Mikronite
 

Does anybody know if Mikronite is still in business? They bought out crane cams, and they shut their doors. I see thier site is no longer up, yet independant companies still have a listing allowing your products to be mikronited.... I was looking to have my crank, rods, pistons, valve springs, and later on my differntial gears done.

Why would you get gears mikronited?

Well that's what they mainly worked with was ring and pinion sets, but last I heard they expanded their applications to internal parts (have to be new)

I would have them done to free up some friction in that area, as well as lower temps a little. They were off exit 105, but I never got the chance to stop by and visit the facility.

Gears should already be hardened and laped. What would the advantage of shot peening them in addition be? Just friction?

http://px5.sfstatic.com/thumbs/0000/90/72/80927.jpgSEMA 2006 - Crane Cams interview with StreetFire.n

Been following these guys ever since i watched this, and heard awesome results about them from outside sources, actual users, and magazines.

I remember seeing the same clip too. I just do not understand the advantage of shot peening these paticular componunts. They are already hardened and finished. Shot peening only hardens the surface, it would not necessarly prevent teeth from breaking at the root diamater. Ive always bee curious to hear sufficent evidance that they provide cooler running gear boxes or reduce parisitic loss. I worked an internship at a company which designed and manufactured gear boxes and we cut and lapped our own gears and one time when I brought up the idea of shot peening hypoid gears I was told it was inpractical because it could change the geometry of the tooth profile which would cause whine in the gears while running. Where as lapping was plenty sufficent and allows for a new gear set to "burn in" and establish a pattern. I am not trying to advoicate against micronite, it just sounds like an idea which yeilds no bennifit yet people hear its new and are quick to pay for shiney components which you cant see once installed.

Well the other thing is only the surface is hardened, but as much as im looking to strengthen up the components, I'm trying to reduce friction between the surfaces, I think that's where they trying to sell this process. To be honest the Rods I've gone with are already overkill for the engine, but I am building this motor with longevity as a focal point, more so then all out power, so it can be driven while reducing down time between tear downs.

Some things like the crank,pistons,rods, timing chain and gears (upgraded to double roller timing chain from Australia), and a few other components will be cryo'd as well. Overkill is my name :D

Just speculation, but maybe they went business-to-business and don't want to deal with individuals anymore?

It may very well of went that way. I see privateers that are doing the mikronite process, using their logo, but yeah Mikronite has no website what so ever.

We can have your gears done. We also have a very good reasonable outlet for REM. We do ring gears and transmission gears all the time. Let me know. Bob