On Self-Positioning and Self-Fixation of Parts Made of Alloys with Shape Memory Effect under Component Assembling
Authors: Balaev E. Yu. O. 
Published: September 2024

Introduction Violation of mutual positioning and fixation of parts worsens the operation of the equipment. Traditional approaches to solving the problem under consideration have been sufficiently studied: interchangeability of parts and the use of special equipment. Both methods involve a significant number of additional elements and assembly operations. Fixation is often provided by means of force fitting and welding. Disadvantages of these methods include assembly, residual and other stresses, engineering constraints, etc. To solve these problems, alloys with thermoelastic phase transformations are used, which provide shape memory effects (SME) to manifest themselves. This article describes, for the first time, self-positioning and self-fixation using the example of parts specially made from an alloy with SME. Materials and Methods. The pin element under pressing mandrels the blind hole of the cup and enters the seat. The alloy with SME was Ti-55.7wt%Ni. The temperature of the onset of its austenitic transformation was As = 95°C ± 5°C. The elemental composition was determined by a Shimadzu EDX-8000 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, the phase composition — by a Shimadzu XRD-7000 diffractometer. The temperature was specified through differential scanning calorimetry. The range was 20–300°C, the heating rate was 5 deg/min. A Guide T120 thermal imager and a RangeVision DIY 3D scanner with structured illumination were used. After pressing the pin into the cup at different angles, the alignment and deviations between the axes of the cup and the pin were examined. Then, the cup was heated to 110–120°C, cooled, and control measurements were taken.Results. Values of the deflection angle after pressing were 0.2–11°. With a rigid structure and an installation angle of 0°, the pin deflected in the mounting hole by 0.2–0.5°. The axes shifted and did not intersect. The pin was not always completely pressed in. This indicated uneven deformation of the metal and different stress values around the hole. Such a unit would soon fail. The pin took the required position after heating the cup to 110–120°C (this temperature was higher than at the end of the reverse martensitic transformation). The angular deviation of the axes was noted to be 0.03–0.1°. The maximum misalignment (0.04 mm) corresponded to high positioning accuracy. Heating during the reverse martensitic transformation created internal stresses that returned the initial geometry of the cup. They also formed the forces that positioned and fixed the pin in the hole. That is, it is the parts that provide positioning and fixation (this is selfpositioning and self-fixation).Discussion and Conclusion. For self-positioning and self-fixation of parts due to the shape memory effect, it is necessary to avoid sharp transition lines between the surfaces of parts during design, select rounded corners or fillets, and get a clean surface without burrs. Self-fixation and self-positioning reduce defects and inaccuracies during assembly. The use of certain alloys increases the profitability of equipment production.