Lovejoy, Inc.-Powder Metal Rotor for Petrotec wins grand prize.
Lovejoy Sintered Solutions’ Bret Viant, Engineering Manager and Kraig Moon, Product/Sales Manager announced the companies new powder metal business unit won Grand Prize at the recent PowderMet conference for a powder metal rotor the company designed for Petrotec India/Portugal.
"This is huge for many reasons," Viant said. "Our Powder Metal division is only three years old and we really want to show people what we can do. The part that won is very difficult to make. Winning this competition is one way we’ve been able to prove the capabilities of this division."
The award in the industrial motors/controls and hydraulics division, was presented at the conference, sponsored by the Metal Powder Industry Federation in Denver. This was first time Lovejoy entered the competition, which included over 30 parts from 17 different companies.
The award recognizes designs that excel in the following categories: use of innovative tooling or fabricating technique; shape complexity; close to net shape precision; process control; physical and mechanical properties and density; composition/combination of properties; new or unusual application; significant cost savings; and used in a high-visibility product.
Lovejoy’s rotor is a complex shape with nine legs, each of which are held to a 7.1 g/cc density at a 5-1 aspect ratio. The rotor is composed of MPIF Standard 35 materials F-0005-25. In addition, there is a 13mm hub at the top of the part that utilizes powder transfer in order to maintain the required 7.1 g/cc density.
According to Kraig Moon, the highly engineered part saved Petrotec 30 percent over the previous cast component in their hydraulic pumps.
"We used innovative tooling and manufacturing techniques to design this product," Viant said. "We bring the ability to manufacture high-density, complex-geometry parts, like the rotor that won. The part and award show people what we are capable of."
Lovejoy Sintered Solutions’ press technology allowed the part to be manufactured at high densities and high aspect ratios with no cracks; the division can press parts with aspect ratios reaching 10-1. Compaction technology (500 and 1000T) allows unmatched levels of precision and is the cornerstone of Lovejoy’s powder metal operations.
They can also re-engineer two and three-piece designs into a single piece and achieve extremely high densities (up to 7.4 g/cc) for parts that are both high-strength and high-performance. Recently acquired cutting-edge press technologies sets Sintered Solutions apart from competitors.
"With this technology, we can make what competitors can’t," Viant said. "We are also a low-volume parts manufacturer – it’s unusual to find a company that is as willing to pursue low-volume business as Lovejoy Sintered Solutions is."
The Powder Metal subsidiary serves many markets including agricultural; off-road vehicular; hydraulics; outdoor power and equipment; and heavy truck.
To learn more about Lovejoy’s Sintered Solutions (LSS), visit the website at: www.lovejoy-lss.com, Lovejoy’s website at www.lovejoy-inc.com, or call the LSS Product/Sales Manager, Kraig Moon at 630-829-1541. Email inquiries to lssquotes@lovejoy-inc.com.
Lovejoy, Inc. is certified under the ISO-9001:2000 International Standards for Quality Management. Lovejoy, Inc., World Headquarters offices are at 2655 Wisconsin Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA, 630-852-0500.
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