Solar Atmospheres of Souderton, Pa., recently heat treated two 4140 (chromium molybdenum) steel weldments – each weighing 11,000 pounds. Using a 12-foot-long horizontal-loading Solar Manufacturing furnace with a 50,000-pound capacity, Solar Atmospheres normalized and tempered the weldments to achieve specific yield strength, while minimizing distortion, through controlled heating and cooling. The weldments, which were heat treated for Tri Kris Fabrication of Lansdale, Pa., are components in a large tensile testing machine that tests braided steel cable for shipbuilding applications.

The weldment dimensions were 54 x 34 x 84 inches with section thicknesses ranging from 2 to 6 inches. The configuration required vacuum thermal processing in order to prevent structural cracking.