VACUUM FURNACES NEWS Archives

Nitriding System with Remote Capabilities Goes to Turkey

Marcin Stokłosa
Project Manager
Nitrex Poland
LinkedIn.com

An Ankara-based manufacturer has expanded their heat treat capabilities to design and manufacture subcomponents, as well as next-generation prototypes. With the five-technology system, the company will increase the product development and time to market of a variety of components for electromechanical systems and actuating mechanisms used in aviation, land, and sea vehicles.

The client coordinated with the Nitrex R&D department in Canada to obtain this new system. Additionally, an associated commercial heat treater based in Istanbul, Turkey supported the project with trial production of this nitriding system.

With the “Nitrex NX Connect app,” noted Marcin Stokłosa, project manager at the Poland location, “[the client] can remotely manage furnace operations and nitriding processes from anywhere.”

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U.S. Defense Contractor Expands Heat Treat Capabilities

February 26, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, SINTERING POWDER METAL NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Vacuum Sintering Furnace from Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc.
Source: Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc.

A United States defense contractor will expand their heat treat capabilities with a custom ceramic sintering vacuum furnace. The furnace will be provided with a 36” diameter x 48” high work zone in a graphite hot zone rated for 3362°F (1850°C).

The Model VBS-12 ordered, will increase production capacity and is the fifth furnace from the supplier, Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc., to be manufactured and installed in this contractor’s facility.

“Our strength[…] is solving problems and delivering solutions,” said Greg Kimble, president of Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc. “We have enjoyed the progression of this relationship over the years and we are committed to providing quality products and dependable services.”

(photo source: Defence-Imagery at Pixabay.com)

Unless identified otherwise, all other images from unsplash.com.

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Heat Treaters Acquire Multi-Chamber Systems for Low Pressure Carburizing

February 25, 2021 / AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An automotive supplier and a hydraulic pump manufacturer will acquire multi-chamber vacuum furnace system for low pressure carburizing.

For the automotive supplier of innovative driveline solutions, the system is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions significantly for vacuum carburizing versus an existing atmosphere carburizing furnace. For the hydraulic pump manufacturer, the modular flexibility of this specific furnace was the most important advantage.

ECM Flex Multi-Chamber System
Source: ECM USA, Inc.

The supplier, ECM USA, Inc., notes that their Flex Multi-Chamber System is built as a standard system with the possibility to further expand its capacity and/or to upgrade to a high level of automation (robots, AGVs, vision systems, or other 4.0 elements). In addition to modularity, several processes can be handled in the Flex furnace, such as: low pressure carburizing (LPC), vacuum tempering and a combination of vacuum sintering followed by hardening.

This stems from advanced automation technology -- including robotics -- acting as driving forces behind increased use of more eco-friendly applications outside the LPC-HPGQ sector. This includes, but is not limited to, multiple tool steel processing systems, brazing applications, and rapid thermal processing (RTP) systems.

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Turbine Manufacturer Receives Heat Treat Vacuum Furnace

February 24, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Heat treat equipment to modernize a turbine manufacturing facility has recently been delivered to the client. Included in the order were a single chamber high vacuum furnace with high pressure gas quenching and a separate vacuum tempering furnace with built-in nitriding capability and auxiliary equipment.

With a pressing production start date, all units were pre-accepted, including a hot test process run after five months. Heat treat parts supplier was ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH (ALD). “Many of us put our hearts and souls into making this happen,” wrote Joachim Boss, vice president of Heat Treatment at ALD. “Special thanks go to our mechanics team with Andy Adler and to the electrical engineering and commissioning pair, Rico Englert and Markus Kunkel.” The company also highlights Natalie Roemer and Joachim Boss, who accompanied the project from its very start back in 2013 to its 2021 conclusion.

From left to right: Natalie Roemer, Product Manager; Rico Englert; Andy Adler; Joachim Boss, Vice President Heat Treatment; and Markus Kunkel.
Source: ALD Thermal Vacuum Technologies GmbH

(source: Siemens Pressebild at wikipedia.com)

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Reader Feedback: The Effectiveness of Furnaces

February 16, 2021 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, ENERGY HEAT TREAT, READER FEEDBACK, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Here is what readers are saying about recent posts on Heat Treat Today. Submit your comments to editor@heattreattoday.com.

Hello Heat Treat Daily,

I was surprised to see this bright red furnace on your daily email this past Friday. This is an old image of a furnace still in production at my company Spectrum Thermal Processing in Cranston, RI.

Now, like most of us, this furnace is showing some age, but is is still in production every day with an upgraded control panel and SSI controls.

I reflected on this particular email and want to add that what I find intriguing about heat treat is the longevity of some of the equipment. This furnace processes work for aerospace, automotive, commercial cutting tools and oil and gas refinery and has for nearly 30 years! Just to the left of this furnace in the photo is an older single chamber vacuum furnace that has process parts for the Apollo space program and has recently processed parts for SpaceX. Somehow this equipment just keeps going.

Thanks for your daily insight into the heat treating industry.

Rick Houghton
VP of Operations/Quality Manager
Spectrum Thermal Processing

We welcome your inquiries to and feedback on Heat Treat Today articles. Submit your questions/comments to editor@heattreattoday.com.

