JUNE 30,

1938

41

SUPPLEMENT TO

FLIGHT

THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER

648c

Left, a billet being inserted into the container. Right, the diehead after completion of extrusion. models, and two by Schloemann are 950- and 3,000-ton presses. In a large new extension to the works a much bigger (5,ooo-ton) press having working pressures up to 4,500 lb. /sq. in. will be assembled to deal with sections up to hah0 a ton in weight. , The speed and pressure of the presses can be very accurately controlled, and great care is taken to maintain the correct temperature. Depending-upon the alloy, between 380 deg. C. and 480 deg. C. is usual. : The furnaces for heating billets are automatically controlled and all electric. They are semi-automatic in that the billets are carried through them on chain conveyor belts and discharged when a button is pressed. The controls and recording mechanism are grouped in a separate room, and each furnace has its temperature maintained by means of one or more '' Cambridge'' controllers. Rate of production is, of course, closely connected with the speed of extrusion. This varies with the alloy used and the section being extruded, but an average speed is about three feet per minute. During the whole period of extrusion the billet must be maintained at a steady temperature, so it is necessary for the billet container in the presses to be heated. The dies are also pre-heated to extrusion temperature to avoid any chilling of the billet. A 20 deg. C. temperature difference is observed between the metal in the container and that issuing from the die. As already mentioned, the billet furnaces are carefully placed beside the presses and the hot billets are mechanically fed to the presses. After extrusion the sections are heat treated in special furnaces

Straightening an extruded section in a Bigwood stretching machine.