Modular Vacuum Furnaces

Overview

The continuous vacuum "CV" furnace converts a batch vacuum furnace into a straight-through furnace where work is loaded into the entry side and unloaded from the exit side. Modules consist of load/evacuation chambers, preheat and high heat chambers, multiple heat position chambers, and quench (oil and/or pressurized gas) chambers. Small batches are indexed in a continuous fashion, maintaining tight temperature uniformity within the working area for near identical thermal profiles center to edge, and the heat chamber remains hot and under vacuum and is not thermally cycled. Designs of the modular "CV" vacuum furnace can produce up to 1500 lbs/hr (680 kg/hr) with temperature capabilities to 2600°F (1427°C). Supported metallurgical processes include Annealing, Brazing, Carbonitriding, Carburizing, Hardening, Quenching, and Sintering. The continuous vacuum furnace supports applications requiring higher throughput and utilization because loading and unloading can be accomplished simultaneously and automatic indexing allows several loads to be staged at once. It supports use cases where improved thermal efficiency is required, since the heating portion is held at temperature and only the mass of the work is heated and cooled, reducing energy consumption and cycle time. The furnace supports use cases that require higher purity, reduced maintenance, improved part repeatability, and improved scalability and work handling integration by maintaining vacuum at temperature to lower outgassing, reducing thermal wear on refractory materials, enabling more uniform thermal profiles with smaller loads, and reducing footprint to facilitate integration with automated production facilities.