Links to Newsletter Archives Since 2007

January 2014

VAC AERO Ships a horizontal Vacuum Furnace to a Metallurgical R&D center in Quebec, Canada!

The Role of Lubricants in Vacuum Furnace Seals – by Dan Herring

Erosion of Base-Metals by Brazing Filler Metals – by Dan Kay

Metallographic Examination of Bronze Bracelets from Hasanlu – by George Vander Voort

Simple Physics for the High Vacuum Processing Industry – by Howard Tring

February 2014

VAC AERO Commissions a Vacuum Furnace at a Research Center in South Korea!

Loading of Parts in Vacuum Furnace – by Dan Herring

Using Titanium “Getters” in Vacuum Brazing – by Dan Kay

Propeller Shaft of the USS Monitor – by George Vander Voort

Five Main Reasons for using Vacuum – Part 2 – by Howard Tring

March 2014

VAC AERO Commissions First of Two Vacuum Furnaces at a New Hampshire-based Castings Manufacturer

Saving Money by Maximizing Furnace Uptime Productivity – By Dan Herring

Mg-gettering in Vacuum Brazing of Aluminum – by Dan Kay

Influence of the Equations Defining HV and HK on Precision – by George Vander Voort

Oil Sealed Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps – Background and Designs – Part 1 – by Howard Tring

April 2014

VAC AERO Commissions a Vacuum Furnace at an East Providence, RI-based Aerospace Manufacturer

Residual Gas Analyzers – By Dan Herring

Dewpoint Control in Vacuum-Furnace Brazing – by Dan Kay

Fracture of a 17th Century Japanese Helmet – by George Vander Voort

Oil Sealed Rotary Vane Vacuum Pumps – Background and Designs Part 2: Direct Drive design – by Howard Tring

May 2014

A Vacuum Heat Treater’s Library – By Dan Herring

Piping Atmosphere-gas to a Brazing Furnace – by Dan Kay

Determining the Nodularity of Graphite in Ductile Iron Using ASTM E2567 – by George Vander Voort

Five Main Reasons for using Vacuum – Part 3 – by Howard Tring

January 2013

VAC AERO Launches the Vacuum Pump Practice Column with Howard Tring!

Saving Money by Maximizing Furnace Uptime Productivity by Dan Herring

Brazing Filler Metal Powder Mesh Size by Dan Kay

Grain Size Measurement: The Saltykov Rectangle by George Vander Voort

The Oil Sealed Rotary Vacuum Pump by Howard Tring

February 2013

Backstreaming – by Dan Herring

Isothermal Solidification – by Dan Kay

Measuring the Grain Size of Specimens with Deformed Grains – by George Vander Voort

Understanding Vacuum Measurement Units – by Howard Tring

March 2013

Finding and Fixing Vacuum Leaks – by Dan Herring

The Famous Joint-Strength vs. Joint-Clearance Chart – by Dan Kay

Grain Size Measurements by the Triple Point Count Method – by George Vander Voort

Vacuum Gauges Used on Vacuum Furnaces – by Howard Tring

Heat Treatment of Titanium Alloys – by Dan Herring

April 2013

Selecting the Right Vacuum Furnace for the Job – by Dan Herring

Stainless QC-coupons to Determine Atmosphere-Quality In Your Furnace – by Dan Kay

Metallography of Iron-Nickel Meteorites – Part 1: Background – by George Vander Voort

Conductance in Vacuum Lines – by Howard Tring

Tool-Steel Carbides by Dan Herring

May 2013

Dimensional Changes After Heat Treatment – by Dan Herring

304 vs. 304L – An Answer to Carbide-Precipitation Issues – by Dan Kay

Mechanical Booster Pumps for Vacuum Systems – by Howard Tring

June 2013

VAC AERO Coatings Division Receives Thermal Coating Approvals

Low Temperature Vacuum Processing – by Dan Herring

Two Frequently Misused Brazing Terms: “Passivation” (vs. pickling), and “Defect” – by Dan Kay

Measuring Inclusion Content by ASTM E 1245 – by George Vander Voort

Gas Ballasting of Mechanical Oil Sealed Rotary Vacuum Pumps – by Howard Tring

July 2013

Types of Backfill, Partial Pressure and Cooling Gases for Vacuum Heat Treatment – by Dan Herring

Stainless Steel Brazing on Graphite Fixtures? – by Dan Kay

Methanol Pipeline Failure in the Canyon Express Pipeline System – by George Vander Voort

Summer Maintenance of Vacuum Systems – by Howard Tring

August 2013

Come visit Us at the ASM Heat Treating Expo, Booth 1818

Considerations in Vacuum Vessel Design – by Dan Herring

Are Your Hands Clean Enough to Handle Parts for Brazing? – by Dan Kay

Metallography of Iron-Nickel Meteorites – Part 2: Microstructure – by George Vander Voort

