초록 ▼

A method for preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance to enable uniform and consistent heating. The surface of one or more metal parts, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy parts, is treated to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface. The surface reflectivity is eval

A method for preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance to enable uniform and consistent heating. The surface of one or more metal parts, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy parts, is treated to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface. The surface reflectivity is evaluated, such as by taking measurements at one or more points on the surface, to determine if a desired reflectivity has been achieved. The treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity has been achieved. Once the treating has altered the surface finish to achieve the desired reflectivity, the metal part may then be exposed to infrared radiance to heat the metal part to a desired temperature, and that heating will be substantially consistent throughout by virtue of the desired reflectivity.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of preparing and heating a metal part by infrared radiance, the method comprising: treating the surface of a metal part to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface; physically measuring the reflectivity of the surface at one or more points o

What is claimed is: 1. A method of preparing and heating a metal part by infrared radiance, the method comprising: treating the surface of a metal part to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface; physically measuring the reflectivity of the surface at one or more points on the metal part, the treating and measuring being performed until the measuring indicates that a desired reflectivity is achieved; and after the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved, and without further treatment of the surface of the part, exposing the metal part having the achieved desired reflectivity to infrared radiance to heat the metal part to a desired temperature. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring is at a plurality of points and the treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal part includes a threshold surface oriented to present a difficulty of alteration of the finish thereof that represents a maximum difficulty of alteration for the part, wherein the measuring includes a point on the threshold surface, and wherein the desired reflectivity is a minimum threshold reflectivity. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating comprises treating the surfaces of a batch of two or more metal parts concurrently, the measuring is at a plurality of points taken from the surfaces of a plurality of metal parts in the batch, and the treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points from the batch of metal parts. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal part comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal part comprises an aluminum alloy where aluminum is the primary alloying element. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating includes blasting the surface with an abrasive medium. 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, while blasting the part, changing the orientation of the metal part relative to a flow of the abrasive medium so as to expose additional surfaces on the metal part to the abrasive medium to alter the surface finish thereof. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating includes blasting the surface with an abrasive medium from an array of nozzles oriented around the metal part so as to expose additional surfaces of the metal part to the abrasive medium to alter the surface finish thereof. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating includes contacting the surface with an abrasive-coated device so as to alter the surface finish. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the treating includes contacting the surface with an abrasive-coated device selected from the group consisting of: a grinding wheel, a wire wheel, a wire brush, and a sanding belt. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating comprises coating the surface with a coating material so as to alter the surface finish. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the coating material is a dry powder or liquid colloid. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring includes exposing the metal part to a device emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective electronic detection device, and wherein the respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the measuring further includes changing the orientation of the metal part in relation to the emitting and detection devices during the exposing to allow the radiation to be reflected from a plurality of points on the surface. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring includes exposing the metal part to an array of emitting devices oriented around the at least one metal part, each emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective detection device in an array of electronic detection devices, and wherein each respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring includes contacting the surface at the one or more points with a stylus of a contact profilometer. 18. A method of preparing a batch of aluminum or aluminum alloy parts for heating by infrared radiance, the method comprising: blasting the surfaces of a batch of two or more aluminum or aluminum alloy parts concurrently with an abrasive medium to alter the surface finish of each of the parts to affect the reflectivity of the surfaces throughout the batch; and measuring the reflectivity of the surfaces at a plurality of points in the batch including a point on each of at least two of the parts, the blasting and measuring being performed until the measuring indicates that a desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points in the batch. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising, after the desired reflectivity is achieved, exposing the batch of parts to infrared radiance to heat the parts to a desired temperature. 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the blasting includes one of blasting the surfaces with the abrasive medium while changing the orientation of the parts relative to a flow of the abrasive medium or blasting the surfaces with the abrasive medium from an array of nozzles oriented around the batch of parts so as to expose additional surfaces in the batch to the abrasive medium. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the blasting includes accelerating the abrasive medium in a pressurized gas flow toward the surfaces. 22. The method of claim 20 wherein the blasting is shot blasting, sand blasting, grit blasting, glass bead blasting, or wet blasting. 23. The method of claim 18 wherein the measuring includes exposing the parts to a device emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective electronic detection device, and wherein the respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the measuring further includes changing the orientation of the parts in relation to the emitting and detection devices during the exposing to allow the radiation to be reflected from the plurality of points. 25. The method of claim 18 wherein the measuring includes exposing the parts to an array of emitting devices oriented around the batch of parts, each emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective detection device in an array of electronic detection devices, and wherein each respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 26. The method of claim 18 wherein the measuring includes contacting the surfaces at the plurality of points with a stylus of a contact profilometer. 