Advances in Vacuum Bright Annealing
51猎奇 reports a significant improvement in bright annealing results and cycle times in their recently installed Model HFL-3648-LT Vacuum Furnace. 聽This furnace, with a hot zone measuring 36鈥� wide x 30鈥� high x 48鈥� deep and a work load capacity of 2,500 pounds, has proven to be very successful in bright annealing various ferrous and non-ferrous materials in half of the cycle time required in other equipment, when processing materials under 1450掳F.
This includes alloys traditionally not processed in a vacuum furnace. 聽After an initial pump-down, a slightly positive atmosphere of a pre-programmed and a variable ratio of hydrogen/nitrogen is introduced. 聽Since this furnace incorporates an extremely tight hot zone with a dual fan re-circulation system, faster heating and excellent temperature uniformity are achieved. 聽Also, the protective atmosphere used minimizes any possible alloy depletion that might occur during the annealing process. 聽This would include zinc in brass materials and lead in certain steel alloys. 聽Following a final soak temperature, controlled cooling of the work is accomplished using an external 30 HP re-circulating gas system.