From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The difficulties of producing A.C.9 alloy to specification and the cooperation with external firms.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 116\2\ scan0104 | |
| Date | 21th November 1938 | |
| RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/CTS.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation}3/JH.21.11.38. A.C.9. Alloy. With reference to the supplying of outside firms with A.C.9 bearings. Over the past few months, we have been co-operating with Wellworthy of Lymington, and High Duty Alloys of Slough on this job. Our part has been concerned with the following - (1) Technical assistance to Wellworthy on the matter of initial 'set ups' on engines made by the various firms who are interested in the material. To do this, we have simply used the experience we have gained in the development of our own engine. (2) Assisting both the above named firms, in the matter of satisfactorily producing A.C.9 Alloy. It is here, that we have encountered trouble, and the difficulty can be summed up on the two points - (a) Keeping within the specification laid down by our Laboratory. (b) Obtaining the correct 'Brinell' hardness. It is true to say of course that if the material is to specification, the correct Brinell figure should follow after the specified heat treatment. We have tried for some time to overcome these difficulties by an interchange of correspondence, on individual points as and when they have cropped up. But more recently it became obvious to all concerned, that more might be gained if we lined up our own method of manufacture (Foundry and Laboratory practice) against that of the combined effort of H.D.A. and Wellworthy. | ||