Shaft Seals for Rotating Shafts – by Howard Tring

September 2013

Intergranular Oxidation (IGO) / Intergranular Attack (IGA) – by Dan Herring

Fillets in Brazing – by Dan Kay

Martensite & Retained Austenite – by George Vander Voort

Gas Molecules and Gas Flow – by Howard Tring

Understanding Component Failures – by Dan Herring

October 2013

A Curious Case of Part Contamination in a Vacuum Furnace – by Dan Herring

Brazing vs. Soldering – by Dan Kay

Decarburization – by George Vander Voort

Conductance and Throughput in Vacuum Pipelines – by Howard Tring

November 2013

A Brief History of Vacuum Technology – by Dan Herring

Liquid Penetrant Inspection in Brazing? – by Dan Kay

Metallography of Iron-Nickel Meteorites – Part 3: Microstructure in Color – by George Vander Voort

Pressure and Throughput Distribution in Vacuum Systems – by Howard Tring

December 2013

Vacuum Heat Treatment of Fasteners – by Dan Herring

X-Ray Inspection of Brazed Joints – by Dan Kay

Obtaining Consistent Vickers Hardness at Loads ≤ 100 Grams Force – by George Vander Voort

Five Main Reasons for using Vacuum – Part 1 – by Howard Tring

January 2012

VAC AERO Launches 2012 Series on “Vacuum Technology with Dan Herring”!

Getter Materials – by Dan Herring

Use of Active Brazing Alloys (ABA) in Vacuum Furnaces – by Dan Kay

Introduction to Stereological Principles – by George Vander Voort

February 2012

High and Ultra-High Vacuum – by Dan Herring

Centerline Eutectics in Ni-brazing – by Dan Kay

Metallographic Preparation of Tool Steels – by George Vander Voort

March 2012

Tool Steel Carbides – by Dan Herring

Argon Can Be Lethal! – by Dan Kay

Revealing the Microstructure of Tool Steels – by George Vander Voort

April 2012

Using Vacuum Furnaces to Achieve Lean, Green and Agile Manufacturing – by Dan Herring

Boxing of Components – by Dan Kay

Metallography and Microstructure of Aluminum and Alloys – by George Vander Voort

May 2012

Cold Traps – by Dan Herring

Refrigeration of Brazing Paste? – by Dan Kay

Bias in Grain Size Chart Ratings – by George Vander Voort

June 2012

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part One – by Dan Herring

Can a Brazing-Flux be used in Vacuum Brazing? – by Dan Kay

Martensite & Retained Austenite – by George Vander Voort

July 2012

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Two – by Dan Herring

Dimension Braze-Fillets on Drawings? – by Dan Kay

The Value of Color Metallographic Techniques in the Study of Welds – by George Vander Voort

August 2012

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Three – by Dan Herring

Vacuum Furnace Leak-up Rates for Successful Brazing – by Dan Kay

Metallographic Procedures for Precious Metals – by George Vander Voort

Heating – by Dan Herring

September 2012

Come Visit Us at FNA 2012 – Booth 110

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Four – by Dan Herring

Helium leak detection in vacuum brazing – by Dan Kay

Measurement of Grain Shape Uniformity – by George Vander Voort

October 2012

VAC AERO’s Polish Division Receives New Heat Treating Approval from Pratt & Whitney

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Five – by Dan Herring

Effect of Virtual Leaks in Vacuum Furnace Brazing – by Dan Kay

Measurement of Grain Size in Twinned FCC Alloys – by George Vander Voort

Quench Cracking – by Dan Herring

November 2012

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Six – by Dan Herring

Eutectics – the good and the bad! – by Dan Kay

Grain Size Measurement: The Jeffries Planimetric Method – by George Vander Voort

December 2012

VAC AERO Furnace Manufacturing Division Moves to a New Facility!

Tips For Improving Vacuum Performance & Operation, Part Seven – by Dan Herring

Eliminating “holds” in Heating Rates During Vacuum-Brazing Cycles – by Dan Kay

Grain Size Measurement: The Heyn Intercept Method – by George Vander Voort

January 2011

VAC AERO is launching a New Metallography Column with George Vander Voort!