27. A method of preparing and heating a batch of metal parts, the method comprising: treating the surfaces of a batch of two or more metal parts concurrently with an abrasive medium to alter the surface finish of each of the parts to affect the reflectivity of the surfaces throughout the batch; measuring the reflectivity of the surfaces at a plurality of points in the batch including a point on each of at least two of the parts, the treating and measuring being performed until the measuring indicates that a desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points in the batch; and after the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved, and without further treatment of the surfaces of the parts, heating the batch of metal parts having the achieved desired reflectivity with infrared radiance to a desired temperature. 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the metal parts comprise aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the treating includes one of blasting the surfaces with the abrasive medium while changing the orientation of the parts relative to a flow of the abrasive medium or blasting the surfaces with the abrasive medium from an array of nozzles oriented around the batch of parts so as to expose additional surfaces in the batch to the abrasive medium. 30. The method of claim 27 wherein the treating includes contacting the surfaces with an abrasive-coated device so as to alter the surface finish of the surfaces. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the treating includes contacting the surfaces with an abrasive-coated device selected from the group consisting of: a grinding wheel, a wire wheel, a wire brush, and a sanding belt. 32. The method of claim 27 wherein the measuring includes exposing the parts to a device emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective electronic detection device, and wherein the respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the measuring further includes changing the orientation of the parts in relation to the emitting and detection devices during the exposing to allow the radiation to be reflected from the plurality of points. 34. The method of claim 27 wherein the measuring includes exposing the parts to an array of emitting devices oriented around the batch of parts, each emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective detection device in an array of electronic detection devices, and wherein each respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 35. The method of claim 27 wherein the measuring includes contacting the surfaces at the plurality of points with a stylus of a contact profilometer. 36. A method of preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance, the method comprising: blasting the surface of a metal part with an abrasive medium to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface; and measuring the reflectivity of the surface at one or more points on the metal part by exposing the metal part to a device emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective electronic detection device, and wherein the respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected, the blasting and measuring being performed until the measuring indicates that a desired reflectivity is achieved. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the metal part includes a threshold surface oriented to present a difficulty of alteration of the finish thereof that represents a maximum difficulty of alteration for the part, wherein the measuring includes a point on the threshold surface, and wherein the desired reflectivity is a minimum threshold reflectivity. 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the measuring is at a plurality of points and the blasting and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points. 39. The method of claim 36 wherein the blasting comprises blasting the surfaces of a batch of metal parts, the measuring is at a plurality of points taken from the surfaces of a plurality of metal parts in the batch, and the blasting and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points from the batch of metal parts. 40. The method of claim 36 wherein the metal part comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 41. The method of claim 36 wherein the blasting includes accelerating the abrasive medium in a pressurized gas flow toward the surface. 42. The method of claim 36 wherein the blasting is shot blasting, sand blasting, grit blasting, glass bead blasting, or wet blasting. 43. The method of claim 36 further comprising, while blasting the part, changing the orientation of the metal part relative to a flow of the abrasive medium so as to expose additional surfaces on the metal part to the abrasive medium to alter the surface finish thereof. 44. The method of claim 36 wherein the blasting is from an array of nozzles oriented around the metal part so as to expose additional surfaces of the metal part to the abrasive medium to alter the surface finish thereof. 45. The method of claim 36 wherein the measuring further includes changing the orientation of the metal part in relation to the emitting and detection devices during the exposing to allow the radiation to be reflected from a plurality of points on the surface. 46. The method of claim 36 wherein the measuring includes exposing the metal part to an array of emitting devices oriented around the at least one metal part, each emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective detection device in an array of electronic detection devices, and wherein each respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 47. A method of preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance, the method comprising: coating the surface of a metal part with a coating medium to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface; and physically measuring the reflectivity of the surface at one or more points on the metal part, the coating and measuring being performed until the measuring indicates that a desired reflectivity is achieved. 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the coating material is a dry powder or liquid colloid. 49. The method of claim 47 wherein the measuring is at a plurality of points and the treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points. 50. The method of claim 47 wherein the metal part includes a threshold surface oriented to present a difficulty of alteration of the finish thereof that represents a maximum difficulty of alteration for the part, wherein the measuring includes a point on the threshold surface, and wherein the desired reflectivity is a minimum threshold reflectivity. 51. The method of claim 47 wherein the treating comprises treating the surfaces of a batch of two or more metal parts concurrently, the measuring is at a plurality of points taken from the surfaces of a plurality of metal parts in the batch, and the treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity is achieved at each of the plurality of points from the batch of metal parts. 52. The method of claim 47 wherein the metal part comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 53. The method of claim 47 wherein the measuring includes exposing the metal part to a device emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective electronic detection device, and wherein the respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 54. The method of claim 53 wherein the measuring further includes changing the orientation of the metal part in relation to the emitting and detection devices during the exposing to allow the radiation to be reflected from a plurality of points on the surface. 55. The method of claim 47 wherein the measuring includes exposing the metal part to an array of emitting devices oriented around the at least one metal part, each emitting electromagnetic radiation at a sufficient intensity to reflect the radiation to a respective detection device in an array of electronic detection devices, and wherein each respective detection device produces a signal used to determine the reflectivity of the surface at the point from which the radiation was reflected. 56. The method of claim 47 wherein the measuring includes contacting the surface at the one or more points with a stylus of a contact profilometer.