VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Integrated Robotics Vacuum Furnace System for Increasing Heat Treat Automation Demands

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SEW-EURODRIVE has commissioned a modular NANO vacuum furnace system completely integrated with advanced automation for their Lyman, SC, facility.

It is the third NANO system with integrated robotics from ECM USA within the last two years. This 6 chamber, 20 bar quench NANO vacuum furnace system has 16 tempering positions, advanced solvent based washer (both oil and water based contaminants), and robotic workload assembly/disassembly.
Dunnage management is also provided and fully automated within the robotics configuration.

The system was specifically designed to run multiple materials (including carburized grades and tool steels) and will increase production for various load scenarios and processes. SEW-EURODRIVE MOVITRANS® (SEW-EURODRIVE’s patented inductive energy power transfer supply system) will also be incorporated within the vacuum furnace transfer system.


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Vacuum Furnace Revitalized and Upgraded

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A Terre Haute, IN, company has completed the commissioning of a vacuum furnace system for a Mid-Atlantic manufacturer. The furnace was upgraded with an oversized vacuum pumping system, updated piping, all metallic hot zone, and control system.

Mercer Vacuum Components and Services Inc took the existing SS vessel and stripped it to the base. All of the vacuum piping was upgraded from .625" copper piping to 2.000" KF style SS piping. The hot zone utilized graphite board with moly elements that MVCS upgraded to a multiple layer metallic lined hot zone utilizing the OEM designed molybdenum elements. New inlet and outlet water headers were also supplied. The control panel was upgraded to include a new PLC and HMI. Instrument upgrade was performed by Mercer Technologies. The entire furnace system was taken apart and painted before reassembling.


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Record Setting Titanium Load Processing Achieved

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Source: Solar
Robert (Bob) Hill,
President at
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA
Source: Solar Atmospheres

A western PA heat treater recently degassed 175,000 pounds of 6AI-4V titanium in their 48-foot-long vacuum furnace. This is the largest and heaviest single load of titanium ever processed in the company's history.

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA vacuum degassed the load consisting of 154 sheets of titanium 40” x 240”. Their president, Bob Hill, states, “The future of the global aerospace titanium market is very promising with the many opportunities in the commercial and military aircraft markets!”


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Vacuum Furnace Designed Specifically for MRO Industry

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Aero Space Power, an MRO facility, has ordered a custom-made vacuum furnace to be utilized in repair solutions for both complex aircraft engines and gas turbines in the energy industry. 

Mark Peter Biro
Commercial Sales Manager at Aero Space Power
Source: LinkedIn

We decided to acquire in-house heat treatment because we want to be independent in production. It will also give us much better control over the process and treated part quality," commented Mark Peter Biro, commercial sales manager, Aero Space Power. "By installing production capacity in-house and creating our own heat treatment department, we not only become independent from external suppliers, but we also significantly reduce transportation costs.” 

The furnace on order from SECO/WARWICK, a company with locations in North America, is unique due to the size of the heating chamber. It has been adapted to the Aero Space Power requirements and has a working area of 51" x 39" x 59" to enable heat treatment of large components up to 55" diameter especially large aircraft parts, as well as gas turbines for the energy sector. The custom technology on order, in addition to non-standard dimensions, is designed to process work in the presence of two gases: argon (used for partial pressure) and nitrogen, which is used mainly in the cooling process. A dew point sensor for each of the gases will be included with the furnace.


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New Vacuum Furnace for Michigan Heat Treater

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The new transformer
Source: Solar Atmospheres

Solar Atmospheres of Michigan took delivery of a new vacuum furnace this week, which will be used primarily for aerospace applications. The Chesterfield, MI, location is set to begin heat treating later this year.

The furnace has a working hot zone of 36” wide x 36” high x 48” deep and can handle workloads up to 5,000 lbs. To power this furnace along with nine other vacuum furnaces, a new 2600kVA transformer was installed. The new facility anticipates being fully operational by the fall of 2023 and will gather all of Solar Atmosphere's Michigan heat treating under one roof.


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Heat Treat Brazing Furnace for North American Manufacturer

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At the end of March, a vacuum aluminum brazing furnace was shipped to a manufacturer that serves the aerospace industry. The North America company produces complex heat exchangers, cold plates, and avionic enclosures.