Chapter 16 – Water Cooling Systems – by Dan Herring

Controlling Suppliers and Customers: Key to Successful In-House Brazing? – by Dan Kay

Revealing Prior-Austenite Grain Boundaries in Heat-Treated Steels – by George Vander Voort

February 2011

What is Heat Treating, and Why Do We Do It? – by Dan Herring

Vertical Test Specimen for Furnace Brazing – by Dan Kay

Metallography of Superalloys – by George Vander Voort

March 2011

Microstructure of Ferrous Alloys – by George Vander Voort

April 2011

World Leader in Consumer Electronics Purchases its First VAC AERO Vacuum Furnace

Brazing Base Metals Containing Small Amounts of Titanium, Aluminum – by Dan Kay

Metallography of Surface Treatments and Coatings – by George Vander Voort

May 2011

Oil Quenching Technology – by Dan Herring

Shelf-Life and Expiration-Dates for Brazing Paste – by Dan Kay

Color Metallography – by George Vander Voort

June 2011

Making Your Own Brazing Paste – by Dan Kay

A Laymans’s View of Plasma Spray Coating Metallography – by George Vander Voort

July 2011

Using a “Stop-Off” in Brazing – by Dan Kay

Identification of Phases in Stainless Steels by Etching – by George Vander Voort

The Nuclear Renaissance: Opportunities for the Heat-Treating Industry – by Dan Herring

August 2011

Can I Use Standard Aerospace Vacuum Furnaces to Braze Aluminum? – by Dan Kay

Picric Acid – Hazards and Safe Usage – by George Vander Voort

September 2011

Effect of Heating Rates on Distortion, Fracture of Assemblies Being Brazed – by Dan Kay

Microstructure of Isothermally-Treated Steels – by George Vander Voort

October 2011

Chapter 24 – Vacuum Applications – Part Two: Brazing – by Dan Herring

Can Your Suppliers Hurt Your In-house Brazing? – by Dan Kay

Metallographic Specimen Preparation for Electron Backscattered Diffraction – by George Vander Voort

Principles of Gas Nitriding – Part 3-4 – by Dan Herring

November 2011

Flowmeter Basics – by Dan Herring

Brazing Questions Part-1 – by Dan Kay

Study of Selective Etching of Carbides in Steel – by George Vander Voort

December 2011

VAC AERO Opens its Second Facility in Poland

Landing-Gear Heat Treatment – by Dan Herring

Wide Gap Brazing when Parts don’t Fit Together well for Brazing – by Dan Kay

Introduction to Quantitative Metallography – by George Vander Voort

January 2010

VAC AERO Kalisz Installs a New HVOF System

Voids in Brazed Joints – by Dan Kay

February 2010

VAC AERO’s Coatings Division Receives Two New NADCAP Approvals

Chapter 6 – Vacuum Measurement Systems – Part Two – by Dan Herring

Differential Metal Expansion – Part One – by Dan Kay

March 2010

Differential Metal Expansion – Part Two – by Dan Kay

April 2010

Thermocouples in Furnace Brazing – Part One – by Dan Kay

Understanding Copper & Copper Alloy Heat Treatment – by Dan Herring

May 2010

Thermocouples in Furnace Brazing – Part Two – by Dan Kay

June 2010

Fillets in Brazing – by Dan Kay

July 2010

Chapter 11 – Vacuum Valves, Penetrations, Feedthrus and Flanges – by Dan Herring

Repair Brazing – Fixing faulty jobs and worn-out components – Part 1 – by Dan Kay

August 2010

Repair Brazing – Fixing faulty jobs and worn-out components – Part 2 – by Dan Kay

Heat & Corrosion Resistant Materials/Composites: A Survey of High Temperature Alloy Selection in Heat Treating – by Dan Herring

September 2010

Chapter 13 – Cleaning of Parts and Fixtures – by Dan Herring

Liquation of Brazing Filler Metals – Good or Bad? – by Dan Kay

October 2010

The Ubiquitous O-Ring – by Dan Herring

Honeycomb-Brazing Essentials for Successful Use As Turbine Seals – by Dan Kay

November 2010

Reducing Metal-Oxides in Brazing – by Dan Kay

Materials Characterization & Testing: Microstructure Of Titanium And Its Alloys – by George F. Vander Voort

December 2010

Reducing Metal-Oxides in Brazing – by Dan Kay

January 2009

Tool Steel Heat Treatment – by Dan Herring

Coating Gas Turbine Engine Blades Using HVOF – by Jeff Pritchard, Vac Aero International Inc.

VAC AERO receives over $5 Million of new vacuum furnace orders

February 2009

Welding of High Strength Steel Landing Gear Components – by Jeff Pritchard, Vac Aero International Inc.

