Programming spheroid anneal evenheat kiln?

Kentucky

Kentucky

Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
2,986
Hey guys I need to anneal some L6 and I’m foggy on the programming. I remember some but I’m pretty sure not all of it. I need a 1400 soak of one hour then 40 degrees per hour cooling until it hits 1000. I’d appreciate any help
 
Set-Pro, Rampmaster, Genesis, or TAP?
 
Step #1 - Ramp at rate 9999 to 1200F, hold for 15 minutes ( insert steel)
Step #2 - Ramp at rate 500 to 1400; hold 1 hour
Steps #3 - Cool to 1000 at rate 40
Step #4 - end program.
 
I have wondered for a while if with a cranky steel like L6, could you quench and then subcritical "temper" anneal instead of having to run your oven at relatively high temperatures for 12-14 hours? ?
 
jdm61 said:
I have wondered for a while if with a cranky steel like L6, could you quench and then subcritical "temper" anneal instead of having to run your oven at relatively high temperatures for 12-14 hours? ?
Click to expand...

Sure you can.

Hoss
 
jdm61 said:
I have wondered for a while if with a cranky steel like L6, could you quench and then subcritical "temper" anneal instead of having to run your oven at relatively high temperatures for 12-14 hours? ?
Click to expand...
What’s that process?
 
Choose 3 seg(ments), choose ramp speed, choose target temp, choose soak time, repeat for two remaining seg’s. For no alarm, choose 9999.

Hoss
 
I’m not real familiar with L6, I would try 1600’ for 15 minutes to normalize, air cool, 1450’ for 15 min, air cool x 2 times, 1450’ for 15 min, oil quench. 1200’ for 2 1/2 hours, air cool = fine spheroidite. This would be a very good condition to austenitize and quench from.

Hoss
 
What Hoss mentioned above sounds right to me. Excellent advice. You could email Kevin Cashen too. He knows L6 inside and out. The simple idea is normalize, thermal cycle 2-3 times, quench on last cycle, then “temper” / respheroidize. Harden as desired from there.
 
I love L6 I just hate what it takes to anneal it. I used it a lot for a long time then got away from it for a while. Tying up the kiln for 12+ hours annealing it stinks too.
 
Cycle annealing like Hoss suggested will work fine on L6 and similar steels. I use a very similar set of parameters. You won't get the big balls of spheroidite that happen with the long method, but that isn't an issue in blade making.

I only put the #4 step in because I didn't know your controller. On many controllers, just program the 3 steps wanted and the program will end automatically after reaching 1000.
 
DevinT said:
I’m not real familiar with L6, I would try 1600’ for 15 minutes to normalize, air cool, 1450’ for 15 min, air cool x 2 times, 1450’ for 15 min, oil quench. 1200’ for 2 1/2 hours, air cool = fine spheroidite. This would be a very good condition to austenitize and quench from.

Hoss
Click to expand...
Forged a test blade from a new batch of L6(Moly). Let it cool on the bench and as expected was probably 60rc after air cooling. Then ran the cycles you suggested and it worked great without tying my kiln up for 15 hours. Soft and easy to grind
 
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