Not all steelmaking processes involve heating steel to or above its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling, for example, is performed at room temperature. Not surprisingly, it requires greater pressure to roll and form steel at room temperature. Because cold-rolled steel is … Read More

There are seven types of fasteners, each with their own unique use. A carriage bolt is also called a coach. The head of this fastener is countersunk, domed. It’s used to keep the bolt still while tightening a nut. A … Read More

Steel is often categorized according to its carbon content. All steel contains at least some amount of carbon. After all, steel is defined as an alloy of iron and carbon. Without the presence of carbon, it would simply be iron. … Read More

Also known as abrasive blasting, sandblasting is a surface finishing process that involves the use of a powered machine — typically an air compressor as well as a sandblasting machine — to spray abrasive particles under high pressure against a … Read More

Consisting of a disc-shaped piece of metal — typically carbon steel or stainless steel — washers are used to distribute the load of a bolt. Before placing a bolt through an object, it’s first placed through a washer. The washer … Read More

Also known as spray deposition, spray forming is a manufacturing process that involves coating a workpiece with semi-solid particles of metal. It’s designed to create a protective coating over the surface of the workpiece, thereby protecting it from rust, corrosion … Read More

Have you heard of locking wire? It’s used extensively in the aerospace and manufacturing industries to secure fasteners in place. Not all fasteners require locking wire. If a fastener is exposed to constant and/or forceful vibrations, however, this otherwise simple … Read More