How to Move Molecules in Vacuum Systems/Part 1: Mech. & Booster Pumps – by Dan Herring

How to Move Molecules in Vac. Systems/Part 2: Diff. Pumps & Troubleshooting – by Dan Herring

March 2009

Thermal Division Implements an Energy Optimization System

Technology Trends in Vacuum Heat Treating, Part 1: Markets, Processes and Applications – by Dan Herring

VAC AERO Reorganizes Thermal Processing Division

April 2009

VAC AERO is launching a New Monthly Vacuum Brazing Column with Dan Kay

Technology Trends in Vacuum Heat Treating, Part 2: Processes and Applications – by Dan Herring

Brazing – A Great joining Process for this 21st Century! – by Dan Kay

May 2009

VAC AERO’s Kalisz, Poland Operation Receives EU Grant to Expand Services

Technology Trends in Vacuum Heat Treating, Part 3: New Technologies and Future Developments – by Dan Herring

Brazing in a Vacuum “Atmosphere” – by Dan Kay

June 2009

VAC AERO’s Corporate Management moves into New Head Office

The Molecule Counter, Part 1: Vacuum Gauges – by Dan Herring

Partial Pressure Brazing – by Dan Kay

July 2009

The Molecule Counters, Part 2: More About Vacuum Gauges – by Dan Herring

Selecting Brazing Fixture Materials – by Dan Kay

September 2009

VAC AERO Launches Redesigned Website for its 50th Anniversary

Are the use of dead-weights for fixturing a recommended practice? – by Dan Kay

October 2009

How to Determine Braze Gap-Clearances for Your Furnace – by Dan Kay

November 2009

VAC AERO Receives Large European Union Grant for Expansion in Poland

Braze Joint Design Considerations – by Dan Kay

December 2009

VAC AERO Completes Plant Re-organization

Braze Joint Design Considerations – Part 2 – by Dan Kay

Martensite and Retained Austenite – by George Vander Voort

January 2008

VAC AERO Specializes in Custom Designed Vacuum Furnaces

VAC AERO Brazes Aluminum for Airborne Electronics

Coatings Division Receives Six New Coating Approvals from Rolls-Royce

February 2008

Abradable Coatings for Gas Path Seals in Turbine Engines

Buying a Vacuum Furnace: New versus Used – by Jeff Pritchard, Vac Aero International Inc.

March 2008

VAC AERO International Continues to Expand its Polish Operation

April 2008

Why Heat Treat in a Vacuum? – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Eutectic Melting – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Using Thermal Spray for Repair of Service-Damaged Parts

May 2008

Demand Remains Strong for VAC AERO Vacuum Furnaces

VAC AERO Coatings Facility Adds Grinding Capability

June 2008

Vacuum Furnace Quenching Systems: External versus Internal – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Cleaning Practices Prior to Vacuum Heat Treating – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

July 2008

VAC AERO Receives its First Vacuum Furnace Order from Bodycote

Dayton Process – Fluorocarbon Cleaning Process

Loading Practices for Vacuum Processing – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

August 2008

Fixture Design for Vacuum Processing – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Temperature Uniformity Surveys – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Temperature Measurement in Vacuum Furnaces – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

September 2008

Maintenance Procedures for Vacuum Furnaces Part 1 – Safety – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Vacuum Brazing Techniques Part 1 – Vacuum Brazeability – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Hot Zone Repair, Re-build and Retrofit – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

October 2008

Maintenance Procedures for Vacuum Furnaces Part 2 – Vacuum Seals – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Vacuum Brazing Techniques Part 2 – Selection of Filler Metals – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

November 2008

Maintenance Procedures for Vacuum Furnaces Part 3 – Minimizing Outgassing – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Vacuum Brazing Techniques Part 3 – Preparation for Vacuum Brazing – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

December 2008

VAC AERO to Add Fourth Large Vacuum Oil Quench Furnace

Maintenance Procedures for Vacuum Furnaces Part 4 – Leak Rate Testing – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

Vacuum Brazing Techniques Part 4 – Vacuum Brazing Cycles – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

September 2007

VAC AERO Launches a New Information-Driven Website

VAC AERO Launches “What’s Hot!” Newsletter

VAC AERO Develops New Hybrid Vacuum Furnace Control System

VAC AERO Developing Cold Spray Technology

Vacuum Hardening High-Strength Steels: Oil Versus Gas Quenching – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

October 2007

Hot Zone Design for Vacuum Furnaces – by Jeff Pritchard, VAC AERO International Inc.

VAC AERO Adds AerMet® 100 Processing Qualifications

VAC AERO is a World Leader in the Processing of Landing Gear Components

SiC-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Coatings Produced by Cold Spray Process

November 2007

VAC AERO is a Proud Supporter of the University of Toronto Formula SAE Team

Furnace Division Receives Two Cryo-Pump Furnace Orders

Coatings Division Receives AS9100B Standard Accreditation

VAC AERO Operates three of the Largest Oil Quench Furnaces

December 2007

Holiday Greetings from VAC AERO