by subjecting at least one first sub-region to cooling and/or by subjecting at least one second sub-region to heating with a heating element so that the temperature control station affects a temperature difference between the at least one first sub-region and the at least one second sub-region of the component, the temperature difference between the at least one first sub-region and the at least one second sub-region not having been present prior to step b); b1) moving the component from the temperature control station to a second furnace, b2) heating at least the at least one first sub-region of the component in the second furnace, c) at least partially forming and/or cooling the component in a press hardening tool; and d) mechanically post-processing the at least one first sub-region of the component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is heated in step a) by way of radiant heat and/or convection by at least 500 K.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical post-processing in step d) is carried out using at least one mechanical cutting tool.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is held in the press hardening tool during the mechanical post-processing operation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sub-region of the component forms a flange region and/or a region for a recess.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element is an electrically operated heating element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling in the temperature control station is performed by at least one nozzle discharging a fluid.

Description

(1) The invention and the technical environment will be described in more detail hereafter based on the figures. It should be noted out that the invention shall not be limited by the shown exemplary embodiments. In particular, it is also possible, unless explicitly described otherwise, to extract partial aspects of the subject matter described in the figures, and to combine these with other components and/or findings from other figures and/or the present description. In the schematic drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a device for heat treating a metal component; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of a metal component.

(4) FIG. 1 schematically shows a diagram of a device 8 for heat treating a metal component 1. The device 8 comprises a first furnace 9, a temperature control station 10, and a press hardening tool 4. By way of example, a second furnace 12 is provided between the temperature control station 10 and the press hardening tool 4. The device 8 represents a hot forming line for press hardening here. The temperature control station 10 is located (directly) downstream of the first furnace 9, so that a component 1 to be treated by means of the device 8 can be transferred directly into the temperature control station 10 upon leaving the first furnace 6. Furthermore, the second furnace 12 is located (directly) downstream of the temperature control station 10, and the press hardening tool 4 is located (directly) downstream of the second furnace 12.

(5) The device shown in FIG. 1 furthermore comprises a mechanical post-processing unit 11, which is assigned to the press hardening tool 4. The mechanical post-processing unit 11 comprises a cutting tool 5, by way of which the metal component 1 can be at least partially trimmed.

(6) FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view onto a metal component 1, comprising two first sub-regions 2 and two second sub-regions 3. Moreover, the component comprises a third sub-region 13 by way of example. The component 1 is shown in a state after the press hardening operation here. The component 1 is (fully martensitically) hardened in the second sub-regions 3. The component 1 thus has high strength in the second sub-regions 3. In contrast, the component 1 has lower strength in the first sub-regions. However, the component 1 has the lowest strength in the third sub-region 13. The third sub-region 13 can be used, for example, to absorb impact energy acting on the component 1.

(7) According to the illustration of FIG. 2, one of the first sub-regions 2 of the component 1 forms a flange region 6, and a further of the first sub-regions 2 forms a region for a recess 7. Since the strength of the first sub-regions 2 is reduced compared to the (fully martensitically) hardened second sub-regions 3, the flange region 6 and the region for the recess 7 can be easily trimmed mechanically. In FIG. 2, the flange region 6 has not yet been mechanically post-processed. However, the region for the recess 7 has already been mechanically post-processed, so that the recess 7 is apparent in FIG. 2.

(8) A method and a device for heat treating a metal component are provided, which at least partially solve the problems described with regard to the prior art. In particular, the method and the device allow a press hardened component having precise contours to as great an extent as possible to be produced in industrial series production. Moreover, the method and the device can be carried out or operated at the lowest energy costs possible and/or implemented or produced at the lowest investment costs possible. Moreover, the method and the device enable, in particular a short cycle time to as great an extent as possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(9) 1 component

(10) 2 first sub-region

(11) 3 second sub-region

(12) 4 press hardening tool

(13) 5 cutting tool

(14) 6 flange region

(15) 7 recess

(16) 8 device

(17) 9 first furnace

(18) 10 temperature control station

(19) 11 post-processing unit

(20) 12 second furnace

(21) 13 third sub-region