Abstract: A method for setting conditions for a shaft diameter enlargement, a shaft diameter enlargement method, and a shaft diameter enlargement apparatus are provided. A controller of the shaft diameter enlargement apparatus controls a compressing section, a bending section, and a rotating section to enlarge an intermediate portion of a shaft workpiece to have a predetermined outer diameter by rotating the shaft workpiece about its axis with axial compressive force a bending angle being applied to the intermediate portion. The controller determines whether the shaft workpiece is acceptable, based on the number of rotations of die shaft workpiece required for enlarging the intermediate portion to have the predetermined outer diameter or based on an enlargement ratio of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A method for setting conditions for a shaft diameter enlargement, a shaft diameter enlargement method, and a shaft diameter enlargement apparatus are provided. A controller of the shaft diameter enlargement apparatus controls a compressing section, a bending section, and a rotating section to enlarge an intermediate portion of a shaft workpiece to have a predetermined outer diameter by rotating the shaft workpiece about its axis with axial compressive force a bending angle being applied to the intermediate portion. The controller determines whether the shaft workpiece is acceptable, based on the number of rotations of die shaft workpiece required for enlarging the intermediate portion to have the predetermined outer diameter or based on an enlargement ratio of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: To radially enlarge an intermediate portion of a shaft, the shaft is held by a pair of holders with a gap between the pair of holders in an axial direction of the shaft, compression force is applied in the axial direction to the intermediate portion arranged between the pair of holders, and alternating load is applied in a direction intersecting the axial direction to the intermediate portion to enlarge the intermediate portion. When enlarging the intermediate portion, a temperature of the intermediate portion is set to be above a blue brittleness temperature range of the shaft, and a temperature of the holders is set to be below a tempering temperature range of the holders.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a stepped member are provided. An intermediate portion of a shaft workpiece is radially enlarged while being compressed in an axial direction by applying alternating load to the intermediate portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction in a state in which pressure that compresses the shaft workpiece in the axial direction is applied to both ends of the shaft workpiece. The enlarged intermediate portion of the shaft workpiece is cat in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction so that the shaft workpiece is divided into two stepped members. Each of the stepped members has a shaft portion and a head portion provided at an axial end of the shaft portion, and the head portion has a larger diameter than the shaft portion.

Abstract: A composite member includes a metal shaft member, and a fit member having an insertion hole and secured onto the shaft member inserted in the insertion hole. The shaft member includes a receiving portion contacting a first end surface of the fit member, a first radially enlarged portion adjacent to the receiving portion in an axial direction and tightly contacting an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, and a second radially enlarged portion adjacent to the first radially enlarged portion in the axial direction and tightly contacting a second end surface of the fit member opposite to the first end surface. The first and second radially enlarged portions are formed by applying a compressive load in the axial direction to the shaft member and an alternating load in a direction intersecting the axial direction to a portion of the shaft member inserted in the insertion hole.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a stepped member are provided. An intermediate portion of a shaft workpiece is radially enlarged while being compressed in an axial direction by applying alternating load to the intermediate portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction in a state in which pressure that compresses the shaft workpiece in the axial direction is applied to both ends of the shaft workpiece. The enlarged intermediate portion of the shaft workpiece is cat in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction so that the shaft workpiece is divided into two stepped members. Each of the stepped members has a shaft portion and a head portion provided at an axial end of the shaft portion, and the head portion has a larger diameter than the shaft portion.

Abstract: A shaft holding sleeve is inserted in a fitting hole of a compressing machine of a shaft diameter enlarging apparatus that applies an axial compression stress to a shaft stock to hold an end portion of the shaft stock during a shaft diameter enlarging process for radially enlarging a portion of the shaft stock. The shaft holding sleeve includes a front end surface to be inserted in the fitting hole, an exposed portion to be exposed to an outside of the fitting hole, and at least one air communication passage extending from the front end surface to a surface of the exposed portion. A jig may be attached to the shaft diameter enlarging apparatus to facilitate the insertion of the shaft holding sleeve into the fitting hole.

Abstract: A high-strength sintered article of chemical substances having the .beta.-silicon nitride type crystal structure is produced by blending 50 to 99.9 weight percent of a .beta.-silicon nitride and/or .beta.'-Sialon and 50 to 0.1 weight percent of a mixture, as a sintering aid, consisting of BeO, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 in respective amounts such as to have a Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 /BeO ratio in the range of from 2.8 to 9.4, an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /BeO ratio in the range of from 0.0 to 2.6, and an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio in the range of from 0.0 to 1.1, all ratios being ratios by weight and sintering the resultant blend.