Superior Surface Finishing & Fixturing
From heat treating and passivation to micro-TIG welding and more, Williams Tool is an established provider of superior turnkey surface-finishing and fixturing services that complement our considerable expertise in multi-axis CNC tooling. Within our 17,000-square-foot facility in Upstate New York, we have the capacity to perform advanced finishing for high-precision, high-quality machined parts. Here are some of the precision finishing services we offer:
Vacuum Heat Treating
Vacuum heat treating, also known as vacuum tempering, is a specialized thermal processing technique used to enhance certain properties of metal parts, making them harder and more corrosion-resistant. Vacuum tempering can also increase the metal’s tensile and shear strength, its ductility, and its elasticity.
Vacuum heat treating involves heating materials in a controlled vacuum environment, removing or significantly reducing oxygen and other reactive gases. This prevents oxidation during tempering–a reaction that can cause weakness in the completed part or a rough, uneven finish.
Passivation
Passivation refers to a chemical process used to remove contaminants from metal surfaces. Passivation is not a simple process. A metal part is submerged in an acid solution that removes impurities and contaminants from its surfaces. The process leaves behind a thin, invisible oxide layer that shields the metal from oxygen, moisture, and other corrosive environmental agents.
Proper passivation requires careful control of the concentrations and temperatures of various chemicals used, while multiple process parameters must be monitored and strictly maintained throughout. Expertise in passivation comes only through experience. We should know because we’ve got it.
Williams Tool offers passivation per ASTM A967 Nitric 1-4.
Micro Tig Welding
Micro TIG welding is exactly what it sounds like: TIG welding on a minuscule scale. Performed under magnification using specially designed power supplies, this process can result in weld build-ups as fine as .005 inches using just 1/10 of an amp of electricity.
Williams Tool offers expertise in computer-controlled micro TIG welding for intricate machined products such as valve and pump components used in medical equipment.
Custom-Engineered Part Fixturing for Manufacturing Process
Custom-engineered part fixturing is a Williams Tool specialty. Tooling on intricate, complex workpieces can be challenging, even when the workpiece is securely held throughout the tooling process. In close-tolerance operations, the slightest shift or vibration can render a part unusable if a workpiece is not properly secured. Ineffective part fixturing that leads to instability during machining is a leading cause of production delays, material wastage, equipment damage, and on-the-job injuries.
Effective part fixturing improves precision, repeatability, efficiency, and safety–all directly affecting performance and profitability.
Surface Finishing at Williams Tool
- Passivation per ASTM A967 Nitric 1-4
- Vacuum heat treatment
- Computer-controlled micro TIG welding
- 30x deburring
- Micro-etching to inspect weld depth-of-penetration, complete with a digital photograph
- Ultra-high-purity argon is used for purge and process control to reduce surface discoloration
- Various part programs can be digitally stored to ensure repeatability
- Center-of-load thermocouple used to monitor in-process part temperatures
- Chart recording of heat treating process and set points
- Processes include bright precipitation hardening of 17-4 and 15-5 materials to conditions H900, H1025, and H1150