Three different camshafts for Ford and Jaguar car engines can be tested for hardness in a single special fixture
Three different camshafts for Ford and Jaguar car engines can be tested for hardness in a single special fixture by Indentec. Developed for Ford's plant at Bridgend, the fixture is designed to accommodate shafts of varying lengths and enable the cam lobes on each to be automatically located in the correct positions for Rockwell testing.
The camshaft is mounted in a hinged carriage between spring loaded centres adjustable for length and lockable.
Each lobe is positioned for testing by sliding the carriage on a guide rail until the cam is beneath the indenter on the testing machine, where its test positions are positively fixed by indexing latches.
During the test procedure, both shaft and hinged carriage are supported by the raised test table as the test load is applied.
The fixture is part of one of Indentec's most advanced digital Rockwell testers, which has an eye level touchscreen for display, monitoring and control.
As each automatic test cycle is completed, the hardness value and related data are registered on the touchscreen and stored for downloading.
The touchscreen system also provides an alpha numeric facility for storing and accessing specimen files.
The new machine joins another top of the range touchscreen Indentec tester already in use for making Vickers tests on metallurgical specimens.
