VAC AERO shipped a bottom-loading vacuum furnace to an international aerospace company. The furnace, which has a work chamber measuring 66 inches in diameter x 48 inches high, includes a high-vacuum pumping system and a 2-bar argon quench system designed to incorporate unique performance features. The cooling-nozzle configuration and location have been engineered to improve gas penetration into the workload, gas velocity and cooling speed.

The energy-efficient graphite hot zone’s lightweight design and low thermal mass enables faster quenching and longer life. The heavy-duty hearth is constructed with quickly removable rails of pure molybdenum capable of handling distributed loads of up to 4,400 pounds. The furnace operating system is based on VAC AERO’s versatile Honeywell HC900 interactive hybrid control package with SCADA and complete network integration capabilities and remote monitoring and control.