Caterpillar Inc.
Method of heat treating a fastening member

Abstract:

A method of heat treating a fastening member having a head portion, a shank portion, and a thread portion includes hardening the fastening member to a first hardness value. Hardening of the fastening member includes heating the fastening member at a first pre-set temperature value. The method also includes tempering the fastening member at a second pre-set temperature value to a second hardness value. The method further includes induction tempering the thread portion of the fastening member. Induction tempering of the thread portion includes heating the thread portion at a third pre-set temperature value to a third hardness value. The third hardness value of the thread portion is less than the second hardness value of the head portion and the shank portion.