The furnace, from PVT, Inc., has an AMS 2750 qualified work zone of 36” x 30” x 90” with type B instrumentation and Class 1 temperature uniformity. In addition to this furnace, PVT delivered two furnaces in Q4 and one furnace in Q3 2022 to companies manufacturing components for avionics, MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), and electromechanical assemblies.

Vacuum aluminum brazing furnace
Source: PVT, Inc.

PVT Incorporated is a subsidiary of Consarc Corporation, an Inductotherm Group Company.


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Heat Treat Furnace Amplifies Large Die Manufacturer’s Capabilities

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Peter Zawistowski
Managing Director
SECO/VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES, USA
Source: SECO/WARWICK

A U.S.-based international manufacturer of dies will expand their operation with a high-pressure gas quench furnace. The equipment will accommodate increasing orders for the company’s largest dies.

The manufacturer’s equipment requires the use of precisely heat treated large dies. Currently the company utilizes a pair of vacuum furnaces that have some limits. The Vector® furnace they are about to receive from SECO/VACUUM, a SECO/WARWICK Group company is bottom loading with 6 bar nitrogen gas quench, 60”x 72”, with a 3-ton capacity working zone. This is room enough to treat 3 of their largest dies at once compared to only 2 per cycle for the old furnace. 

With [the furnace’s] wide range of quenching features, [the manufacturer will] have room to grow, even enabling them to conduct low-pressure carburizing processes if they ever need to,” said Peter Zawistowski, managing director of SECO/VACUUM. 


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Precision Electrical Components Manufacturer Adds 3 Vacuum Brazing Furnaces

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Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment
SECO/WARWICK

A manufacturer of a wide variety of vacuum circuit breakers ordered vacuum furnaces for metal heat treatment. The circuit breakers must be brazed with high vacuum.

In 2017, the first furnaces provided were two SECO/WARWICK furnaces. The most recent expansion is three Vector vacuum furnaces that provide high vacuum level and temperature uniformity within the entire load.

"[T]he specificity of this electric power control production requires incredible precision. Circuit breakers need a high level of vacuum and temperature uniformity. They are brazed in vacuum furnaces in a very high vacuum; therefore, it was necessary to use an efficient pumping system consisting of a turbomolecular pump and a dry pump." Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group, a manufacturer with North American locations.


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Research Institute Bolsters Vacuum Heat Treating Capabilities

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The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, has invested in a new vacuum furnace from a manufacturer headquartered in North America.

Nikola Dzepina
Nitrex Regional Manager – Asia
Source: NITREX

KIMS conducts a wide range of technological R&D activities, including process improvements, application development, material enhancement, testing, and evaluation. The new Nitrex vacuum furnace will support domestic companies -- including Hanwha Aerospace, Doosan Enerbility, Sung-il Turbine, and Samjeong Turbine -- in a development project that aims to improve the cycle efficiency of industrial land-based gas turbines.

The furnace is a horizontal type 2-Bar external quench equipped with a curved molybdenum wide band heating element arranged in a circular configuration around the main hot zone. Its work area measures 15″ in width by 15″ in height by 24″ in length (381 x 381 x 610 mm).

“The Nitrex system can support a wider range of R&D projects and metals,” said Nikola Dzepina, regional manager in Asia at Nitrex. “With the ability to achieve higher vacuum levels with 10-6 Torr ultimate range, the furnace can heat treat parts at temperatures up to 1,371°C (2,500°F).”


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Industrial Automation Manufacturer Adds In-House Heat Treat Capabilities

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Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment
SECO/WARWICK

An industrial automation manufacturer has ordered a heat treatment system to establish a captive hardening plant within their machine park. The line of two vacuum furnaces, an atmosphere furnace, and a washer will harden and carburize parts, specifically gears, pinions, and shafts.

SECO/WARWICK , a manufacturer with North American  locations, will produce the furnaces to harden and vacuum carburize the elements used in motor reducer production. These parts figure in the automation applications production process for industries such as automotive, aviation, food and printing.  

“In these times of constant problems with maintaining the supply chain, having captive heat treatment within a machine park provides our partners with a huge competitive advantage and independence," says Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Furnaces Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group. "Within a relatively small area, we can create a heat treatment system that will meet the Partner’s needs."


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