CF53-HCP – Hard Chrome Plated Steel (WV) Induction Hardened Linear Shaft

Our Hard Chrome Plated material (WV) is fundamentally our CF53 (W) material but with improved corrosion resistance through the addition of a hard chrome plated outer layer.  We recommend our Chrome plated linear shafts for complex applications where excellent metallurgical functionality, corrosion resistance, and aesthetics are in synergy.

The chrome surface of our Chrome plated linear shafts give great wear and corrosion resistance through a minimum 7µm and more usually 15µm thickness micro-crack chrome plated finish. The micro-cracked chromium has a Vickers hardness of 800-1000kg/mm² which is fundamental to this material’s popularity and versatility.

The chrome surface of our Chrome plated linear shafts gives good wear and corrosion resistance, with the chroming process facilitating good durability and diminishing friction.

The CF53 HCP Induction Hardened Linear Shaft also known by the code WV is mostly stocked in metric diameters from 3mm to 100mm diameter, but imperial can be obtained if requested as a specially ordered item. Induction hardened linear shafts present a soft shaft core which ensures a good resilience. To the untrained eye, Linear Shafts may appear the same as other shafts, but the metallurgical differences are notable.

The manufacturing processes used to achieve the required standards, results in significant performance differences between linear shaft and other steel bars. One such process is induction hardening which is a form of heat treatment in where the linear shafts are heated using a process called induction heating, followed by another process where they are quenched. The result of this process is the linear shafts have increased hardness but also increased brittleness, which consequently requires considerable engineering experience in the cutting of the bar when breaking through this ‘induction hardened skin’ as well as subsequent machining operations, for example milled flats, keyways and planes, radial and axial drilling and tapping, and turned-down diameters.

The inner race of linear shafts demand the highest levels of surface topography, surface hardening, surface finish, diameter, taper and roundness, material cleanliness and straightness to ensure optimum performance of the linear shafts with minimal wear and ongoing maintenance for the customer. This is fundamental for the long life required for the application it serves.

Our hard chrome plated shafts are used in a number of highly specialised applications particularly in the pneumatic architecture of instrumentation and testing machines.