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Tool Manufacturer to Receive Heat Treat Furnace

February 3, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Maciej Korecki
Vice President Vacuum Furnace Segment
SECO/WARWICK
(source: SECO/WARWICK)

A tool manufacturer has ordered a retort furnace with vacuum purging for oxidation. While oxidation is primarily used in demanding industries such as automotive and aviation, the technology is increasingly widespread among tool manufacturers.

The retort furnace for the oxidation process operates under a nitrogen and hydrogen mix, then under steam. This furnace can be adjusted to the individual needs of the client, providing the appropriate final hardness and color of the workpieces. According to the supplier, the solution will also enable tempering after vacuum purging.

“Innovations originate . . . also from using the knowledge of our partners and listening to what they want to say,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the vacuum segment business at SECO/WARWICK. “We are glad that we can deliver another furnace and increase the production capacity of our partner.”

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Power Tool and Medical Heat Treaters Receive Furnaces

February 1, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Ipsen Vacuum Furnace
Source: IpsenUSA.com

A North American heat treat supplier will be sending a vacuum furnace to a power tool manufacturer in the U.S. and a medical implant manufacturer.

The supplier, Ipsen’s Vacuum Technology Excellence Center, was awarded these two furnace orders at the beginning of 2021. The power tool manufacturer will receive an Ipsen TurboTreater® as part of a plan to increase production capacity. It will be the ninth vacuum furnace at that location from the U.S. supplier .

The medical implant manufacturer, looking to expand production capacity, chose Ipsen’s MetalMaster® external quench vacuum furnace. The furnace will be designed with an all-metal hot zone for long, high temperature cycles. Its multi-staged pumping system is capable of providing low residual oxygen levels for processing titanium components.

(photo source: powertools at pixabay.com)

(photo source: Sasin Tipchai at pixabay.com)

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USAF Receives 18 Heat Treat Furnaces

January 29, 2021 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, OVENS-HIGH-TEMPERATURE, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

18 AMS2750 compliant furnaces and ovens for the U.S. Government were recently completed and shipped. Air Force bases throughout the U.S. will use them to support airplane and helicopter repair and maintenance, processing a wide range of materials from aluminum to tool steels.

The models, supplied by Lucifer Furnaces, Inc., include 5000 Series Heavy Duty Single Chamber Furnaces, 8000 Series Dual Chamber Furnace/Oven combos, 4000 Series Recirculating Convection Ovens, and DU4 Series Dual Ovens. All models comply with AMS2750 Class 2 (+/- 10 F) and Class 5 (+/- 25 F) specifications with an instrumentation package that includes digital paperless recorder/controllers, high limit safety systems and SCR power supplies. TUS (temperature uniformity survey) and SAT (system accuracy test) access ports are built in for ongoing SATs and TUSs. All models are completely wired and temperature uniformity surveyed in-house prior to shipment.

(photo source: Cassio Nunes at unsplash.com)

All other images provided by Lucifer Furnaces, Inc.

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Heat Treating Capabilities Expand for Medical Device and Implant Manufacturer

January 28, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Manufacturing Mentor^® Furnace
Source: Solar Manufacturing

A medical device and implant manufacturer in the Southeast USA recently received a vacuum furnace. The furnace will be used to age harden and anneal medical devices and implants.

The Model HFL-2018-2IQ Mentor^® vacuum furnace by Solar Manufacturing features an all-metal insulated hot zone, a load weight capacity of up to 250 lbs., and a maximum operating temperature of 2400° F.

Dan Insogna
Southeast Regional Sales Manager
Solar Manufacturing (photo source: solarmfg.com)

“We were awarded the project based on our relationship with Solar Atmospheres and our quick furnace delivery,” states Dan Insogna, southeast regional sales manager at Solar Manufacturing. “Together, we delivered the Mentor^® furnace along with a water system, and a custom heat treat recipe for the medical grade components being processed. Our customer was up and running with their new… furnace within a week of delivery.”

(Photo Source: BruceBlaus – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44967235)

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Heat Treat Goes In-House for Medical Device Manufacturer

January 20, 2021 / FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Michel Frison
VP Global Sales
Nitrex and G-M Enterprises (Source: Nitrex.com)

A medical device manufacturer has acquired a vacuum furnace that will bring heat treating in-house, reducing lead time and improving process control. The application is for the heat-treatment of steel dies used in the company’s plastic and metal injection molding operations.

The vacuum furnace is the first purchase from G-M Enterprises, a Nitrex company. G-M Enterprises completed the installation at the company’s newly expanded greenfield facility. The turnkey solution features a horizontal front loading vacuum furnace G-M model HVF 101-(I)XB with 6-Bar internal quench capabilities and a work area of 18” x 18” x 24” (457 x 457 x 610 mm), with an all-metal furnace construction. The system is part of the company’s metal injection molding operations.

"We are proud of continually maintaining G-M Enterprises’ long-standing relationship with the medical industry," said Michel Frison, VP Global Sales, Nitrex and G-M Enterprises, "providing solutions that aid in improving the affordability and accessibility of high-quality healthcare."

(photo source: Yilmaz Akin at unsplash.com)

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VACUUM FURNACES NEWS