INTRODUCTION

Traditionally, automotive engine parts such as camshafts, rocker arms and valve springs, drivetrain parts such as transmission gears, shifting linkages and splines, differential parts such as rings and pinions, and universally mounted components such as bearings operate by rolling, sliding or pushing against their complementary partners.

Several OEM manufacturing steps are required to produce these components. These include, but are not limited to various combinations of forging, blanking, cold heading, and machining, hobbing and hardening operations such as thru-hardening, induction hardening, case hardening, nitriding, etc.7, 8