Misumi positioning pins
Greater process reliability in the production of steel bodies
Thanks to an aluminium chromium nitride (AlCrN) coating and an optimized surface, the new Weld Spatter Resistant (WSR) positioning pins from Misumi are resistant to weld spatter and wear.
Misumi developed the combination of steel positioning pin and coating in collaboration with the Institute for Welding and Joining Technology at RWTH Aachen University and the Research and Development Association for Joining Technology (FEF). After more than a year and a half in series production at a major automotive manufacturer, the WSR positioning pins show no perceptible wear or weld spatter adhesion.
Currently, OEMs mainly use ceramic positioning pins in highly stressed areas of body-in-white production. For a long time, these were considered the only solid solution, as until recently there was no combination of steel positioning pin and coating that could achieve at least the same results.
Uncoated steel pins are not up to the high demands of resistance welding on steel sheets. However, defects can also occur with ceramic pins. If they are damaged by weld spatter, wear or lateral forces, their sleeves can detach from the steel core or break during use. The failure of a positioning pin can sometimes lead to dozens of bodies becoming unusable. It can even lead to a production stop. "Thanks to our close cooperation and many joint projects with the major European car manufacturers, we know the requirements of the industry very well. A specific inquiry from a well-known OEM made it clear to us that there was a great need for a more stable alternative to ceramic pins. We therefore sought out partners from the world of science to develop a coating for steel pins with optimized properties," says Robin Christ, Project Manager and Business Development Specialist at Misumi.
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