vacuum furnaces Archive
by Joseph
I outsource my heat treating. How do I decide if I should bring it in-house?
There are a lot of factors to consider in this decision and every situation will be unique. A vacuum furnace is a large capital investment and there are other costs associated with setting up in-house that must be taken into account (see our Articles page). You also gain improved turn-around-time and important intangibles such as…
by Joseph
Can a vacuum furnace be used for both hardening and tempering?
Yes, it can, but there are some issues to consider. A standard vacuum furnace heats its load most effectively at temperatures above 1200°F (650°C), the start of the “red heat” range when radiant heating becomes most efficient. Below 1200°F (650°C), temperature uniformity within the furnace becomes a concern. Tempering operations for many alloys take place…
by Joseph
Is brazing the same as welding?
No. Welding involves the melting of the base metal and may take place with or without a filler metal. Brazing involves the melting and re-solidification of a filler metal to form a joint between two base metal components. There is some diffusion of the filler metal into the base metal during brazing but no melting…
by Joseph
World Leader in the Processing of Landing Gear Components
Vac Aero Press Release VAC AERO’s Ontario Thermal Processing Division continues to support aircraft landing gear programs large and small.
VAC AERO’s heat treating operation in Oakville, Ontario continues to maintain its position as a world leader in the processing of aircraft landing gear components. VAC AERO is now heat treating critical landing gear components for many large commercial aircraft programs including Boeing 777, 777LR, 747-800 and Airbus A380 (commercial and freighter versions). New contracts for processing Boeing 787 and Airbus A320 landing gear components will be underway this year.
by Joseph
Hot Zone Design for Vacuum Furnaces
The hot zone is perhaps the most critical feature of a vacuum furnace in terms of its affect on furnace performance and operating cost. There are a variety of hot zone designs and the choice of a design should be based on a careful analysis of specific processing applications. Most vacuum-furnace hot zones consist of four major components: the heating elements and the details on which they are mounted; the insulation package (or heat shields); a surrounding structure that supports the heating elements and insulation package; and a hearth that supports the load during processing. By Jeff Pritchard – VAC AERO International Inc., Ontario, Canada
by Joseph
SiC-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Coatings Produced by Cold Spray Process
Metal matrix composites are becoming increasingly popular for industrial applications as diverse as aerospace, automotive and electronics. The composites consist of an alloy matrix reinforced with ceramic particles to enhance mechanical properties. Aluminum alloys are especially popular as a matrix material.
by Joseph
Specific Heat Treating & Brazing Approvals
Performance Review Institute AS 9100 -Revision B / ISO 9001:2000 (Nadcap) SAE AC7102 Rev C (Nadcap) SAE AC7102/1 Rev C (Nadcap) SAE AC7102/4 (Nadcap) SAE AC7101/3 Rev B (Nadcap) SAE AC7101/4 Rev C (Nadcap) SAE AC7101/5 Rev B (Nadcap) SAE AC7110 Rev C (Nadcap) SAE AC7110/5 Rev C Canadian Forces AMS 2759, AMS-H-6875, AMS 2759-6, AMS-H-7199, MIL-B-7199 Boeing…
by Joseph
Dual Loop Furnace Cooling System
DUAL LOOP FURNACE COOLING SYSTEM The optional Dual Loop Furnace Cooling System is designed to protect the furnace chamber and other critical components from corrosion and lime build-up that may cause clogging or hot spots. The system provides an economical, low maintenance supply of coolant while occupying minimum floor area. One side of the system…
by Joseph