Northern Industrial Manufacturing Corporation

Products

Although we use a variety of different technologies in the manufacturing of our products, we are somewhat focused in application. The majority of our production is thrust components such as thrust washers, reinforcement plates, pinion washers and spacers.

We deviate somewhat from thrust components in the powdered metal area and produce such products as pistons for the compressor industry. Each product is individually engineered to perform a specific function.

We have been successful by helping our customers evaluate a particular application and suggesting a specific manufacturing process using the most economically feasible methods. Some examples of this have included:

a) Replacement of a neddle bearing with drop in PM design including oil grooves and corner relief in the shape of a step. Customer savings $1.00 each (prox).

b) Replacement of a fine blanked reinforcement plate with stamped/straightened part. Customer savings $0.20 each (prox).

c) Steel Stamped washer with machined grooves converted to a PM design offering better load carrying capacity. Customer savings $0.25 each (prox).

Often designers will over engineer an application and add a neddle bearing that may be under utilized. This presents unnecessary costs to the final product. Knowing the parameters a part operates under we can aid our customers in the evaluations to identify those areas that may be candidates for cost saving efforts.

Low Carbon Steel (C1008-1020):

Generally used for parts Selective in nature which allows a series of parts whose only dimensional differential is thickness and unique part identification. Low Carbon materials can be heat treated to allow a thin hardened surface case. Flatness and thickness are the primary characteristic of concern so most parts are ground to close tolerances.

Mid Range Carbon Steel (C1035-1050):

Beneficial for heat treated parts where a thicker case depth is required. Often times parts may require anti rotation characteristics and this material adds toughness to the design. We can Heat Set parts deformed during heat treatment. This allows more consistency in the flatness of the product and parts can be ground flat even after heat treat.

High Carbon Steel (C1074-1095):

Used generally in thinner parts where hardness is critical. These are easily heat treated to Rc 60 plus for increased wearability. Grinding may not be an option because the material is not typically available in the normal range used in grinding. We have developed automated equipment to pass parts through parallel plates to eliminate those parts deformed in heat treat. For flatness critical parts (Pinions and Flapper Valves) a better option may be pre hardened material. We have developed a process for tool build that allows us to maintain adequate tool life while stamping pre hardened material. This eliminates the requirement for secondary heat treatment of the parts and the deformation it causes.

Powdered Metal:

Traditional Powdered Metal is not a good thrust surface due to its porosity. We have developed a process of secondary operations that seals the surface and allows the part to carry an oil film. All of this while maintaining the advantage of Powdered Metal. This offers a significant economic advantage if the design requires oil grooves, anti-rotation, chamfers, steps or other unique shapes. Our processing includes grinding so that the thickness and flatness are maintained at close dimensional tolerances.

Northern Industrial Manufacturing Corporation
41000 Executive Drive
Harrison Twp, MI 48045-1303
(586)468-2790
Fax (586)468-6842