This page begins a guide to running the heat treating Simulation. The guide shows how to do the following:

1. Run the simulation to produce the number of parts you choose (Cut-off Saw, Hardening Furnace, and Tempering Ovens pages).

2. Capture measurements of blade hardness and length. (Production Run pages).

3. Use the statistical analysis tools you learn about in your course to monitor the hardness and length measures. (Working with the Data pages). All production data can be copied to the computer's clipboard and then pasted into a spreadsheet. Working with the Data also contains example class exercises.

For some background in heat treating (hardening and tempering) see Introduction to the Heat Treating Process in the Process Sim Home Page.

These section contains instructions only. The controls in the figures are not active as they are in the Simulation. It works best to use printed copies of this guide while you are running the simulation for the first time.

Simulation Guide: Product Data & Hardening Furnace, p. 1

The main menu

The Introduction menu is self explanatory.

Product Data menu gives you a chance to specify which knife product you will be making. Most blades are the KKH model in lengths of 1.8, 7.66, 9 and 12 inches. For now leave the product data set to the defaults. You can always return to any level by using the gray back arrow at the lower left corner of all windows.

Click on the Hardening Furnace menu item to open the Furnace submenu (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The main menu.
Choose Furnace Controls to bring up the major controls of the hardening furnace (also known as the conveyor furnace or the tunnel) (Figure 2). The heating section of this furnace has four zones; each has a control. There is also a belt speed control identified by the red display at lower right. Click on a control to get a close up view and to change the heat settings.

Figure 2. Some of the hardening furnace controls.

Click on one of the furnace controls if you want to change the settings. Try clicking on the heating control for zone 2 (Figure 3). Leave the furnace controls set to their defaults for now.
Click on the question mark for information about the control. More about the furnace controls.

To return, click the gray back arrow (twice to get to the menus).
Click on the question mark for information.

Click on Quit only to exit the simulation entirely.

Figure 3. The zone 2 heating control
Hardening furnace pages 1 2 next
Process Simulation Home Page
This project was supported in part by the
National Science Foundation
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