Manufactura, recuperación y refuerzo de herramientas de corte para maquinaria pesada en Ecuador

Abstract

The interest to promote the local production in Ecuador, fostered by national government, has encouraged the development of new products. The analysis of the feasibility to produce certain imported goods is required to promote manufacturing in Ecuador. In this context, the present research analyses the viability of reinforcing and/or manufacturing heavy-duty machinery cutting tools. Analyses of hardness, microstructure, composition, and heat treatment were performed to three cutting tools (bucket teeth). The results showed that the cutting tool is made out of a tool steel (hypoeutectoid steel alloyed with Si, Mn and Cr) and its microstructure shows evidence of a heat treatment. Three different base materials were studied and one was chosen to be reinforced with hardfacing materiales using electric arc welding, WC filler rod by OAW and WC flame spray powder. Finally, field tests of four cutting tools were performed (reinforced and an original one). It was noted that reinforcement process generated severe heat affected zones. Therefore, a heat treatment is mandatory to be applied to reinforced cutting tools. The hardfacing reinforcement was not significantly affected by the heat treatment