METHOD FOR HEAT TREATING A METAL COMPONENT

摘要

A method for heat treating a metal component (10) uses a first heating system (station #2 to station #6) having a first high intensity heating portion (station #2 and station #3) to rapidly heat the component (10) to a desired temperature and a second heating portion (station #4 to station #6) to maintain the component (10) temperature for solution heat treatment. The heating system (44) is an indexing-type system which includes a plurality of individual heating stations to effect solution heat treatment of the component (10). Following quenching (station #7), a second heating system (station #8 to station #12) having a first high intensity heating portion (station #8 and station #9) to rapidly heat the component (10) to a desired temperature and a second heating portion (station #10 to station #12) to maintain the component (10) temperature artificially ages the component (10).