The Evolution of High Tech Vacuum Furnaces – Then & Now

Today’s “High Tech” Vacuum furnace did not just appear on the Heat Treating Market yesterday.  Ever since the creation of the first vacuum furnace in the late 1950”s & early 1960’s, about 50 years ago, continuous improvenent have brought us to today’s most advanced vacuum furnaces.  A “High Tech” Vacuum Furnace is a furnace that utilizes the most advanced materials, designs, control systems and features that provide high performance, efficiency and productivity along with a low cost of ownership in utilities and maintenace.

What needs in the heat treating market caused the development of today’s “High Tech” Vacuum Furnaces?  In the 1960’s almost all heat treat was processed in some controlled atmosphere, air or salt bath.  The controlled atmospheres provided some protection from oxidation but not complete protection.  Processing parts in an air of course will produce various levels of oxide formation depending on the temperature.

There have been many significant improvement in the designs of the vacuum vessels, pumping systems, cooling gas flow control and return, advanced computerized control systems, quench gases and pressures to improve parts cooling, hot zone designs, insulation, nozzles, hot face and hearth material design improvements and the elimination of moving parts inside the furnace.  All of these developments have yeilded higher performance, productivity, reliability and reduced cost of ownership. 

Where do we go from here to continue improving and developing  the “High Tech” Vacuum Furnaces?  There is constant evolution of the use of different materials and configurations that continue this ongoing improvement with long term performance, productivity, reliability and reduced cost of ownership.