Abstract
This article is devoted to the development of an automated unit for hardening of disc working tools by plasma-powder surfacing with powder feeding from outside the plasmatron. The introduction describes the actual problems arising during the work of soil cultivation tools. The conducted analysis of literature sources allowed to determine the main methods of increasing the resource of disc working bodies, used at present, and their advantages and disadvantages are described. As one of the methods of increasing the resource of disc working tools the method of plasma-powder surfacing with vertical arrangement of plasmatron and powder feeding through the plasmatron is considered. The method of high-speed plasma-powder surfacing with powder feeding from outside the plasmatron into the zone of the highest temperatures of the plasma arc by means of a doser of the original patented design was chosen for the creation of the present installation. The control scheme of the installation elements is developed and presented in graphic form. The principle of operation of the main units and components of the installation is described. The basic questions of modularity and variability of application of installations of such class, and also prospects of their development at the enterprises of agrocomplex are disclosed. In the discussion the actual issues of labour conditions of the plant operator are touched upon. The conclusion presents the main conclusions on the work carried out and the developed plant.