Patent ID: 6706127
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: B23P,C21D,F16H

Abstract:
A method making a ball-screw rack bar for use in a power steering mechanism of an automotive vehicle, comprising:providing a length of bar stock of a predetermined diameter and at least partially hollow, cutting transverse rack teeth in an exterior surface of a first end portion of the length of bar stock, cutting a ball-screw thread in an exterior surface of a second end portion of the length of bar stock by whirling, before or after the cutting of the ball-screw thread, heat treating the first end portion of the length of bar stock to a first hardness and the second end portion of the length of bar stock to a second hardness different from the first hardness by passing an induction coil scanner lengthwise over the length of bar stock from one end of the length of bar stock to the other.