Induction Vacuum Furnaces
• Small Footprint Fits Your Mfg. Cell
• For Brazing & General Purpose Heating
• Enable Continuous Flow Manufacturing
• Can Reduce Overall Cost of Ownership by 75%
• Quick, Clean Induction Heating Technology
Part manufacturers who currently utilize a conventional vacuum furnace for brazing or heat treating processes are looking for leaner, continuous-flow heating solutions. Historically, vacuum processing has been conducted in relatively large vessels that require long pump-down and heat cycle times, so parts are normally processed in large batches. However, conventional batch processing has several limitations:
Limitations of conventional batch vacuum heating:
- Long part cycle time
- Limited quality control
- High reject rates
- Limited temperature-range flexibility
- High fixturing costs
- Non-selective heating
- High energy costs
- Expensive process development
Due to the heat source (typically radiation/convection) generally used for vacuum processing, heat cycle times have been the limiting factor in reducing process
cycle time. Now, by integrating innovative induction heating with a small vacuum chamber, continuous-flow manufacturing can be realized for nickel brazing of superalloys, copper brazing of steel, silver brazing of copper & brass assemblies, material processing, hardening of precision medical devices &other processes.
The use of induction heating eliminates the long heat cycle-time requirements of a conventional vacuum furnace. Through the use of induction, the necessary heat is produced quickly, efficiently and directly into a small graphite susceptor, which radiates the heat uniformly into the part.
Induction vacuum furnaces are ideal for processes which require high part quality and heating consistency. Brazing or heat treating in a high vacuum environment offers a high degree of process control and produces exceptionally clean parts - free of oxidation and scaling.
When compared to a traditional large vacuum furnace system, VF Series Vacuum Furnaces can reduce overall all cost of ownership by as much as 75%. To learn more, please read our Vacuum Furnace NPV Analysis.
Advantages of Induction Vacuum Furnace heating
- Wide temperature range
- Cellular manufacturing
- Improved quality control
- Ease of fixturing
- Indirect part heating
- Lower energy costs
- Ease of process development
With induction heating, it is possible to specifically design the current flow that is induced into the part or susceptor (hot zone), thereby precisely controlling the heat pattern and therefore the amount and area of heat. Cycle times are greatly reduced, and parts may be quickly processed individually or in small quantities as needed.
The most common applications for vacuum furnaces include heating small lot sizes, brazing parts of unusual shapes, repairing “orphans” from other heating processes, and other applications which benefit from whole part heating. It’s easy to set up a continuous manufacturing flow, run various processes throughout the day and realize up to 90% improvement in overall cycle time.
Protected by US Patents 6,649,887and 7724045. Other patents pending.
Innovative Induction Heating
