Thursday, February 19, 2015
This one-part program for ferrous applications is divided into two segments, one dealing with wiredrawing dies, and the second with lubrication.
The first segment focuses on the die, the most important part of the drawing process. Without it, the best drawing machines, lubricant, and treatment systems cannot reduce the wire diameter. However, with a die, vice pliers, and a hammer, wire can be drawn, albeit slowly, as it has been for over 2,000 years. The intention of this webinar is to provide an understanding of what makes a die work, how it is designed, causes of failure, and problems with drawing larger sizes.
The wiredrawing process generates significant heat from metal deformation and the friction occurring between the wire and die surfaces. This heat adversely affects the lubricant’s ability to adequately provide separation between the two surfaces. The lack of separation results in poor surface quality and shorter die life. This webinar shows how the lubricant’s chemistry influences its physical properties that allow production of high-quality product and longer die life.
Tom Maxwell Jr. is president of Die Quip Corp., Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, USA. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology-management from California University of Pennsylvania and an associate’s degree in tool and die design from Alliance College. He is a former member of WAI’s board of directors, member relations committee, exhibition planning committee, and conference programming committee; past chairman of the exhibition planning committee; and past president of the Ohio Valley Chapter.
David Gzesh is an application specialist with Blachford Corporation, USA. He has been developing and servicing metal-working lubricants for over 37 years. During his career, he has been a senior product development chemist, quality manager, senior technical service representative, and product manager. He received his M.S. and B.S. degrees in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Life Member of the Wire Association International and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and a 40-year member of the American Chemical Society.
