Resources

In our previous discussion, we looked at the reasons vacuum technology is important to the thermal processing industry and discussed a few of the most common applications for vacuum furnaces. Here, we will talk about the major components of a[...]

Cleaning in a solvent offers a level of simplicity and forgiveness not seen in aqueous methods. At one time solvent cleaning was considered mandatory for successful vacuum processing but environmental concerns (VOC and other emissions) and improvements to aqueous systems[...]

Today, the maintenance of heat treatment equipment is a point of major emphasis and this is especially true for vacuum furnaces. This article will explore various aspects of vacuum furnace maintenance providing useful tips and practical techniques to simplify the work[...]

As in any discipline, understanding the underlying scientific principles has profound practical implications when properly understood. In this series of articles, we will review the first principles of vacuum technology and explain them using real-world illustrations. Most industrial vacuum systems can,[...]

For those of us who participate in the Heat Treatment group of LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1855932), which by the way is 8795 members strong (!), an important vacuum processing question was recently asked and what follows is a stimulating exchange of ideas,[...]

We study vacuum science and vacuum engineering in order to better understand the role vacuum technology plays in creating useful engineered products (Fig. 1, Table 1). Manufacturing as we know it, and research and development as we have come to[...]

Vacuum furnaces are available in numerous styles and sizes and come in both standard and custom configurations. They are designed to process an almost limitless number of both semi-finished component parts as well as raw materials using a diverse set[...]

The role of materials science (Fig. 1) is to study, develop, design, and perform processes that transform raw materials into useful engineering products intended to improve the quality of our lives. It is said by many that material science is the[...]

When operating vacuum furnaces, situations may arise in which the hot zone and/or cold walls may become contaminated (Fig. Nos. 1 - 2). This can occur from a variety of sources: air leaks, outgassing from residues left on the parts[...]

Since brazing plays an important part in some of your company’s products, plan to have one or more of your people attend one of the high-powered, three-day (Tues-Thurs) seminars being held in 2018. Contact your people today to have them[...]

Vacuum brazing involves the removal of all gaseous atmosphere from the sealed chamber of a “furnace” used for high-temperature brazing, a “furnace” being defined as any enclosure that can be heated to a high enough temperature to accomplish a specific[...]

Let me make two important statements right at the start: 1.  Surface-oxidation of metals will prevent effective brazing. 2.  Brazing filler metals (BFMs) do not like to bond to or flow over, oils, dirt, greases, or oxides on metal surfaces. Thus,[...]

Joint clearances must be tight for effective Ni-brazing 1. Nickel-based brazing filler metals (BFM) can leave a hard, non-ductile eutectic phase in the middle of a brazed joint. The hard, non-ductile metallurgical phase-structures that form upon solidification of Ni-brazed joints must be[...]

Two years ago I wrote a series of articles for this column about the important steps that must be followed in order to ensure good brazing, including the need for proper cleaning of all surfaces to be brazed prior to[...]

Vee belt drive design This article discusses one and two-stage “medium vacuum” oil sealed rotary vane vacuum pumps that can produce a catalog ultimate vacuum of about 1 x 10-2 Torr (0.01 Torr or 10 microns) for a one stage model[...]

Fig. 1 Lifting with the aid of Suction Cups. In this article, we're going to take a step away from vacuum pumps and systems and write about general applications that use vacuum in the process.There may be some applications you have[...]

By now, most maintenance departments should have a plan in place for schedules repairs and maintenance during the summer months, especially if the plant has a shutdown for vacation. The part of the vacuum furnace system that I know best[...]

To maximize your investment and produce repeatable high-quality process results, it is mandatory to institute a thorough pump preventative maintenance program. In a pump’s normal operating life, nearly all unexpected vacuum pump failures can be prevented, and when carefully maintained,[...]

Booster pumps (aka Roots blowers or intermediate stage vacuum pumps) fall into the class of dry, gas transfer pumps. As a dry pump, they do not introduce oil or water into the pumped gas stream. Gas transfer is accomplished by[...]

Abstract Figure 1: View of the Canyon Diablo meteor crater facing west in Coconino County, Arizona. The crater is approximately circular in shape. About 30 tons of specimens are in collections all over the world making it the most widely studied[...]

Introduction The microstructure of iron-based alloys is very complicated, being influenced by composition, homogeneity, processing and section size. Microstructures in coarse-grained steels are much easier to observe than in fine-grained steels. Of course, steels are normally made with a fine grain[...]

Failures in metallic components may be caused by any of the following factors or combinations of factors: Design shortcomings Imperfections due to faulty processing or fabrication Overloading and other service abuses Improper maintenance and repair Environmental factors Not all failures are[...]

Abstract Tool Steel Failure Examples and Metallographic Imagery below. Steels used for tools and dies differ from most other steels in several aspects. First, they are used in the manufacture of other products by a variety of forming processes. Second, tools and[...]

Abstract Medical technology has developed many new devices that can be implanted into humans (in-vivo) to repair, assist or take the place of diseased or defective bones, arteries and even organs. The materials used for these devices have evolved steadily over[...]