Materials & manufacturing selection analysis Assignment

Materials & manufacturing selection analysis - Assignment Example This turns the drive pulley that runs a belt that is connected to the flywheel that allows the starter motor to rotate the crankshaft. The resulting forces caused by the ignition of the spark plugs force the pistons to move downward with a huge force. The crankshaft changes this up and down motion of the pistons into a rotating motion. This is made possible when the connecting rods attached to the pistons connect to the crankshaft so that they go up and down their angle changes (Crankshaft Forming, 2005). An automotive crankshaft goes through a large number of load cycles during its service life in a car engine, fatigue performance and durability is a key consideration in its manufacture. It is important to manufacture a less expensive crankshaft with the least weight possible and the right fatigue strength. This will result in a lighter and smaller engine with better fuel efficiency and higher power output. The crankshaft must have enormous strength and made of material that are hard. The crankshaft will be made of medium-carbon steel alloys and alloying elements combinations. Specific service requirements must be in the mixture used and include surface and core hardness, nitridability, hardenability, ultimate tensile strength, temper-embrittlement resistance, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, yield strength, ductility and endurance limit. Titanium, aluminum, vanadium, cobalt, silicon, nickel, molybdenum, chromium and manganese are the alloying elements capable of producing t hese properties. The carbon content in these elements determines the hardness and the ultimate strength, and is used in making the crankshaft (Fatemi & Williams, 2007). The crankshaft is made of steel alloys whose combination of properties will ensure ultra strength and hardness of the crankshaft. Iron and a little percentage of carbon, about 0.45%, are found in the medium-carbon steel alloys. This is combined with other alloying elements that produce a