Did you know that precisely made cold drawn steel can be used in any number of different ways? This material is commonly used in several industries, including the aviation and marine industries. In case you didn’t already know, cold drawn steel is metal that is made from several different types of materials (read: metals), making it an alloy.
It’s allowed to cool and then coated in an industrial lubricant before it’s pulled or pushed through a series of dies that shape it. This is where the cold drawn steel name comes from. Those dies can differ, based on the final desired shape. Here are ten examples of the many uses (and shapes) of cold drawn steel as it’s used in the aviation and marine industries.
1) Bearings
Did you know that cold drawn steel can be turned into bearings? These bearings are made of steel on both the outside (the stationary section) and the inside (the part that moves.) Since this type of steel can be easily shaped, it makes sense that bearings are made from it. The cold drawing process allows for a very precise final product.
2) Cable Assemblies
Cable assemblies have a number of uses. For example, they go inside of engines, are used in winches, and so on. The aviation and marine industries take advantage of the fact that parts of these assemblies are made of cold drawn steel (most notably, the “cable” parts of them) which makes them incredibly strong. They have all of the advantages of this type of steel.
3) Rods
It almost goes without saying that rods, especially pinion rods, are one of the top items made from cold drawn steel. It’s one of the most popular products. However, plain straight rods of various diameters can be made from it as well.
It all comes down to the dies that the metal is forced through during the manufacturing process. No matter what, rods for both marine and aviation industry use are commonly made from this type and process of metal.
4) Wires
Wires are one of the most popular things made from cold drawn steel. The precise way that the metal is drawn through the die makes it very easy to turn it into a very strong length of wire. In fact, that wire can further be customized, based on the die that’s used.
For example, it can be made into pinion wire. With that said, both the marine and aviation industries have plenty of uses for these wires. The wire’s strength makes it very versatile.
5) Door Components
There’s more to the doors on boats and airplanes than those that are installed in your home. These doors need to be very sturdy, and they need to be manufactured to stay closed, or else there could be some serious consequences. This is why cold drawn steel is used in some of those components.
6) Steering Mechanisms
Steering mechanisms are necessary for both industries since they create vehicles that, well, need to be steered. Cold drawn steel is used to make some of these steering components because it’s incredibly strong and versatile. Creating a steering system requires a lot of very precise engineering.
7) Hydraulics
You’re probably a little familiar with the many parts that make up a hydraulic system, but did you know that some of them as made from cold drawn steel? This material is very versatile and can be shaped in many different ways. Think about that the next time that you see a hydraulic system in action.
8) Shaped Bars
What are shaped bars used for? Well, in both the marine and aviation industries, these bars are made into other parts. They are stamped or machined (see below) into whatever precise shape that they need to be.
Sure, you could use cold rolled or hot rolled steel for these metal bars, but if you do, you lose out on the numerous advantages of cold drawn steel, including its tensile strength and nice-looking surface.
9) Engine Components
Engines contain a number of different working parts – and of course, airplanes and boats have fairly complicated ones. The trick to an engine is the fact that all of these parts need to be working in tandem. If one malfunctions, the entire system goes down. This is why some of those parts are made from cold drawn steel. It’s strong, reliable, and easily customized.
10) Machined Parts
Machined parts are those that are cut to a specific size and shape on a machining device. In some cases, these machines are run by computers that have been programmed to handle this job – the results need to be extremely detailed, and a person just won’t be able to do the job quickly enough. These machined parts, usually made from shaped bars, are then used in both industries.
